Shevchenko Expelled From Spanish Team Championship After Phone Found In Toilet
22-year-old GM Kirill Shevchenko has been expelled from the 2024 Spanish Team Championship with his draw against GM Bassem Amin in round one and win over GM Francisco Vallejo in round two turned into losses. When Shevchenko’s regular absence from the board aroused suspicion in round two a locked phone was found in the toilet, with arbiters claiming a link of the phone to Shevchenko based on handwriting and behavior.
The 2024 Spanish Team Championship Honor Division, taking place in the North African Spanish city of Melilla from October 12-18, has been shaken by a scandal after Shevchenko, playing for C.A. Silla – Integrant Col·lectius, was expelled from the tournament.
Shevchenko, who was born in Ukraine and has since switched to represent Romania, is the world number-69 and became a grandmaster at the age of 14 years and nine months. His greatest achievements include winning the 2021 European Team Chess Championship with Ukraine, as well as the individual Lindores Abbey Blitz in Riga in the same year, where he topped the table ahead of GMs Fabiano Caruana and Arjun Erigaisi.
