Chess Olympiad 2026: Pakistan boycotts Israel match in solidarity with Palestine

Samarkand: Pakistan’s national chess team forfeited its opening-round match against Israel at the 46th FIDE World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Wednesday, 16 September 2026. The Pakistani squad declined to field players across all four boards in the Open section, resulting in an automatic 4-0 walkover victory awarded to Israel by default. The scheduled fixture at the biennial tournament passed without a single move being played, marking an immediate political statement on the opening day of competition in Uzbekistan.

Adherence to State Policy and Solidarity

Addressing the decision, Chess Federation of Pakistan (CFP) President Syed Zeeshan Naqvi confirmed that the boycott directly reflected Pakistan’s long-standing diplomatic stance. Naqvi stated that the federation could not participate in a fixture that contradicted the Pakistani government’s official policy of non-recognition towards Israel. Naqvi emphasised that the walkover was also executed to express explicit solidarity with the Palestinian people. CFP officials reiterated that while Pakistan remains committed to competing in international sporting events, national teams are required to respect the state’s formal diplomatic guidelines.

Tournament Dynamics and Broad Participation

Despite forfeiting the opening round, Pakistan remains eligible to compete in the remaining rounds of the 11-round tournament running through 27 September. The 46th Chess Olympiad features over 390 registered teams competing across separate Open and Women’s divisions in Samarkand. Israel’s Open team features prominent Grandmasters including Ilia Smirin and Maxim Rodshtein, while Pakistan’s side includes FIDE Masters Muhammad Waqar and Amer Karim. As the tournament proceeds, the default win places Israel early in the upper bracket, while Pakistan resumes its campaign in the subsequent round.