The European Individual Chess Championship starts on March 26 in Brezice, Slovenia.
The day before the event, Ukrainian chess players made an official statement refusing to play against Russians and Belarussians.
“We, Ukrainian chess players, refuse to play with Russian and Belarussian chess players, whichever flag they play under.
It is unacceptable for us to play with the chess players from the aggressor countries while their militaries destroy our cities, kill civilians, women, and children.
The International Chess Federation and the European Chess Union, having made shameful decisions that allow representatives of the aggressor countries to play during the war, are accountable to the entire chess world,” the statement on the Ukrainian Chess Federation’s Facebook says.
Earlier, the International Chess Federation allowed Russian and Belarussian chess players to participate in the European Individual Chess Championship 2022 under the neutral flag.