On Sunday, vice-president of (FIDE) Israel Gelfer told  that for seven  chess players "will not be issued" for a  tournament in the  (KSA). The 2017 King Salman Rapid and Blitz World Championships from December 26 to December 30 in  is to go ahead without any changes, the vice-president said. Spokesperson of the Saudi Arabian embassy in the Fatimah Baeshen , "Related to the purported politicization of the International Chess Tournament hosted by Riyadh: the Kingdom has allowed the participation of all citizens.The exception is whereby KSA has historically not had diplomatic ties with a specific country-thus has maintained its policy." Saudi Arabia does not recognise Israel. Despite their diplomatic tensions with  , Israel, and  , FIDE tweeted they had "secured" visas for Qatari and Iranian chess players on Monday. In November, FIDE's deputy president Georgios Makropoulos told Reuters they were "making a huge effort to ensure that all players get their visas". About 180 chess players were to participate in the event. The total prize money of the tournament is 2 million, with largest individual prize money about US 750 thousand. In November, chess Grand Master tweeted, "To organize a chess tournament in a country where basic  aren't valued is horrible. Chess is a game where all different sorts of people can come together, not a game in which people are divided because of their religion or country of origin." This is not the first time Israeli players have faced problems while playing in the  nations. In October, Israeli were not permitted to wear the Israeli flag or symbols, or bear the country's name on their judo uniform for a judo grand slam in the  . Israeli judokas had to compete without their national flag and the anthem of the was played at the medal ceremony when Israeli athlete won a gold medal.
On Sunday, vice-president of (FIDE) Israel Gelfer told Reuters that for seven Israeli chess players "will not be issued" for a chess tournament in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The 2017 King Salman Rapid and Blitz World Championships from December 26 to December 30 in Riyadh is to go ahead without any changes, the vice-president said. Spokesperson of the Saudi Arabian embassy in the US tweeted , "Related to the purported politicization of the International Chess Tournament hosted by Riyadh: the Kingdom has allowed the participation of all citizens.The exception is whereby KSA has historically not had diplomatic ties with a specific country-thus has maintained its policy." Saudi Arabia does not recognise Israel. Despite their diplomatic tensions with Iran , Israel, and Qatar , FIDE tweeted they had "secured" visas for Qatari and Iranian chess players on Monday. In November, FIDE's deputy president Georgios Makropoulos told Reuters they were "making a huge effort to ensure that all players get their visas". About 180 chess players were to participate in the event. The total prize money of the tournament is US$2 million, with largest individual prize money about US$ 750 thousand. In November, chess Grand Master tweeted, "To organize a chess tournament in a country where basic human rights aren't valued is horrible. Chess is a game where all different sorts of people can come together, not a game in which people are divided because of their religion or country of origin." This is not the first time Israeli players have faced problems while playing in the Middle East nations. In October, Israeli were not permitted to wear the Israeli flag or symbols, or bear the country's name on their judo uniform for a judo grand slam in the United Arab Emirates . Israeli judokas had to compete without their national flag and the anthem of the was played at the medal ceremony when Israeli athlete won a gold medal.
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Reuters
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Israeli
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chess
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Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Riyadh
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Fatimah Baeshen
US tweeted
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Iran
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Qatar
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2 million, with largest individual prize money about US
US$2 million, with largest individual prize money about US$
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human rights
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Middle East
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United Arab Emirates