The FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championship begins today Saudi Arabia with visas not being granted to players from Israel, Iran and Qatar. It's not clear if women players will be required to wear the hijab.
ACP President Emil Sutovsky has called out players who, whilst not attending the event, did so with the rather lame excuse that they were otherwise engaged. Bravo and Brava to those players boycotting the event by stating their opposition to the policies of the repressive Saudi state.
Emil Sutovsky write this morning on Facebook:
"I call upon Western journalists and bloggers to stop with this hypocricy: "only Nakamura and Muzychuk boycotted, all others had their reasons and another plans". Nearly all US players skip the event. More than half of the top Russian players did the same. Giri, Radjabov, Adams, Topalov, Wojtaszek, Navara, two dozens of 2650+ players who had a personal right to play decided not to go. Other plans? Come on, stop with this rubbish. Professionals don't skip a 2 million World Championship because they have other plans. You have an event with the best financial conditions in history of chess, and about 40% of the top players are skipping it. Other plans, really? True - most of the players avoided making loud statements. But "other plans"? Come on, be serious."
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