FIDE scores Israel technical defeat at Olympics
Israeli teams asked to move the parties because of the religious holiday of Yom Kippur, but their rivals refused
The teams of Israel were awarded technical defeats in the sixth round of the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand due to the disagreement of the teams to play in accordance with the official schedule, according to the website of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
In the open tournament, the Israeli team was supposed to play on Monday against the Netherlands team, and the women’s team against the Bulgarians.
Israeli teams asked for the parties to be postponed to a later time or Tuesday due to the Jewish religious holiday Yom Kippur, also called Judgment Day. The holiday began on the evening of September 20 and ended on Monday evening.
On the eve of the rivals of both Israeli teams agreed to start matches a little earlier, transferring the games to one of the official hotels. However, the Dutch and Bulgarian teams did not agree to change the schedule. FIDE said they had every right to do so.
In the first round of technical defeat counted the men’s team of Pakistan, which refused to play with the Israelis.
The Russians were not allowed to the Chess Olympiad.
