A 17-year-old chess superstar has been arrested aft pursuing a convulsive outburst that led to him being expelled from nan United States Chess Championship successful St Louis connected Wednesday.
Christopher Yoo had been beaten by defending champion GM Fabiano Caruana but appeared to respond angrily to nan conclusion and was seen successful a video published online scrunching up his people expanse aft nan match, pinch nan teen being near pinch only 1 constituent from his opening 5 games.
He is said to person stormed retired of nan video hall, earlier being alleged to person deed a videographer successful nan back.
The St Louis Chess Club subsequently expelled Yoo from nan tourney and banned him from nan installation for his 'gross usurpation of codification of behaviour and nan US chess safe spot policy.'
The US Chess Federation declare that nan 17-year-old was charged pinch fourth-degree battle and was later released to nan custody of his parents. The organisation adds 'his lawsuit will beryllium handled successful nan juvenile justness system.'
Police person said Yoo struck nan woman, who was aged 24, successful nan backmost pinch his fist.
His results from nan arena will now beryllium annulled pinch nan US Chess Federation adding that those players who were owed to look him will now person a bye.
Yoo has since released a connection pursuing nan incident and admitting his remorse astatine hitting nan videographer claiming that he was 'very sad for what I did' earlier adding 'I dream nan videographer is OK.'
'I americium really sorry for hitting nan videographer,' he said. 'I was disappointed losing nan crippled to Caruana and mislaid my temper. That's nary excuse, I know.
Christopher Yoo (left) was arrested pursuing a convulsive incident astatine nan US Chess Championships
The 17-year-old is alleged to person deed a videographer astatine nan arena aft he mislaid a game
'I americium really sorry for what I did. It was a superior mistake. Every time I wish I could spell backmost successful clip and undo it, but I can’t. I americium very sad for what I did and I dream nan videographer is OK. I cognize that it’s not acceptable to do what I did. I judge nan consequences of my actions.
'All I tin do is to beryllium amended from now on. I committedness that this won't hap again.
'Best of luck to Caruana. I americium sorry this happened aft our game. And champion of luck to nan different players and champion wishes to nan St. Louis Chess Club.'
ST Louis Chess Club besides took to societal media to rumor a connection connected nan incident.
'The St Louis chess nine instantly provided assistance to nan videographer and called nan constabulary who responded,' nan connection read.
'Cheif arbiter Chris Bird expelled Yoo from nan tourney owed to nan gross violations of our codification of behaviour and nan US Chess safe play policy.
'The Saint Louis Chess Club afloat supports this decision, and has banned Yoo from nan club.'
The connection adds: 'We return subordinate behaviour earnestly and do not tolerate violations of our standards. We acted swiftly to reside this situation, ensuring a respectful and safe situation for everyone progressive successful nan tournament.'
His parents had besides spoken retired connected nan incident online, stating that their boy had issued a individual apology to nan videographer.
'First and foremost, Christopher wants to publically apologize to nan female videographer who was an guiltless unfortunate of his anger aft his nonaccomplishment of a chess game,' nan connection read.
'Contrary to what immoderate person suggested, nan videographer did thing to provoke Christopher. We heard she’s doing okay but we don’t person immoderate specifications and we believe she is doing good some physically and emotionally. Her well-being is of heavy interest to each of us.
'Christopher offers nary excuses for his behavior. He is conscionable very sad and ashamed he behaved successful that way. If you saw him tearfully apologize to nan Executive Director of nan Club you’d understand he is genuinely remorseful.
Christopher Yoo, Fabiano Caruana’ya kaybettiği maçtan sonra sinirlerine hakim olamadı ve notasyon kağıdını yırttı. Yoo sonrasında ise kameramana saldırdığı gerekçesiyle turnuvadan diskalifiye edildi. pic.twitter.com/uw8PfgopVK
— Sabri Can Onay Yontar (@sabopasha) October 17, 2024The St Louis Chess Club person since issued a connection connected nan incident, stating Yoo had been expelled from nan event
'Though he hasn’t had an opportunity to talk to nan videographer aft nan incident, he has sent her a individual apology via nan Executive Director. Christopher understands thing for illustration this tin ne'er hap again and ne'er ever should person happened successful nan first place. He would besides for illustration to apologize to tourney officials, nan Saint Louis Chess Club, his chap players successful nan tournament, US Chess, and everyone successful and extracurricular nan chess organization this whitethorn person affected. He accepts afloat work for what happened and nan imaginable consequences.'
The parents went connected to adhd that they were shocked by nan incident earlier expressing their 'deepest apologies' to each those who had been affected by nan incident.
'Many group person expressed concerns astir nan intelligence well-being of our 17-year-old son. As parents we much than stock their concern. 'Something for illustration this has ne'er happened earlier and he will beryllium getting therapy to thief make judge his intelligence well-being is decently cared for and that thing for illustration this will not hap again.
'As his parents, we are still successful daze astatine this move of events and soul-searching arsenic to really we could person prevented this. As his begetter and main 'chess parent' I consciousness a peculiar work for really this has impacted an guiltless videographer, my son, and everyone this incident has touched and I profoundly apologize - Christopher’s Parents.
'P.S. Christopher is drafting his ain apology and will merchandise it erstwhile it’s ready.'
Yoo was calved successful 2006 successful California and has been touted arsenic 1 of nan brightest young prospects successful nan sport, having made history by becoming nan youngest International Master successful American history successful 2019, earlier he was surpassed by Abhimanyu Mishra that aforesaid year.
The world of chess has been rocked by respective unsavoury headlines successful caller years.
In August a chess champion, Amina Abakarova, 43, was seen successful a video appearing to smear mercury connected a group of chess pieces to poison her rival up of a title successful Dagestan.
Yoo subsequently slammed portion of his scorecard connected nan table, pinch a steward urging him to calm down
He past stepped up and appeared to large wind distant from nan array wherever he was playing
It comes aft Magnus Carlsen accused his rival Hans Niemann of cheating. The second had been cleared of nan allegations, earlier suing Carlsen for ruining his career.
Carlsen has since complained again astir cheating successful nan athletics successful 2023 aft he faced disconnected against Alisher Suleymenov. He had claimed his force was wearing a watch that made him suffer his concentration.
In an update, he continued: 'I did inquire an arbiter during nan crippled whether watches were allowed, and he clarified that smartwatches were banned, but not analog watches. This seems to beryllium against FIDE rules for events of this stature.'