Amsterdam Chess Tournament Bans Players Representing Clubs in Disputed Territories
The Amsterdam Chess Open in the Netherlands has announced a ban starting in 2027 on players representing clubs in disputed territories, sparking Israeli condemnation.
The organizers of the Amsterdam Chess Open in the Netherlands have announced a change to their tournament regulations, deciding that starting January 1, 2027, players representing clubs operating in territories "whose occupation has been defined as illegal by the International Court of Justice in The Hague" will be barred from participating.
The decision came following a protest against Israeli Grandmaster Alexander (Aharon) Bagrationi, who played this year for the Elitzur Shomron club in Sha'ar Shomron. Local council officials in Sha'ar Shomron accused the organizers of discrimination and appealed to the Israeli government, urging it to act to overturn the policy. Despite Bagrationi's withdrawal from the upcoming tournament, the management decided to establish a new policy for future events.
According to reports in the Netherlands, the ban will apply to players representing clubs in territories deemed unlawfully occupied, and not only in Judea and Samaria. The new regulation is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, pending legal review.
The controversy began after Bagrationi was listed among the participants for the tournament, scheduled for October 23 to 25 at the Apollo Hall in Amsterdam. This is the fourth edition of the event, considered one of Europe's largest weekend chess tournaments.
Following the publication on the Dutch chess website Schaaksite, players approached the organizers regarding Bagrationi's ties to chess clubs in settlements. The organizers consulted with The Rights Forum, an organization dealing with Palestinian rights, which confirmed the player's club connections and recommended barring his participation.
Bagrationi announced he would not participate in the upcoming tournament, stating the decision was made earlier in September due to family commitments and that he simply forgot to update the organizers. In response, he clarified that he played for Israeli clubs out of a love for chess, without any intent to express a political stance.
Following the publication, the head of the Sha'ar Shomron Regional Council, Yochai Damari, appealed to Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar and Culture and Sport Minister Miki Zohar, asking them to act against the Dutch authorities and international chess institutions to cancel the policy. He warned against setting a precedent that would allow international organizers to prevent Israeli athletes from competing due to the location of their club.
"Chess and sports in general are supposed to connect people and countries, not become a tool for political boycotts against Israel," Damari said.
