Title of Chinese Chess Champion Revoked After Indecorous Incident
The Chinese chess community is reeling from a scandal involving the national champion, whose recent misconduct led to the revocation of his title this Monday.
Celebrations turned sour when the newly crowned champion Yan Chenglong, 48, inappropriately defecated in a hotel bathtub following his tournament victory.
Yan had triumphed over numerous competitors to clinch the title of "Xiangqi King" at a national event organized by the Chinese Xiangqi Association (CXA).
However, his elation was fleeting when the CXA decided to retract his title and withhold his winnings due to his actions that night, which they described as "disrupting public order" and indicative of "extremely bad character."
Compounding the controversy, the CXA had to confront online allegations that Yan used anal beads with embedded wireless transmitters to cheat. It was rumored he might have used these devices to receive guidance on game moves through coded vibrations, although the association stated there was no concrete proof to support these claims.
Despite dismissing the cheating rumors, the CXA still sanctioned Yan with a one-year ban from playing due to the unacceptable nature of his behavior, stating it was "of extremely bad character."
The exact sum of the confiscated prize money remains undisclosed, but it is known that Xiangqi competitions can offer substantial rewards in the range of several thousand dollars.
Prior to the incident, the CXA had praised Yan and fellow participants on social media for their impressive performances, even showcasing a photo of Yan with his prize.