Anna Muzychuk, Ukrainian chess grandmaster, pulled out of the The King Salman World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship in Riyadh, effectively giving up her world championships. The tournament begins today.
She was told she would be required to obey certain Saudi rules for women, including wearing an abaya, the full-length robes women are required to adorn in public in Saudi Arabia.
Here is what she said:
In a few days I am going to lose two World Champion titles - one by one. Just because I decided not to go to Saudi Arabia. Not to play by someone's rules, not to wear abaya, not to be accompanied getting outside, and altogether not to feel myself a secondary creature
Individual prizes at the Saudi tournament are $750,000, with a maximum prize of $2 million. This is a very real sacrifice, so Ms. Muzychuk should really be commended for standing up for womens’ rights.
In another controversy at this tournament, seven Israeli competitors were denied visas by Saudi authorities to enable them to compete in the tournament.
Many leading chess players have objected to the hosting the tournament in Saudi Arabia.