Former chess champion Kramnik banned over cheating remarks

The World Chess Federation, known as FIDE, has imposed a one‑year suspension on Vladimir Kramnik, the former world champion who reigns from 2000 to 2007, following a string of public accusations that he deemed opponents were cheating. The federation’s disciplinary committee determined that Kramnik violated its ethics code by making unverified claims against fellow players, including the late grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky.

Naroditsky, a beloved online personality with hundreds of thousands of followers across Twitch and YouTube, passed away in October last year at age 29. The circumstances of his death involved a serious medical event, and prior to his death he publicly stated that the accusations had taken a toll on him.

Kramnik has announced that he will appeal the suspension. FIDE noted that the initial two‑year ban will be shortened to a single active year, subject to a probationary period of three years wherein no further breaches can occur.

The federation emphasized that combating cheating remains a top priority but that any allegations must be handled through its established procedures. Notable figures in the chess community, including Hikaru Nakamura, Magnus Carlsen and Nihal Sarin, have previously criticized Kramnik’s conduct.

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