Israeli Chess Players Quit Spanish Tournament Over Ban On National Flag

Seven Israeli chess players have pulled out of a tournament in Spain after being informed they would not be allowed to compete under the Israeli flag. Organizers of the event, which opened Friday in Sestao, said the decision was linked to the war in Gaza and expressed support for the Palestinians.

“One after another they kept pulling out and finally the last one, this very morning, decided not to come,” Miguel Angel Olmo, president of the Sestao Chess Club, which is hosting the competition, told the Times of Israel.

“We have acted in accordance with international regulations, but we invited them not to take part and we thank them for their decision,” Olmo added.

Spain’s Prime Minister implied earlier this week that he would stop Israel’s war in Gaza by using nuclear weapons if he were able to; a remark condemned forcefully by Israel as a call for genocide.

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) said it had not been informed beforehand about the restriction.

“FIDE had no prior knowledge of this decision, did not make any ruling on this, nor was it consulted by the organizers,” the federation stated. “FIDE strongly condemns any form of discrimination, including on the basis of nationality and flag.”

While Russian and Belarusian players have been required to compete without their flags since 2022 because of sanctions over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, no similar policy applies to Israelis.

The Sestao competition has attracted more than 250 participants from 33 nations.

“We respect the International Chess Federation regulations for open tournaments, but we also have convictions: we have worked to find a peaceful solution, informing the players and the public, and we believe we have achieved our goal,” the club said in a statement.

Local groups in Sestao had announced rallies in support of the Palestinians, which the club said it welcomed.