2026 Chess Olympiad: Israel absent in round six over Yom Kippur, Netherlands and Bulgaria win by forfeit

The 2026 Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, has been dominated by a story beyond the board: the Israeli team failed to appear for round-six matches in both the Open and Women's sections. The reason was Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism. On Monday, September 21, 2026, the Netherlands in the Open section and Bulgaria in the Women's section were awarded full-point forfeit victories after Israel did not show up. This came just one day after Singapore and Colombia had agreed to reschedule their round-five matches against Israel to an earlier time at the Savitsky Hotel, allowing Israeli players to finish before sundown. FIDE confirmed that it had contacted the Netherlands and Bulgaria, but both teams declined to change the schedule. Israel had requested either a start after 7:30 PM on Monday or a move to Tuesday, September 22, the rest day. The opponents were entitled to refuse under tournament regulations. Video footage showed the Dutch team entering the venue and waiting at empty boards. The forfeits are a major setback for Israel, which had won four of five rounds and was ranked 22nd in both sections. The decision sparked debate over religious accommodation, competitive fairness, and sportsmanship, with Singapore and Colombia praised for their flexibility and the Netherlands and Bulgaria defended for their right to prioritize their own preparation. The incident raises questions about how international tournaments handle religious holidays and whether FIDE should create clearer rules for such cases. Israel's decision to honor Yom Kippur over sporting results is a reminder that faith and competition do not always align easily.