Chinese chess champion banned for defecating on public property
Yan Chenglong, a 48-year-old national Xiangqi (Chinese chess) champion, has lost his title and been banned from playing for a year due to inappropriate behavior. The Chinese Xiangqi Association (CXA) took away Yan's title and prize money after he defecated in a hotel bathtub in Hainan, China, during a victory celebration, an act that "damaged hotel property, violated public order and good morals," according to the association.
Rumors of cheating with anal beads
Besides the scandalous behavior, Yan has been accused of cheating during the competition for using anal beads, attached to wireless transmitters to send and receive signals. According to reports on social media site Weibo, Yan "clenched and unclenched rhythmically" to communicate chess board information via code to a computer. This then sent back instructions on the moves to make in the game in the form of vibrations.
CXA addresses cheating allegations
The Chinese Xiangqi Association had to address the cheating rumors due to the consequential "impact on the competition and the event" of Xiangqi. However, the CXA stated that with their current understanding, it is "impossible to prove that Yan engaged in cheating via 'anal beads' as speculated on social media." Even though the cheating allegations could not be proven, Yan's title was still revoked and he was banned for a year due to his inappropriate behavior.
Yan's actions have damaged hotel property
The national tournament was held on the Chinese island of Hainan last week. The CXA claims that shortly after earning the title of "Xiangqi King" at the event, Yan began drinking alcohol with pals in his hotel room. The CXA statement said that he later defecated in his room's bathtub, "damaging hotel property and violating public order and good morals."
Prize money forfeited by Yan was not disclosed
The exact amount of prize money Yan forfeited as a result of his actions was not disclosed by the association. However, Xiangqi tournaments often assure winners tens of thousands of yuan, according to AFP. Before the scandal, the CXA had shared a social media post congratulating Yan and the runners-up players for their "spectacularly heated high-level gameplay," including a photo of Yan on stage holding up his prize certificate.
