First World University Online Championship 2021 ends with multiple disqualifications including the winner

Tournament
The 1st FIDE World University Individual Online Rapid Championship 2021 was held on 20, 21 and 25,  March.  This event was organised by The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in consultation with the FIDE Global Strategy Commission. 

The event was open to students who met the following  requirements:
a) Have their secondary education completed;
b) Are currently officially registered as proceeding towards a degree or diploma at a university;
c) Were born in 1995 or later; and
d) Are not banned by the Hosting Internet Platform

884 university students took part in this first time chess event.  According to GM Bartlomiej Macieia, Tournament Director, students from about 100 countries participated.  

The top three finishers in the Open and Women's sections were as follow:

1st FIDE World University Online Chess Championship (Open Section)
GM Shevchenko Kirilll (UKR) - 4.0/5.0 pts.
Ivan Boberskyj Lviv State Universit

GM Antipov Mikhail AI (RUS) - 3.0/5.0 pts
University of Missouri

GM Oparin Grigoriy (RUS) - 3.0/5.0 pts.
University of Missouri

1st FIDE World University Online Chess Championship (Women Section)
WIM Antolak Julia (POL) - 4.0/5.0 pts.
University of Texas Rio Grande Vall

WGM Sargsyan Anna M. (ARM) - 3.5/5.0 pts.
Armenian State Institute of Physica

IM Badelka Olga (BLR) - 2.5/5.0 pts.
University of Missouri


Controversy of disqualified players
Twenty (20) players from the World University Individual Online Rapid Championship were disqualified for breach of Fair Play.  The disqualification of players by the Fair Play Panel (FPP) of the FIDE World University Chess Championships took place after investigating and reviewing 5,036 games.  

It is being reported that IM Iujila Osmak, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, who finished first place before the review of games by FPP was one of the 20 players disqualified.  One of the most controversial issues about this investigation is that the decision of FPP to disqualify players for suspected fair play violation is final and is not subject to any appeal, review or other challenge.  Furthermore, the disqualified players have lost their right to participate in the next events of the 2021 Online University Championships.  

In its statement FPP indicated that "[n]either FIDE, nor the Hosting Internet Platform claims that the determination of a suspected fair play violation is proof of actual cheating or an admission of guilt by the disqualification player." (FIDE World University Online Chess Championship 2021 Fair Play - 26 March 2021)

Being disqualified without an appeal process must be for the players a very "bitter bill to swallow".