FIDE Chess Olympiad 2026: Pakistan refuses to play Israel, gives walkover

Pakistan refused to play Israel in the opening round of the 46th FIDE World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Wednesday, giving its opponents a 4-0 victory by walkover.Pakistan did not field a single player for the scheduled match, leaving all four boards unplayed in the Open section of the tournament. The Chess Federation of Pakistan (CFP) said the decision was in line with the country's policy towards Israel and was also intended to express solidarity with the Palestinian people.CFP President Syed Zeeshan Naqvi said Pakistan had a clear and consistent policy regarding Israel and that the federation could not take part in a match that went against the government's position."We have boycotted the match to express solidarity with the Palestinian people," Naqvi said.He added…