Chess Tournament Bans Players from West Bank Clubs
Translated & summarized from Kipa by baba
The Amsterdam Chess Open will ban players representing clubs in Judea and Samaria starting in 2027, following complaints about an Israeli Grandmaster's affiliation with a local club. The Sha'ar Shomron Local Council head called the decision discriminatory and an expression of antisemitism. He has asked Israeli ministers to intervene with Dutch and international sports bodies to reverse the policy and prevent a precedent of barring Israeli athletes.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Amsterdam Chess Open will ban players from West Bank clubs starting January 1, 2027.
- The rule change was prompted by complaints regarding Israeli Grandmaster Aharon Barguryon's club affiliation.
- Sha'ar Shomron Local Council head Yochai Damari called the ban severe discrimination and antisemitism.
- Damari has requested intervention from Israeli ministers Gideon Sa'ar and Miki Zohar.
- The council head seeks to prevent a precedent of barring Israeli athletes from international competitions.
The Amsterdam Chess Open has announced a new regulation, effective January 1, 2027, barring players representing clubs based in Judea and Samaria from participating in the tournament. This decision follows controversy surrounding the participation of Israeli Grandmaster Aharon Barguryon, who played for the Elitzur Shomron club in 2026. The club is located in the Sha'ar Shomron local council.
According to Dutch reports, the rule change was prompted by complaints from other chess players who contacted the organizers after learning of Barguryon's potential participation. They raised concerns about his affiliation with clubs in Judea and Samaria. Barguryon himself stated he would not compete in the upcoming tournament, but the Amsterdam Chess Open foundation proceeded to alter its regulations.
The new rule specifies that players representing clubs in territories defined by the International Court of Justice as illegally occupied will not be allowed to compete. The Sha'ar Shomron Local Council has condemned the move, calling it a politicization of sports and discriminatory against Israeli athletes based on their club affiliation.
Yochai Damari, head of the Sha'ar Shomron Local Council, has appealed to Foreign Affairs Minister Gideon Sa'ar and Culture and Sport Minister Miki Zohar. Damari requested their intervention with Dutch authorities and international sports and chess bodies to overturn the policy. He aims to prevent what he described as a precedent of barring Israeli athletes from international competitions.
Damari stated, "Chess and sports in general are supposed to connect people and countries, not become a tool for political boycotts against Israel." He further asserted, "Closing the gates of an international tournament to athletes because they play in an Israeli club operating in Sha'ar Shomron is severe discrimination that we see as an expression of antisemitism and exclusion."
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