Israel has forfeited two matches at the 2026 Chess Olympiad after its opponents declined requests to move Monday's games to accommodate Yom Kippur.
Neither Israel's Open team nor its Women's team appeared for Round 6 at the Silk Road International Exhibition Centre in Samarkand.
The Netherlands were consequently awarded a 4-0 victory over Israel in the Open, while Bulgaria received the same result in the Women's event.
It came just 24 hours after Israel's Round 5 opponents agreed to special arrangements to allow its players to observe Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism.
Israel had asked FIDE for its Round 6 matches either to begin at 7.30pm local time or later on Monday, after the observance had ended, or to be moved to Tuesday, September 22, the Olympiad's scheduled rest day.
FIDE contacted both opposing teams.
The Netherlands and Bulgaria declined the proposed changes.
FIDE stressed that both were entitled to do so under the tournament regulations.
"Unlike in the previous round, neither opponent agreed to play at a different time from the official schedule," a FIDE spokesperson said, according to the Indian Express.
"They are fully entitled to decline such a request."
A Very Different Round 5
The outcome contrasted sharply with what happened on Sunday.
As World Chess reported, Israel needed to finish its Round 5 matches before sundown and requested an earlier start.
Singapore's Open team and Colombia's Women's team agreed.
The matches were brought forward by one hour and 15 minutes and moved away from the main Olympiad venue to the Savitsky Hotel.
FIDE said the games were conducted under the normal tournament regulations and fair-play measures.
This time, however, Israel required the opposite arrangement because Yom Kippur continued into Monday.
With the Netherlands and Bulgaria unwilling to change the scheduled playing time, the Israeli teams did not appear.
The Netherlands and Bulgaria therefore received four game points and two match points without a move being played.
Israel At Centre Of Another Olympiad Forfeit
It is the latest unusual episode involving Israel during an already eventful Olympiad.
In Round 1, Pakistan refused to play its scheduled Open match against Israel, saying it would not compete against an Israeli team.
Israel was awarded a 4-0 walkover on that occasion.
The circumstances this time are very different: the Netherlands and Bulgaria were prepared to play their scheduled matches, but did not agree to Israel's request to change when they were played.
Israel's Open team had entered Round 6 with eight match points from five rounds and was seeded 22nd in the competition.
The forfeits come immediately before Tuesday's rest day, with five rounds remaining when play resumes in Samarkand.