Latest news with #USChessFederation
Indian Express
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
Alleged harassment case led to suspension of American GM Christopher Yoo by FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission
After being banned for one year by the US Chess Federation in 2024, the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission (EDC) provisionally suspended American Grandmaster Christopher Yoo for 60 days on Saturday, effective from Friday. May 9, 2025. FIDE said that their action followed after the submission of a second complaint alleging harassment, currently under preliminary review. According to a report by HT, the complainant was harassed by Yoo during the recently concluded Grenke Open. The female player filed a complaint, which resulted in the ban. According to FIDE, 'The suspension stems from two separate complaints alleging violations of the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Code. Case 5/2025 (A), filed by the United States Chess Federation (USCF), and an additional recent complaint – whose details and complainant remain confidential due to the sensitive nature of the allegations – are both under investigation by the EDC.' ❗️GM Christopher Yoo Temporarily Suspended by FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission❗️ The FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission (EDC) has announced a provisional 60-day suspension of Grandmaster Christopher Yoo, effective from May 9, 2025. This action follows the submission… — International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) May 9, 2025 In November 2024, the US Chess Federation imposed a one-year ban prohibiting Yoo from participating in tournaments under the auspices of USCF. The ban from USCF happened during the 2024 US Chess Championship. After losing his fifth-round match, Yoo reportedly destroyed his scoresheet before storming out of the playing hall, 'and struck a videographer from behind'. The Saint Louis chess club and the organisers of the US Championship did not approve of the reaction of Yoo and expelled him from the US Championship. Yoo is banned from the Saint Louis Chess Club and suspended from the US Chess Federation, with 4th-degree charges by the Saint Louis police. The sanction from USCF also includes a five-year probationary period extending through November 14, 2030. Yoo recently played at the Sardinia World Chess Festival in Italy and eventually won the event as well. But his participation was questioned by International Arbiter Chris Bird, who noted that there must be a mistake in the communication between the US Chess Federation and the FIDE Ethics Commission, as Yoo was playing a FIDE-rated event in Europe. IA Chris Bird said, 'I see GM Christopher Yoo is now playing FIDE rated chess in Sardinia. This is 7 months before his 1 year US Chess Federation suspension is due to expire! Both US Chess and FIDE Ethics had previously agreed to extend this imposed sanction to have a worldwide effect, but apparently that didn't happen. At the moment it is unclear who dropped the ball on this. I have contacted both but so far with no response, so it seems they are both currently fine with him not playing in the USA, but fine for him to be a potential safe play risk anywhere else in the world.' I see GM Yoo is now playing FIDE rated chess in Sardinia. This is 7 months before his 1 year @USChess suspension is due to expire! Both US Chess and FIDE Ethics had previously agreed to extend this imposed sanction to have a worldwide effect, but apparently that didn't happen 🤦♂️ — Chris Bird (@ChrisBirdIA) April 28, 2025 After the recent harassment case, FIDE said that the USCF formally submitted a request to FIDE to recognise and globally enforce the ban. According to the International Chess body, 'Given the gravity of the allegations and the ongoing proceedings, the Chair of the EDC has enacted a temporary suspension of GM Yoo to safeguard the integrity of the investigative process. Both GM Yoo and the USCF have been formally notified of this decision.' The suspension may be extended if a final resolution is not reached within the initial 60-day period.
Hindustan Times
10-05-2025
- Hindustan Times
Fide suspends US GM Christopher Yoo after woman player accuses him of harassment
Bengaluru: Months after being handed a one-year domestic ban from competition by the US Chess Federation for assaulting a female videographer, 18-year-old American Grandmaster Christopher Yoo has been placed under a provisional 60-day suspension by the Fide Ethics and Disciplinary Commission following a recent harassment complaint filed by a female player. The player in question spoke to HT about the incidents that led her to file complaints with the US federation and Fide. HT is in possession of a copy of the formal complaint as well as screenshots of a conversation between the complainant and Yoo, who is the junior world No.14. 'It started after the Grenke Open (held in April), at a party where there were several players, including Christopher,' the female player told HT. 'We met there. He asked us for some group pictures. We accepted. During the party, I found his behaviour uncomfortable. The day after, he messaged me, so I blocked him on social media. At the Sardinia World Chess Festival (April 26-May 4), while I was having lunch with friends at the hotel restaurant, he approached us out of nowhere, spoke to us uninvited, and suddenly caught my hand while I was eating.' 'On Saturday, May 3, after lunch, he followed my friends and me to our room area. I went into my room and shut the door. He stayed outside, knocking several times and even said 'housekeeping' through the door. He stayed there for 10 minutes before leaving. He also touched my shoulder on another occasion. None of this was welcome or appropriate. My friends repeatedly asked him to leave us alone, but he didn't stop.' The complainant also said that Yoo berated her, remarking that he doesn't respect players who are lower rated: 'Your brain doesn't know how to move the knight.' Yoo later apologised to the player for following her and knocking on her hotel room door, admitting his behaviour was 'over the line'. She called herself 'lucky' to have been surrounded by friends throughout the tournament and shuddered to think what might have happened if she had been alone. 'At a certain point, I couldn't walk around the resort on my own without fear of running into him.' Women in chess have long suffered from predatory behaviour, and this incident once again highlights the issue of their safety in the sport. 'I was 11 when I was harassed for the first time,' the female complainant said. 'It was my chess trainer. I didn't realise what was happening or its gravity until I was a young teen or adult.' Calling Yoo's behaviour 'dangerous', the complainant welcomed Fide's decision. 'It's great that they have taken the complaint seriously. I think temporary bans are quite rare.' The player's account was corroborated to HT by an International Master who was with the complainant, along with a few other friends, at the Sardinia tournament. 'I was there and I saw how uncomfortable Christopher made her feel, and the sort of pressure he was putting on her – like touching her and following her to her room,' said the IM. 'At one point, he joined us at the bar where some of us (including the complainant) were having a drink. We asked him to leave because we were not comfortable with his behaviour towards her, but he just refused.' Yoo won the tournament with an impressive 7.5/9 and a 2753 performance rating, crossing 2600 Elo for the second time. Fide said Yoo's suspension 'stems from two separate complaints alleging violations of the Fide Ethics and Disciplinary Code: Case 5/2025 (A), filed by the United States Chess Federation (USCF), and an additional recent complaint,' which is under investigation by the EDC. On November 14, 2024, the US Chess Federation imposed a one-year ban on Yoo, prohibiting him from participating in any tournaments under its auspices. The sanction also included a five-year probationary period extending through November 14, 2030. 'Under Article 26.12 of the Fide Charter, national sanctions may be extended internationally if a member federation requests it and if the decision complies with fundamental legal principles and fair trial standards. In line with this, the USCF formally submitted a request for Fide to recognize and globally enforce its ban, pursuant to Article 4.15 of the Fide Ethics Code. This request remains under investigation.' 'Both GM Yoo and the USCF have been formally notified of this decision. The suspension may be extended if a final resolution is not reached within the initial 60-day period.'
