The International Chess Federation (FIDE) Ethics and Discipline Commission has made a new ruling regarding former Ukrainian chess player Kyril Shevchenko in a cheating case. He has been stripped of his grandmaster title.

This information was confirmed by FIDE's press service.

Shevchenko, born in Ukraine, decided to represent Romania shortly after the war began. He was a winner of the 2021 European Team Championship with the Ukrainian team.

In October 2024, he was suspended from the Spanish Team Championship due to allegations of cheating. He was accused of using a hidden phone in the restroom. In March of this year, Shevchenko's suspension was extended until October 2026.

According to the new ruling, Kyril has additionally lost his grandmaster title on top of the initial penalty.

“FIDE takes cases of cheating among top players very seriously. We are actively working on both prevention and swift, appropriate sanctions. Ensuring fair play is non-negotiable – it is the cornerstone of our sport's reputation and future,” stated Dana Reizniece, Deputy Chair of FIDE.

Suspicion regarding the 22-year-old player arose due to his frequent trips to the restroom, where two mobile phones were found, one of which contained a note in the handwriting of a Ukrainian. Kyril initially denied all allegations but later admitted his guilt.