Israel took a clean 4‑0 win in the opening round, but the score came from a forfeit rather than a board fight. The match was set for 15 September at the Silk Road International Exhibition Centre in Samarkand, but Pakistan did not appear on any of the four boards.
"We have boycotted the match to express solidarity with the Palestinian people," Syed Zeeshan Naqvi, president of the Chess Federation of Pakistan, said. The federation’s decision echoes the state policy that refuses to recognise Israel, casting a political shadow over the tournament.
The forfeit hands Israel the maximum four points, boosting its standing in the 11‑round Swiss. Pakistan, however, is still eligible to play the remaining rounds and could claw back momentum in the next match. The Olympiad’s format means every point counts, and the early loss could dent Pakistan’s chance of a top‑ten finish.
Pakistan’s next opponent will be announced early next week, while Israel is slated to face the USA in round two. Both teams will need to regroup quickly if they hope to keep their campaign alive in this fiercely competitive event.