Chris Bird: To anyone saying Christopher Yoo was somehow provoked by the victim, stop it
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
17.10.2024 Levon Aronian: Christopher Yoo’s punch was well prepared against an innocent person
18.10.2024 Vasif Durarbayli on the Christopher Yoo case
IA Chris Bird, who was arbiter of the match Yoo – Caruana, says, “To anyone saying GM Yoo was somehow provoked by the victim, stop it. That’s sickening and in my opinion just complete and utter BS. As far as I am concerned, the action was treated with the contempt it deserved and the relevant law/chess authorities will take it from here.”
Earlier Chriss Bird clarified, “The videographer was not at fault, nobody approached Yoo as he left the playing room, the punch was completely unprovoked, from behind and in no way accidental […] Today will go down as a very sad day in the history of US Chess Championships.” He added, “For those asking this question, yes the games will still be submitted for rating. For those asking the more important question, yes the victim appeared to be OK as of last night and is surrounded by friends and receiving the support she needs.”