Two Saudi officials play chess during the opening of the first chess tournament in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia is hosting the tournament nearly two years after the country's top cleric issued a religious edict against playing the board game. (Saudi Press Agency via AP)
JERUSALEM — Saudi Arabia is hosting an international chess tournament this week, and the fact female players are permitted to play without sporting the traditional head coverings is a first, and a nod to the kingdom’s attempts at modernization and reform.
But these liberal steps appear to extend only so far.
Seven Israeli professional chess players have been prevented from participating in the World Chess Federation tournament after their visas were denied by the Kingdom, an indication that even the most sportsmanlike events are still tinged with politics.
The exclusion of these players indicates that recent comments by Israeli political leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over warming ties with Sunni Arab states might be overly optimistic.
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It also suggests that despite Israel and Saudi Arabia sharing a fear of Iranian attempts to increase its influence in the region, a common enemy, or even the sharing intelligence information does not necessarily mean open friendship.
In a Twitter message, Fatimah Baeshen, a spokeswoman for the Saudi embassy in the U.S., responded to the “purported politicization” of the event, saying visas had been granted to all citizens, except those from countries with no diplomatic ties to the kingdom.
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.
— Fatimah S Baeshen (@FatimahSBaeshen) December 25, 2017
But Lior Aizenberg, spokesman of the Israeli Chess Federation, said the decision to prevent the Israelis from attending was indeed political.
He said that before the tournament, which begins Tuesday, Israelis had been in touch with the Saudi Chess Federation who were, he said, “extremely positive that we would get visas to attend.”
“There need to be a clear separate between sports and politics,” said Aizenberg. “We want our players to play in all competitions, what is going on in the Arab world does not interest us.”
He said the seven players who had planned to participate were now seeking financial compensation from the World Chess Federation, also known as FIDE.
Promoting the King Salman Rapid & Blitz World Championship 2017 in Riyadh, FIDE said the prize for the event is $2,000,000, with individual prize funds of $750,000. It said that ten of the world’s top male chess players and 11 of the top female players would participate, along with players from 55 countries.
A statement about the tournament published last month highlighted that women players would not be forced to cover their heads during the games.
“A first for any sporting event in Saudi Arabia,” read the statement.
The organization also said it had been working to “ensure that visas will be issued to all players who have confirmed their participation.” Players from Qatar and Iran had also struggled to obtain visas but by the start of the tournament had all been granted entry permits.
At the opening ceremony held on Monday, the organization’s deputy president Georgios Makropoulos expressed hope that such a situation would be avoided next time.
“We also believe that our sport, and especially such events, should help in developing peace and friendship among people. We would like to see the next event, here, as King Salman Peace & Friendship World Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships. Where everybody will be welcomed. I am certain that Saudi Arabia can send a strong message for peace and friendship around the world and we are here with my colleagues to help,” said Makropoulos, according to FIDE’s website.
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