Levon Aronian: Christopher Yoo’s punch was well prepared against an innocent person
After losing his game of round 5 from the US Chess Championship, GM Christopher Yoo destroyed his scoresheet, stormed out of the playing hall, “and struck a videographer from behind”. The Saint Louis chess club and the organizers of the US Championship did not approve of the reaction of Christopher Yoo and expelled him from the US Championship.
As of now Christopher Yoo is banned from the Saint Louis Chess Club, suspended from the US Chess Federation, with 4th degree charges by the Saint Louis police, and shocking information continues to come.
Timeline of the Christopher Yoo case
16.10.2024 Christopher Yoo – Fabiano Caruana round 5 game
16.10.2024 Christopher Yoo is expelled from the US Championship and banned from St Louis Chess Club
17.10.2024 Chris Bird, “The punch by Christopher Yoo was completely unprovoked, from behind and in no way accidental”
17.10.2024 USCF suspends Christopher Yoo
17.10.2024 WICF with a statement on the assault of a videographer by GM Christopher Yoo
17.10.2024 Christopher Yoo is charged with fourth-degree assault by the St. Louis police
In a very short answer to Ivan Sokolov, Levon Aronian, one of the participants in the US Chess Championship explains the situation that happened after the game Christopher Yoo – Fabiano Caruana. Aronian states that the punch was a well prepared assault against an innocent person and that STL Chess Club actions are even mild for the situation “I saw the video and it’s awful. It was a well prepared punch to a completely innocent person. The club’s action is very mild , I assure you. We need to acknowledge that chess is a very tough mental sport. Mental health awareness and training for our young players is a must,” says Aronian.