Chess grandmaster Christopher Yoo was disqualified at the USA Championship after he punched a woman following his loss, which has seen him banned from the venue
A chess grandmaster has been arrested after allegedly punching a woman – which has seen him disqualified from a tournament.
Christopher Yoo was disqualified on Wednesday after he let his emotions boil over following a defeat by defending champion GM Fabiano Curuana. Yoo’s angry reaction was captured on video as he tore up his score sheet at the United States Chess Championship in St. Louis last week.
The loss left him with just one point from his opening five games at the tournament and he left the video hall before allegedly hitting a female videographer in the back. St Louis Chess Club expelled Yoo and banned him from the facility.
His results have been scratched from the tournament and every player who was due to face him have been given a bye.
A statement from the club read: “The St Louis Chess Club immediately provided assistance to the videographer and called the police who responded. Chief arbiter Chris Bird expelled Yoo from the tournament due to the gross violations of our code of conduct and the US Chess safe play policy. The Saint Louis Chess Club fully supports this decision, and has banned Yoo from the club.”
Yoo himself has release a statement and apologised, claiming he “lost his temper” and “wishes he could undo it”.
He said: “I am really sorry for hitting the videographer. I was disappointed losing the game to Caruana and lost my temper. That’s no excuse, I know. I am really sorry for what I did. It was a serious mistake. Every day I wish I could go back in time and undo it, but I can’t.
“I am very sad for what I did and I hope the videographer is OK. I know that it’s not acceptable to do what I did. I accept the consequences of my actions. All I can do is to be better from now on. I promise that this won’t happen again. Best of luck to Caruana. I am sorry this happened after our game. And best of luck to the other players and best wishes to the St. Louis Chess Club.”
The US Chess Federation state that Yoo has been charged with fourth-degree assault after hitting the 24-year-old woman in the back. He has since been released into the custody of his parents, with the USCF explaining: “His case will be handled in the juvenile justice system.”
