Saudi Chess Tournament Starts Without Israeli Players - FOW 24 NEWS

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Saudi Chess Tournament Starts Without Israeli Players


An international chess tournament is starting in Saudi Arabia amid controversy after Israeli players were denied visas....


A Saudi official said visas could not be granted because the kingdom had no diplomatic ties with Israel.

The Israeli Chess Federation said it would seek financial compensation.

The hosting of this first major chess tournament is being seen as part of Saudi Arabia's process of opening itself more to the outside world.

But a double world champion has said she will boycott the tournament because she does not want to wear an abaya, the full-length, loose-fitting robes women are required to wear in public in Saudi Arabia. 


Anna Muzychuk, 27, who plays for Ukraine, said that "despite the record prize fund, I am not going to play in Riyadh" even if that meant losing her two world championship titles.

The King Salman World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship is offering prizes of $750,000 (£560,000) for the open event and $250,000 for the women's event.

"To risk your life to wear abaya all the time?? Everything has its limits and headscarves in Iran was more than enough," she wrote on Facebook referring to the world championships held in the Iranian capital, Tehran, earlier this year.

In another post, published on 23 December, she said that despite feeling bitter about standing to lose her titles, she would stand by her principles. 


The American number three player, Hikaru Nakamaru, said the decision to let Saudi Arabia host the tournament was "horrible".
While seven players from Israel are set to miss the tournament after the Saudi authorities did not issue them with visas, players from Qatar and Iran will be able to attend after they were given visas at the last minute, despite their countries' strained ties with the kingdom.

The Israeli chess body said it was led to believe its players would be allowed to attend, despite the two countries not having diplomatic relations.

It has accused Saudi Arabia of misleading the World Chess Federation so that it would be selected to host the tournament.
Saudi Chess Tournament Starts Without Israeli Players Reviewed by FOW 24 News on December 26, 2017 Rating: 5 An international chess tournament is starting in Saudi Arabia amid controversy after Israeli players were denied visas....

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