The first round of the Chess Olympiad 2026 took place in Samarkand on September 16. The national team of Pakistan was scheduled to play against the team of Israel. The members of the Pakistan team refused to participate in the round and did not show up for the games.

President of the Pakistan Chess Federation Syed Zeeshan Ali Naqvi made a statement about the situation. He explained that Pakistan has a clear policy regarding Israel. Their federation cannot participate in a match that contradicts the position of the country’s government.

Syed added that Pakistan will continue to participate in international competitions. The federation will continue to adhere to the official position of the Pakistan government regarding Israel.

In all four games, the Pakistani players were given a technical loss. All players of the Israel team have a Classical rating above 2500 and the Grandmaster title. The highest-rated player of the Pakistan team, FM Waqar Muhammad, has a rating of 2188 points.

The Chess Olympiad is a prestigious national team competition. The event is held every two years and organized by FIDE. The 2026 Olympiad event takes place from September 16 to 27 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Credit: Bani Chess Bulletin X