Pakistan declined to play its scheduled first-round match against Israel at the 46th Chess Olympiad 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The official tournament records list Israel and Pakistan as the Round 1 pairing, while subsequent results indicate that Pakistan did not take part in the match.
Pakistan Chess Federation President Zeeshan Ali Naqvi said Pakistan has a clear policy regarding Israel and that the team could not play against Israel in accordance with the government’s policy. He said the decision was also intended as an expression of solidarity with Palestine.
The Chess Olympiad is being held in Samarkand from September 16 to 27, 2026, with teams from around the world participating. Pakistan's open team includes Muhammad Waqar, Amer Karim, Mafaaz Khalid, Sohail Zaman and Shabkhez Zorez.
