Israel Forfeit Two Matches at 2026 Chess Olympiad: When Yom Kippur Collides with the Schedule

On September 21, 2026, at the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, the Israeli men's and women's teams failed to appear for their sixth-round games. The Netherlands and Bulgaria were awarded full-point forfeits. Israel had requested to play after 7:30 p.m. or on the rest day of September 22, but opponents declined. This followed a fifth round where Singapore and Colombia agreed to start earlier due to Yom Kippur. FIDE confirmed the opponents had the right to refuse. The forfeits hurt Israel's standings. Israel, seeded 22nd in both sections, had won four of their first five games. The sixth-round absence was not a choice to abandon the tournament but a consequence of religious observance. Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism, began on the evening of September 20 and continued until the end of September 21. During this period, Israeli players could not compete. In round five, Singapore and Colombia had agreed to play 75 minutes earlier at the Savitsky Hotel so Israel could finish before sundown. In round six, the Netherlands and Bulgaria said no. FIDE stated that both opponent teams were fully entitled to decline the request. Israel then did not show up, giving the Netherlands and Bulgaria two easy match wins. Video footage showed the Dutch team walking into the venue only to find their opponents absent. For Israel, the two forfeits mean a significant setback in the standings and in tie-break calculations, especially in a Swiss-system event where every point matters. The bigger issue lies in tournament organization. Yom Kippur was known well in advance, and Israel has long been a member of FIDE. Instead of asking Israel to negotiate with each opponent round by round, FIDE should have built a clearer mechanism to handle religious conflicts. A chess culture that prides itself on intellect and fairness must also be flexible enough to accommodate faith. For the Netherlands and Bulgaria, the forfeits are legally valid but will likely leave a stain on their tournament image. A victory without playing a single move does not prove strength. For Israel, the challenge is mental: bounce back from an unfair-looking setback or sink into frustration. The rest day on September 22 gives them time to reset, but the memory of two empty chairs at Samarkand will remain a reminder that sports must do better in respecting diversity.