The Iranian women’s chess team has made headlines at the 2024 Chess Olympiad by refusing to play their final-round match against Israel, resulting in an automatic 4-0 victory for Israel. The forfeit, driven by longstanding political tensions between the two nations, overshadowed the final day of the Olympiad.
Israel secure 4-0 win without a move
On the last day of the Chess Olympiad, all eyes were on the women’s section, where several teams, including India and Kazakhstan, were vying for the gold medal. However, a different kind of drama unfolded when the Iranian team declined to play their scheduled match against Israel.
This decision meant Israel was awarded a 4-0 victory by default as Iran failed to show up at the board.
The match was officially declared a forfeit after the default time elapsed at 11:30 CET, with no moves being played.
Political standoff overshadows Chess Olympiad
The political tension between Iran and Israel, both of whom do not maintain diplomatic relations, has extended to the sporting arena for years. This latest development at the Chess Olympiad is another instance of sports being impacted by international relations. Iran’s refusal to compete against Israel in various sports has become a recurring issue, and this decision added another chapter to that history.
Israel’s top player, Marsel Efroimski, who was set to compete on board 1, expressed disappointment. “It’s a shame that politics is mixed with sports. In the Olympic sports, there is a severe penalty for not showing up, and it is expected from FIDE to put an end to this behaviour,” she said.
Broader Issue in Chess World: Iran vs Israel
Renowned chess journalist Leon Watson weighed in, noting that the Iran-Israel conflict has long posed challenges to the chess world. He stated, “The Iran problem is one of the major reasons why chess was out of the Olympic movement until 1995. FIDE is in a difficult position—whether it takes action or not, it faces criticism. However, something must be done to address this issue.”
As the Chess Olympiad concludes, Iran’s refusal to play Israel serves as a stark reminder of how politics can affect sports, even in an arena as intellectual and peaceful as chess. This incident will likely fuel further debate on the role of politics in international sporting events.
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