The Empty Chair in Samarkand: When Faith and Schedule Collide

On Monday morning at the 2026 Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, the Dutch men's team walked into the playing hall, sat down, and faced an empty board. Their opponents, Israel, never showed up for round six. The same happened in the women's section against Bulgaria. Israel's request to reschedule their games due to Yom Kippur, after successfully doing so in round five with Singapore and Colombia, was rejected this time. The Netherlands and Bulgaria declined FIDE's request to change the starting time. As a result, Israel forfeited both matches. The story began with Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism, which fell on September 20-21 in 2026, overlapping with rounds five and six of the Olympiad. Observant Jews refrain from work and play from sundown to nightfall. In round five, Israel asked FIDE to play earlier, and Singapore's open team and Colombia's women's team agreed to start one hour and fifteen minutes ahead of schedule at the Savitsky Hotel. This allowed the Israeli players to finish before sunset. The gesture was praised widely. In round six, Israel requested a start after 7:30 PM or a postponement to Tuesday, the rest day. However, their opponents — the Netherlands in the Open section and Bulgaria in the Women's section — refused. FIDE confirmed that both teams were entitled to decline. Israel did not appear, and both matches were awarded to their opponents by forfeit. The tournament sees Israel's campaign suffer a significant setback, as they had won four of their first five rounds and were seeded 22nd in both sections. This incident raises deeper questions about the tension between religious observance and rigid competition schedules. While some call the Dutch and Bulgarian decisions unkind, others defend their right to prioritize preparation and fairness. In chess, declining an offer — even a request to reschedule — is a legitimate move, but it leaves a mark on the spirit of the game. The empty chair at Samarkand will be remembered long after the final round.