Saudi Arabia Blocks Israel’s Chess Team From World Championships
Saudi said that The relationships between countries should not be part of international events such as championships.
In an earlier statement promoting the event, the federation said
that it had raised concerns about visas for its competitors but that it had not been advised that "any player will not be able to participate." The federation also said that female participants would not have to wear head coverings, "a first for any sporting event in Saudi Arabia." The tournament ends with a closing ceremony on Saturday.
"Israel is not fielding a team at the World Chess Championships." The decision came as a surprise to the Israeli team, especially after a Sunday announcement
that visas had been issued to players from Qatar and Iran, two countries with poor relations with Saudi Arabia.
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And last week, Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine, one of the top women’s speed chess players, said she and her sister, Mariya, were skipping the event altogether, in protest of Saudi Arabia’s treatment of women.
In a letter sent Tuesday to the federation, Zvika Barkai, the chairman of the Israeli group, repeated the demand for compensation
and called on the federation to cancel a contract with Saudi Arabia to host the event next year.
Lior Aizenberg said that Not only do we want to participate in this event, we want to leave politics out of it and out of sports altogether,
26, 2017
Israel has been left out of the World Chess Championships, which kicked off Tuesday in Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia, after its players were unable to obtain the visas they needed to attend.