Cheating in chess is more common than you would think and is as old as the game itself.
Since even absolute beginners know how to cheat in chess, it is common in the age of smartphones.
Cheating in a chess game refers to using unfair methods to gain an unfair advantage and win dishonestly.
While most players uphold fair play and integrity, a few cases have shaken the chess world.
These cases have prompted many anti-cheating measures by FIDE and tournament organisers.
From mere suspicions of cheating to headline-grabbing accusations, here are some of the biggest cheating scandals in chess history.
1. Hans Niemann vs. Magnus Carlsen (2022)
This is one of the biggest cheating scandals to rock the chess world.
In September 2022, Magnus Carlsen accused Hans Niemann of cheating after losing to the then-19-year-old.
Initially, after his loss to Niemann at the St. Louis Chess Club, Magnus abruptly withdrew from the tournament.
What confirmed the speculation was when Magnus declined to play Hans Niemann in an online tournament, resigning without making a move.
Magnus then issued an official statement on his social media pages, confirming what many had already speculated.
Niemann, following the accusation, admitted to using engines in some online games as a teenager but denied any wrongdoing over the board.
The case led to a $100 million lawsuit, a Chess.com investigation, and months of debate about fair play, trust, and reputation in the professional chess community.
Outcome
The lawsuit was dropped after both sides settled. However, the controversy changed how elite tournaments approached anti-cheating checks.
The controversy also brought heat and attacks against Hans Niemann’s character and chess career.
2. Kirill Shevchenko Incident (2024-2025)
The Kirill Shevchenko scandal was one of the most significant cheating cases, as it involved an elite Grandmaster.
The Ukrainian Grandmaster Shevchenko played for the Spanish team, where he was found to leave the playing hall for the restroom frequently.
Two other grandmasters, Bassem Amin and Francisco Vallejo Pons, brought their observations to the tournament officials.
This led to an investigation that later uncovered the phone he may have been using.
He later admitted to putting the phone in the toilet but said that he was only using it to access the Lichess platform.
He was then disqualified from the championship, and his results in the games he played were annulled.
FIDE then issued a 75-day temporary suspension while further investigation was underway.
FIDE’s Fair Play Commission referred the case to the Ethics and Disciplinary Commission (EDC).
On March 26, 2025, the EDC’s first-instance chamber found Shevchenko guilty of cheating.
FIDE then imposed a worldwide 3-year ban; his Grandmaster title was revoked. He appealed the case but failed.
This case highlights FIDE’s increasing vigilance in maintaining integrity in chess tournaments.
3. Stanley Omondi’s Cheating Scandal at Kenya Chess Opens
In a humorous incident at the 2023 Kenya Open Chess Championship, Stanley Omondi was caught disguised as a woman wearing a Hijab.
The 25-year-old male player, who went by the name Millicent Awour, went undefeated into the fourth round in the women’s section of the tournament.
However, suspicion arose when the organisers noted several red flags, including the use of more masculine shoes.
These, coupled with the fact that he was anonymous and defeated several strong players, prompted investigations by the organisers.
Omondi admitted to impersonation when he was asked to show his ID. He stated he was motivated by the financial benefits.
He had hoped to win the first prize of Ksh 500,000, believing his chances were better than those in the open section.
Following an investigation, the governing body imposed a three-year ban on Stanley Omondi from all Chess Kenya’s associated events, effective April 20, 2023.
4. Igor Rausis with a Bathroom Phone (2019)
Grandmaster Igors Rausis, a Latvian-Czech player, was caught cheating at the 2019 Strasbourg Open.
While it was an embarrassing chess moment, the case was also one of the most clear-cut confirmed cases in professional chess.
The then-58-year-old was caught using a mobile phone in the restroom while a game was in progress.
His phone contained access to a chess engine, confirming he was consulting computer analysis during the tournament.
He later apologised publicly after his admission of cheating.
FIDE, as a punishment and deterrent, revoked his Grandmaster title and banned him from competition for 6 years (until 2025).
At the time of the case, Rausis was one of the oldest active Grandmasters. He had earlier shown a suspicious increase in his rating from 2,500 to 2,685, which was late in his career.
This case led to implementing tighter anti-cheating regulations and stricter bathroom policies.
5. Vladimir Kramnik Accusing Daniel Naroditsky
Vladimir Kramnik has spent the larger part of his retirement on accusing several players of cheating such as Nihal Sarin, Hikaru Nakamura, and David Navara.
Many now allege that Kramnik’s accusations led to the tragic passing of the beloved Daniel Naroditsky. Kramnik of course has vehemently denied having anything to do with the tragic event, but the facts say otherwise.
Kramnik consistently pointed accusatory fingers at Naroditsky for at least the past year before his passing.
Naroditsky himself described Kramnik’s cheating campaign against him as “sustained, evil, and absolutely unhinged attempt to destroy my life,” and called Kramnik “one of the most wicked people that I’ve ever dealt with”.
Despite Kramnik’s denial of any wrongdoing, many fans have turned on the legend and urged FIDE to take actions against him like revoking his titles and banning him from all events.
So far, FIDE has submitted a complaint to the independent Ethics and Disciplinary Commission (EDC).
Conclusion
These cheating cases remain among the most controversial to have rocked the chess world.
While the scandals have tested the credibility of competitive chess, they have also led to stronger regulations for fair play.
Regardless, new cheating scandals continue to pop up since even absolute beginners know how to cheat in chess.
The battle is not one the chess world can afford to lose.
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