Chess tournament tries to bar Israeli flag

FIDE told Spanish organizers to rescind their order to players to compete under the world chess body’s flag or be disqualified.

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

The world body governing chess forced a Spanish tournament’s organizers Friday to rescind their order to Israeli players to play as individuals rather than under their national flag.

After the Israeli Chess Federation contacted its parent body, the International Chess Federation (FIDE), to complain, FIDE said it had not been consulted and had no prior knowledge of the decision made by the people behind the XL Open Sestao Basque Country competition.

“FIDE strongly condemns any form of discrimination, including on the basis of nationality and flag,” the federation said in a statement on X. “The same rules apply to Israel and its players as to all other member federations that are not under any form of sanctions.”

“We … will take all necessary actions to ensure our rules and principles are respected at all events,” it concluded.

This led to a quick turnaround by the organizers.

The tournament director, Miguel Ángel del Olmo Alonso, had notified Israeli competitors just a week before the match that both the local and the national chess federations had agreed to require Israeli players to compete under the FIDE flag “for reasons beyond our control” and that if the players refused, they would be banned.

The Spanish government is considered one of the most antisemitic in Europe, repeatedly and harshly criticizing Israel’s conduct of its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip that was sparked by the terrorists’ massacre of 1,200 people and kidnapping of 251 on Oct. 7, 2023.

One of the Israeli competitors, Erez Kupervaser, whose sister had been among the victims, told The Jerusalem Post on Monday that the Spanish letter had deeply affected him.

“I think about how my sister was murdered just for being Israeli,” he said. “And how the world treats us now, after so much suffering. I immediately thought of Shani. It was harsh, a painful feeling. I was deeply saddened and angry at the organizers.”

He had never experienced discrimination at other international tournaments, he said, and was “glad” the controversy was resolved after FIDE made its announcement.

Israeli federation chairman Zvika Barkai was also gratified by the body’s “firm stance against any attempt to discriminate against Israeli chess players.”

“FIDE’s statement sends an important message to the international community and reminds us that chess, as the most noble and ancient game, must remain above all political disputes,” he said.

“The Israeli Chess Federation calls on all parties to maintain a sporting spirit, fairness and the unity of the global chess community,” Barkai added, and he invited all players, “including Spaniards,” to attend the international championship that Israel will be hosting in Jerusalem in November.

The Spanish event is set to run Sept. 12-18.

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