We previously reported on how Liel Levitan, a 7-year-old chess prodigy from Haifa, was not being permitted to participate in the World Chess Championship because the host nation, Tunisia, would not allow Israelis to compete. Following pressure, the Tunisian Chess Federation has now agreed to allow a Levitan to participate in the tournament.
The FIDE World Chess Federation pressured its Tunisian affiliate and the country’s authorities to allow Levitan to compete. FIDE threatened to revoke Tunisia’s privilege to host the tournament. The Tunisian Chess Federation subsequently issued a statement that “players from all countries are welcome, without exception.”
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