FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026: Pakistan refuses to play Israel, gives transition

Pakistan on Wednesday refused to play Israel in the opening round of the 46th FIDE World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, securing a 4-0 victory for their opponents.

Pakistan did not field a single player for the scheduled match, leaving all four boards unplayed in the open part of the tournament. The Pakistan Chess Federation (CFP) said the decision was in line with the country’s policy towards Israel and was also meant to express solidarity with the Palestinian people.

CFP President Syed Zeeshan Naqvi said that Pakistan has a clear and consistent policy on Israel and that the federation cannot participate in a match that contradicts the government’s position.

“We boycotted the match to show solidarity with the Palestinian people,” Naqvi said.

He added that Pakistan would continue to participate in international sporting events, but would respect the Pakistani government’s official position on Israel.

The Pakistan-Israel match was scheduled for Wednesday as part of the opening round of the prestigious biennial. However, Pakistan refused to participate and handed Israel a comprehensive 4-0 win without a move being played on any of the four boards.

The 46th FIDE World Chess Olympiad takes place in Samarkand from September 15 to 27. The tournament has separate open and women’s sections and more than 390 teams are registered in both competitions.

The Chess Olympiad is one of the biggest events in the international chess calendar, bringing together national teams from around the world.

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Issued by:

Saurabh Kumar

Published on:

16 Sep 2026 19:13 IST