Pakistan has handed Israel a 4-0 win by walkover after not playing against them in the opening round of the ongoing FIDE Chess Olympiad on Wednesday (Sep 16) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The move came in support of Palestine, as informed by Chess Federation of Pakistan (CFP) chief Syed Zeeshan Naqvi, according to the Times of Karachi. Naqvi also said that the decision was in accordance with the Pakistan government's official stance on Israel.<h2>Why didn't Pakistan play Israel in the Chess Olympiad?</h2>Pakistan Chess Federation chief Naqvi said to the Times of Karachi, as reported by The Hindu: "Pakistan has a clear and consistent policy regarding Israel and ... the federation could not participate in a match contrary to the government’s policy.""We have boycotted the match to express solidarity with the Palestinian people," he added. As a result, Israel got a 4-0 win without moving a single piece on the board.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/they-can-endlessly-torture-you-england-coach-tuchel-stands-by-substitutions-against-argentina-in-fifa-world-cup-semis-1789627527028">England coach Tuchel stands by substitutions against Argentina in FIFA WC semis</a>Pakistan next plays Seychelles in the second round of the 46th Chess Olympiad.

<h2>What about other matches?</h2>Among other matches, most of the top nations won their first-round matches with a 4-0 scoreline. India, however, won 3-1 against Thailand as <a href="https://x.com/FIDE_chess/status/2100259299100393960">Arjun Erigaisi lost against Laohawirapap Prin</a>."Erigaisi had enjoyed the better position for much of the game, but a tactical oversight towards the end allowed Laohawirapap to turn the tables and secure a memorable win," read a release by the Chess Olympiad.Results of the five top matches in the opening round of the Open section:United States of America 3.5-0.5 Iraq India 3-1 Thailand Jamaica 0-4 Uzbekistan China 4-0 Uganda Faroe Islands 0-4 GermanyResults of the five top matches in the Women’s section:India 4-0 Dominican Republic Tunisia 0-4 Georgia Kazakhstan 4-0 Botswana Zambia 0-4 China United States of America 4-0 Andorra&nbsp;

Pakistan forfeited their opening round match of the 46th Chess Olympiad to Israel via 4-0 walkover, citing government policy and solidarity with Palestine. Most top nations, including India, won.

Pakistan has handed Israel a 4-0 win by walkover after not playing against them in the opening round of the ongoing FIDE Chess Olympiad on Wednesday (Sep 16) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The move came in support of Palestine, as informed by Chess Federation of Pakistan (CFP) chief Syed Zeeshan Naqvi, according to the Times of Karachi. Naqvi also said that the decision was in accordance with the Pakistan government's official stance on Israel. Why didn't Pakistan play Israel in the Chess Olympiad? Pakistan Chess Federation chief Naqvi said to the Times of Karachi, as reported by The Hindu: "Pakistan has a clear and consistent policy regarding Israel and ... the federation could not participate in a match contrary to the government’s policy." "We have boycotted the match to express solidarity with the Palestinian people," he added. As a result, Israel got a 4-0 win without moving a single piece on the board. Also Read - England coach Tuchel stands by substitutions against Argentina in FIFA WC semis Pakistan next plays Seychelles in the second round of the 46th Chess Olympiad.

Pakistan forfeited their opening round match of the 46th Chess Olympiad to Israel via 4-0 walkover, citing government policy and solidarity with Palestine. Most top nations, including India, won.

FIDE Chess Olympiad: Pakistan forfeit opening round matches against Israel

Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian chess grand master, has won the first ever FIDE Freestyle World Championship. Carlsen won the four-game final with a score of 2.5-1.5 against Italian-American Fabiano Caruana on Sunday (Feb 15) in Weissenhaus, Germany. This was Carlsen's 21st title in total and he now has a title in all formats of FIDE World Champioships. Carlsen has previously won five classical World Championships, six World Rapid Championships and nine World Blitz Championships well. He was not supposed to win on Sunday, but somehow kept going and won the series turning Game 3 from a lost position against Caruana.<h2>Carlsen wins maiden FIDE Freestyle World Championship</h2>Reacting after win which came as shock to Carlsen as well, he said: "It’s certainly not one of my most convincing wins today, but it feels great to win on a bit of an off-day. I’m a little disappointed that I couldn’t bring the level that I showed yesterday. It feels great to win but I can do even better."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t20-world-cup-2026-gimmick-every-time-unforgiving-pak-fans-troll-own-team-after-another-loss-vs-india-1771218687879">T20 WC 2026 | Unforgiving Pak fans troll own team after another loss vs India</a>Talking about Game 3 which changed everything, Carlsen acknowledged: "I thought I was doing reasonably well for a long time and then I missed one of his resources and then I reacted poorly. Usually when you get a completely lost position, it happens gradually. But in this case I captured his knight (15…Bxh4) and then I realised he has an in-between check and I can resign. I still had a little bit of hope. At one point when he found some nice moves, I thought this game was over."Both Carlsen and Caruana, by the virture of being the finalist, qualified for the 2027 FIDE World Freestyle Championship as well. Along with them, Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan) also qualifed after finishing fourth with a win over Vincent Keymer (Germany). India's Arjun Erigasi finished sixth after losing to USA's Hans Niemann for the fifth place.<h2>How much is the winning prize?</h2>The first-ever Freestyle World Chess Championship had a total prize pool of $300,000 out of which $100,000 will be awarded to the 1st placed player - in this case - Magnus Carlsen.

Both Carlsen and Caruana, by virture of being the finalist, qualified for the 2027 FIDE World Freestyle Championship as well. The first-ever Freestyle World Chess Championship had a total prize pool of $300,000 out of which $100,000 will be awarded to the 1st placed player - Magnus Carlsen.

Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian chess grand master, has won the first ever FIDE Freestyle World Championship. Carlsen won the four-game final with a score of 2.5-1.5 against Italian-American Fabiano Caruana on Sunday (Feb 15) in Weissenhaus, Germany. This was Carlsen's 21st title in total and he now has a title in all formats of FIDE World Champioships. Carlsen has previously won five classical World Championships, six World Rapid Championships and nine World Blitz Championships well. He was not supposed to win on Sunday, but somehow kept going and won the series turning Game 3 from a lost position against Caruana. Carlsen wins maiden FIDE Freestyle World Championship Reacting after win which came as shock to Carlsen as well, he said: "It’s certainly not one of my most convincing wins today, but it feels great to win on a bit of an off-day. I’m a little disappointed that I couldn’t bring the level that I showed yesterday. It feels great to win but I can do even better." Also Read - T20 WC 2026 | Unforgiving Pak fans troll own team after another loss vs India Talking about Game 3 which changed everything, Carlsen acknowledged: "I thought I was doing reasonably well for a long time and then I missed one of his resources and then I reacted poorly. Usually when you get a completely lost position, it happens gradually. But in this case I captured his knight (15…Bxh4) and then I realised he has an in-between check and I can resign. I still had a little bit of hope. At one point when he found some nice moves, I thought this game was over." Both Carlsen and Caruana, by the virture of being the finalist, qualified for the 2027 FIDE World Freestyle Championship as well. Along with them, Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan) also qualifed after finishing fourth with a win over Vincent Keymer (Germany). India's Arjun Erigasi finished sixth after losing to USA's Hans Niemann for the fifth place. How much is the winning prize? The first-ever Freestyle World Chess Championship had a total prize pool of $300,000 out of which $100,000 will be awarded to the 1st placed player - in this case - Magnus Carlsen.

Both Carlsen and Caruana, by virture of being the finalist, qualified for the 2027 FIDE World Freestyle Championship as well. The first-ever Freestyle World Chess Championship had a total prize pool of $300,000 out of which $100,000 will be awarded to the 1st placed player - Magnus Carlsen.

'I’m a little disappointed:' Magnus Carlsen after winning 'almost lost' maiden FIDE Freestyle World Championship

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FIDE Chess Olympiad: Pakistan forfeit opening round matches against Israel

Carlsen wins 'almost lost' maiden FIDE Freestyle World Championship