Former chess champion Kramnik banned over cheating remarks

Sun Sep 06 2026 00:54:02 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

FIDE bans former world champion Vladimir Kramnik for a year after he accused fellow players, including late grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, of cheating.

The World Chess Federation has imposed a one‑year ban on former champion Vladimir Kramnik, citing repeated verbal attacks that called other players cheating. Kramnik’s remarks, which sparked controversy over the death of US grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky, were deemed violations of FIDE’s ethics code. While the 12‑month suspension has a three‑year probationary period, the ban will be active for one year unless further breaches occur. The decision has drawn criticism from top players such as Hikaru Nakamura, Magnus Carlsen and Nihal Sarin, all of whom condemned Kramnik’s conduct. Kramnik has announced an appeal and the chess community remains divided over how cheating allegations should be handled.

Former chess champion Kramnik banned over cheating remarks

The World Chess Federation (FIDE) has banned former world champion Vladimir Kramnik for at least a year following verbal attacks he made against other players, including the late Daniel Naroditsky.

FIDE found Kramnik responsible for multiple violations of its ethics and disciplinary code after he branded other players cheating. The ban includes a twelve‑month suspension, suspended for a three‑year probationary period; thus the active suspension is one year, unless further breaches occur during probation.

Naroditsky, a popular grandmaster, teacher and commentator, died last October at age 29. He denied any wrongdoing and said the controversy had taken a toll on him during his final Twitch broadcast. A toxicology report released in 2026 indicated that he had multiple drugs in his system and was killed by an abnormal heart‑beat caused by accidental overdose.

Kramnik wrote on X that he will appeal against his suspension. Some prominent figures in the chess community – including world number two Hikaru Nakamura, former champion Magnus Carlsen and Indian grandmaster Nihal Sarin – previously condemned Kramnik’s conduct.

Kramnik, who was world champion from 2000‑2007, calls himself an advocate for fair play in chess. Naroditsky earned his grandmaster title as a teenager after winning the 2013 U.S. Junior Championship.

FIDE stressed that the findings were not meant to assess the validity of Kramnik’s remarks but rather the manner in which the allegations were communicated publicly. The federation affirmed that combating cheating remains a top priority, but such accusations must go through its established procedures.

The case underscores the ongoing tension in the chess world between maintaining fair play and navigating social media communication. Players and fans alike are watching closely as Kramnik’s appeal process unfolds.