Samarkand: The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has barred Russian players from the 2026 World Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, marking Russia's third consecutive absence after the 2022 and 2024 editions.
According to Yemen News Agency, Russian Chess Federation official Alexander Tkachev stated that political considerations influenced the decision. The exclusion is part of ongoing restrictions on Russian athletes due to the Ukraine war. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich temporarily stepped down in July after facing sanctions from the EU.