Christopher Yoo’s FIDE suspension is a result of harassment complaint
GM Christopher Yoo has been temporarily suspended by FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission. However, the suspension is not a result of the incident in Saint Louis, rather it is a new case of harassment complaint. The complaint is by a female chess player involving the recent tournaments Christopher Yoo played in Grenke and Sardinia.
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”
20.10.2024 Christopher Yoo parents issue an apology
21.10.2024 Christopher Yoo issues personal apology
28.04.2025 IA Chris Bird: “It is unclear who dropped the ball on GM Christopher Yoo, but he is playing in Europe”
03.05.2025 Christopher Yoo wins Sardinia
09.05.2025 Christopher Yoo wins Freestyle event
09.05.2025 GM Christopher Yoo suspended by FIDE Ethics Commission
11.05.2025 Christopher Yoo’s FIDE suspension is a result of harassment complaint
“It started after the Grenke Open (held in April), at a party where there were several players, including Christopher,” the female player told Hindustan Times. “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.”
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.”
FIDE Ethics Commission says in its press release, “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 […] 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.”