The video of chess GM Christopher Woojin Yoo tearing his scoresheet before deciding to punch the videographer has gone viral
The U.S. Chess Championship’s fifth round on Wednesday, October 16, garnered media attention when Fabiano Caruana overcame 17-year-old Christopher Woojin Yoo.
Christopher Woojin Yoo threw his scoresheet into a ball after tearing it and stormed out of the competition hall after losing the match. The Grandmaster gave a videographer a back punch during this. Police were alerted by the tournament organizers, but it’s unclear if any legal action was taken.
GM Christopher Woojin Yoo tears scoresheet before deciding to punch videographer, incident video goes viral
However, Yoo was disqualified from the U.S. Chess Championship for the next six rounds as a result of his incident. The results of the matches he participated in will be deemed void. The players’ standings will be updated properly moving forward.
The tournament’s host, the Saint Louis Chess Club, then issued a statement on Yoo’s removal from their schedule.
Another grandmaster chess player was also disqualified from competition in September. Following his defeat in a Titled Tuesday match, Vladimir Kramnik was kicked off of Chess.com for allegedly accusing his opponents of cheating. Kramnik’s violation of the company’s community guidelines resulted in a one-month ban from the website.
If youโve never ripped up your scoresheet like this, youโre not a real chess player.
GM Christopher Yoo in Round 5 of the 2024 US Championships. โ๏ธ#Chess pic.twitter.com/VD9wOyFRet
โ Rick from โChess to Impressโ (@Gold_Chess) October 16, 2024
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department verified that 17-year-old Christopher Woojin Yoo was accused of fourth-degree assault. According to the police, he punched a woman, 24, in the back. The case would be heard in juvenile court, and he was returned to his parent. The end of the round may be seen beginning at 1:29. The video is from the Saint Louis Chess Club.
Yoo was eliminated from the competition, according to the chess club, by the tournament arbiter. The standings would be changed and his results nullified. The players slated to play Yoo would receive a bye.
Every year, the U.S. Championship crowns the nation’s champion chess player. Since 2009, the event has been held at the Saint Louis Chess Club.
WICF Statement on the Assault of a Videographer by GM Christopher Yoo pic.twitter.com/ygbxg7Gv0i
โ Women in Chess Foundation (@womeninchess) October 17, 2024
Right now, Caruana is the American champion. He also triumphed in 2016 and 2022. At the age of twelve, Yoo managed to become the youngest international master in the chess history of America. Later, at the age of ten, Abhimanyu Mishra broke that record by becoming the youngest international master. In 2022, Yoo attained Grandmaster status.
Video cut of Christopher Yoo’s accident at the #USChessChamps by @Gold_Chess
What happens after that may be released by STL Chess Clubhttps://t.co/vHsgjJELXZ
โ Chessdom (@chessdom) October 17, 2024