Alexander Grischuk

Russian GM

“I have a very skeptical attitude towards the current FIDE leadership. For example, how can one explain their decision to disqualify Kirill Shevchenko for only two years — effectively just a year and a half, considering the investigation lasted six months? It is obvious that the person cheated repeatedly. He was caught, essentially, red-handed… If you don’t want a lifetime disqualification, then a ban should be for at least ten years. That is the minimum term.

One must understand that cheating in chess is not like doping in other sports, cheating is like murder in criminal law. Doping gives a small boost to results. To become a champion with it, you initially need to be one of the best. And your health is undermined by doping… But in chess, any beginner with a phone would beat Magnus Carlsen with a score of 10:0, and there are no side effects! So, what is a two-year ban for premeditated [cheating] with aggravating circumstances?”