Saudi attack on Qatar at chess tournament sparks fury

Shaher Alenzi put it a bit more bluntly when he said: 'Turki al-Sheikh's speech against Qatar during the chess tournament cannot even be described as rude and lacking or morals. We did not reach this level of distant ignorance. This is an upbringing of a street filled with dirt and chronic diseases. 

Tony Attlas added: 'What do you want them to do for their rights. During the chess tournament yesterday, Turki al-Sheikh's only concern was the country of Qatar, it is ripping his heart. Give your view on the speech he gave, and does it suit a chairman? 

In London, the English Chess Federation said Saudi Arabia should be barred from hosting future tournaments, despite its generous prize fund. 

The Qatar Chess Federation said the Saudi authorities had 'required the players not to raise the flag of their country during the competitions. 

It added: 'This is a blatant injustice against our players and a violation of all international laws and sports. 

The row came six months after a Saudi-led alliance launched a diplomatic and transport blockade of Qatar which it accused of cosying up to Iran and supporting terrorism, which Doha denies. 

In 2016 Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti, Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin-Abdullah al-Sheikh, issued a ban on chess calling it a form of gambling which is 'a waste of time, money and a reason for the enmity between players.