in 2006 cheban returned to the individual c-1 event and it proved to be his most successful season yet. in july he took the c-1 500 m bronze medal at the 2006 european championships in račice, czech republic – his first senior medal. the following month he went one better, winning the silver medal at the world championships in szeged. cheban would win gold in the c-1 200 m event at the 2007 championships in duisburg.