Israel absent in Round 6 at the 2026 Chess Olympiad: When Yom Kippur meets the schedule and opponents' right to decline

Samarkand, the ancient city in the heart of Uzbekistan and a legendary stop on the Silk Road, is writing a special chapter in the history of the Chess Olympiad. On Monday, Round 6 of the tournament took place in a tense atmosphere as Israel failed to show up. This absence was not due to injury or tactics, but because of the holiest day in Judaism: Yom Kippur. A day earlier, Singapore and Colombia had agreed to change the schedule, but the Netherlands and Bulgaria chose to decline. In the Open section, Israel's men's team, seeded 22nd, had won 4 out of 5 rounds and were ranked 22nd. In the Women's section, the Israeli women's team, also seeded 22nd, were ranked 20th with a similar score. The two forfeits meant a significant setback for both teams. FIDE, the world chess governing body, confirmed that Israel had requested a later start after 7:30 PM local time on Monday or a move to Tuesday, the rest day. FIDE contacted the Netherlands and Bulgaria, but both refused. A FIDE spokesperson stated that the opponents were fully entitled to decline such a request. This was a contrast with Round 5, when Singapore and Colombia agreed to start their matches 1 hour and 15 minutes earlier at the Savitsky Hotel so that Israeli players could finish before sundown. Video footage showed the Dutch team entering the venue only to find their opponents absent. The incident raises difficult questions about religious observance, fair play, and flexible scheduling in elite sport. Israel paid a heavy price for a faith-based decision, while the Netherlands and Bulgaria gained points without playing. The tournament continues, but this round will linger in memory as one of the most controversial moments of the 2026 Chess Olympiad.