The 6th round of the Chess Olympiad 2026 took place in Samarkand on September 21. The national team of Israel was scheduled to play against the team of the Netherlands. The members of the Israeli team did not show up for the games.

Israel proposed to play the match in the evening, after the end of the national holiday Yom Kippur, or on the rest day on September 22. The Netherlands team refused the proposal and received a technical victory 4-0. The Israeli women’s team did not show up for the games and received a 0-4 loss against Bulgaria.

Yom Kippur is the holiest day in Judaism. This holiday is celebrated with a strict 25-hour fast. People abstain from work and do not engage in competitive activities during the fast.

The Chess Olympiad 2026 takes place from September 16 to 27 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The members of the Pakistan team refused to play in the match against team Israel in the first round of the event. Israel received a technical victory 4-0 in the first round. The Israel team is in 48th place after 6 days of the event.

Credit: Rafal Oleksiewicz / FIDE