Pakistan Boycotts Israel at FIDE Chess Olympiad, Forfeits Round 1 in Solidarity with Palestine

SAMARKAND - Pakistan refused to field any players against Israel in the opening round of the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, handing Israel a 4-0 walkover victory on Wednesday.

🇵🇰 PAKISTAN SLAPS ISRAEL IN FRONT OF THE WORLD AT THE WORLD CHESS GAMES ♟️

Pakistan did not field a single player against Israel in Round 1 of the FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026 in Samarkand.

FREE PALESTINE! 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/nfNGky5N5c

- Zard si Gana (@ZardSi) September 16, 2026

Official Confirmation

The Chess Federation of Pakistan (CFP) confirmed the boycott was a deliberate decision made in line with Pakistan's official policy of non-recognition toward Israel and to express solidarity with the Palestinian people.

CFP President Syed Zeeshan Naqvi stated:

"We have boycotted the match to express solidarity with the Palestinian people."

Naqvi added that Pakistan will continue to participate in international sporting events but that the federation respects the Government of Pakistan's official position on Israel.

Match Details

The Pakistan-Israel match was scheduled for Round 1 in the Open section. Pakistan fielded no players on any of the four boards, and official match records show all boards as "unplayed," awarding Israel the full four points without a single move being made.

Pakistan's Open section team includes FIDE Master Muhammad Waqar and Amer Karim. Israel's team includes Grandmasters Ilia Smirin and Maxim Rodshtein.

Pakistan Remains in Tournament

Despite the forfeit, Pakistan remains eligible to compete in the remaining rounds of the 11-round Swiss-system tournament. The event runs from September 15 to 27, with approximately 200 teams competing across Open and Women's sections.

This is not the first time Pakistan has refused to compete against Israel in international sport. Pakistani teams have historically avoided facing Israeli opponents, consistent with the government's policy of non-recognition.