Christopher Yoo parents issue an apology
After losing his game of round 5 from the US Chess Championship, GM Christopher Yoo destroyed his scoresheet, stormed out of the playing hall, “and struck a videographer from behind”. The Saint Louis chess club and the organizers of the US Championship did not approve of the reaction of Christopher Yoo and expelled him from the US Championship.
As of now Christopher Yoo is banned from the Saint Louis Chess Club, suspended from the US Chess Federation, with 4th degree charges by the Saint Louis police, and shocking information continues to come.
Christopher Yoo parents issued an apology, find the full text below. Christopher Yoo is drafting his own apology and will release it when it’s ready.
Timeline of the Christopher Yoo case
16.10.2024 Christopher Yoo – Fabiano Caruana round 5 game
16.10.2024 Christopher Yoo is expelled from the US Championship and banned from St Louis Chess Club
17.10.2024 Chris Bird, “The punch by Christopher Yoo was completely unprovoked, from behind and in no way accidental”
17.10.2024 USCF suspends Christopher Yoo
17.10.2024 WICF with a statement on the assault of a videographer by GM Christopher Yoo
17.10.2024 Christopher Yoo is charged with fourth-degree assault by the St. Louis police
17.10.2024 Levon Aronian: Christopher Yoo’s punch was well prepared against an innocent person
18.10.2024 Vasif Durarbayli on the Christopher Yoo case
18.10.2024 Chris Bird: To anyone saying Christopher Yoo was somehow provoked by the victim, stop it
19.10.2024 Levon Aronian, “Young people should understand that terrible decisions leave a lasting impact”
Christopher Yoo parents apology
First and foremost, Christopher wants to publicly apologize to the female videographer that was an innocent victim of his anger after his loss of a chess game. Contrary to what some have suggested, the videographer did nothing to provoke Christopher. We heard she’s doing okay but we don’t have any details and we pray she is doing well both physically and emotionally. Her well-being is of deep concern to all of us.
Christopher offers no excuses for his behavior. He is just very sad and ashamed he behaved in that way. If you saw him tearfully apologize to the Executive Director of the Club you’d understand he is genuinely remorseful. Though he hasn’t had an opportunity to talk to the videographer after the incident, he has sent her a personal apology via the Executive Director.
Christopher understands something like this can never happen again and never ever should have happened in the first place. He would also like to apologize to tournament officials, the Saint Louis Chess Club, his fellow players in the tournament, US Chess, and everyone in and outside the chess community this may have affected. He accepts full responsibility for what happened and the potential consequences.
Many people have expressed concerns about the mental well-being of our 17-year old son. As parents we more than share their concern. Something like this has never happened before and he will be getting therapy to help make sure his mental well-being is properly cared for and that something like this will not happen again.
As his parents, we are still in shock at this turn of events and soul-searching as to how we could have prevented this. As his father and main ‘chess parent’ I feel a particular responsibility for how this has impacted an innocent videographer, my son, and everyone this incident has touched and I deeply apologize.