The Chinese Weiqi Association recently handed down a severe punishment to a young player for a serious violation. According to the association's announcement, 19-year-old professional player Qin Siyue was banned from competition for eight years and stripped of her professional ranking for using an AI program on her mobile phone to cheat during a match.
The incident occurred on December 15, 2024, during the ninth round of the National Weiqi Championship women's group. Qin Siyue was found to be carrying a mobile phone during a routine inspection by the referee. Investigations, including video evidence, testimony from referees, other players, and staff, confirmed she had secretly used her phone to cheat. Qin Siyue also withheld information during questioning, further aggravating the offense.
The Chinese Weiqi Association took the matter very seriously. Following an investigation by the Discipline and Ethics Committee, and in accordance with the Chinese Weiqi Association Discipline Code and Punishment Regulations, the following penalties were imposed on Qin Siyue: revocation of her professional ranking, nullification of all her results in the 2024 National Weiqi Championship, and an eight-year ban from all Weiqi events and activities organized or authorized by the Chinese Weiqi Association and its member units.
Qin Siyue had only recently been promoted to professional 2nd dan in June of last year and had won the Huarui Education Cup National Weiqi Championship (team event) in 2022. This incident has not only dealt a devastating blow to her career but also set a very bad example for young Weiqi players.
Weiqi is an intellectual sport with a rich cultural heritage, emphasizing fair competition and ethical conduct. The Chinese Weiqi Association's punishment aims to uphold the integrity of the sport and reiterate its zero-tolerance policy towards cheating. As a traditional intellectual competition, Weiqi will continue to attract many young people, and maintaining the fairness and honesty of the game will remain a crucial mission for the association.
Key Points:
📉19-year-old Weiqi player Qin Siyue was caught using AI to cheat and faces severe penalties.
🏅The Chinese Weiqi Association has revoked her professional ranking, banned her for eight years, and nullified her competition results.
🚫This incident sets a bad example for young players, and the association has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy towards cheating.
