Champion admits to using a smartphone on the toilet to cheat

A grand chess master confessed to cheating after publishing a photo of what appeared to be him, using his phone on the toilet to help him win at a tournament.

Igors Rausis, 58, was known in the chess world for climbing the rankings in the last six years, which is unusual for a sport generally dominated by young players. The meteoric rise of the Czech champion has thrilled many fans of the sport, who found themselves in shock Thursday when Rausis was caught cheating.

At a tournament in Strasbourg, France, someone took a picture, obtained by The Telegraph, of what looked like Rausis sitting on the toilet, fully clothed, using his mobile phone during the competition.

The photo shook the chess world, which prides itself on being a "gentleman's sport".

The World Chess Federation (FIDE) told NBC News by email that there was an "incident" in Strasbourg and "a player signed a letter in which he admitted to committing a wrongdoing", but did not wish to comment in detail what had happened.

Regardless, Rausis, whom NBC News could not contact to comment on his remarks, came back in the spirit of Chess.com, saying "I just lost my mind".

"I confirmed using my phone during the game by writing [statement]. He said, adding, "What more could I say? "

Rausis then told the London Times that he was using chess software on his phone in the bathroom.

FIDE told NBC News that she had recently approved tougher penalties for cheating. Rausis could face a five-year ban and the loss of his grandmaster title.

Although FIDE does not officially make a statement on this issue, some of its staff have turned to social media to discuss the controversy and question Rausis' past success.

On Thursday, FIDE Commission Secretary for Fair Play, Yuri Garret, said on Facebook that the organization has been following a player for months in what appears to be a reference to Rausis. And Friday, Emil Sutovsky, chief executive of FIDE, wrote on Facebook about a "cheater" who managed to succeed in a "very suspicious" and "dubious" way.

Rausis said Friday at Chess.com that his actions would spell the end of his competitive chess player career.

"At least, what I committed yesterday is a good lesson, not for me – I've already played at my last game of chess," he said.