Israelis unable to compete in FIDE amateur chess tournament taking place in Malaysia
FIDE's official announcement states that "all FIDE member federations and all eligible players are invited to participate." However, Malaysia's entry restrictions prevent Israelis from competing.
The World Amateur Chess Championship, organized by FIDE, is set to take place in Malaysia from November 4 to 13, but Israeli players are unable to compete due to Malaysia's immigration policy. This policy effectively prevents Israelis from participating in the tournament. Lior Eisenberg, an Israeli chess player, contacted the tournament organizers about participating and was informed that Israelis would not be allowed to play due to Malaysia's entry restrictions.
Eisenberg expressed disappointment, stating that a country that does not accept Israelis should not host a world championship. Similar controversy has arisen in the Netherlands, where Israeli grandmaster Alexander Bagrationi, who represents Israel and lives in Germany, was questioned over his involvement in clubs in Judea and Samaria.
Tournament organizers have since announced plans to bar players representing clubs located in territories deemed under illegal occupation, according to an international court. This situation highlights the inconsistency in FIDE's regulations, which previously committed to not hold events in countries that refuse to issue visas or allow entry to all eligible players, regardless of nationality.
FIDE emphasizes that its events should only be held in locations where access is guaranteed to representatives of all member federations. This raises questions about the fairness and inclusivity of international chess competitions and the need for all member federations to be treated equally.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
