There was a touching tribute to the Israeli captives held by Hamas, as well as pleasant rivalry and sportsmanship between Israelis and Germans in the event.
On Thursday night, the Berlin Assembly hosted a unique chess match in honor of the hostages held in Gaza and to further cement relations between Germany and Israel.
Judit Polgar, the greatest chess player of all time, and her sister Sophie, a chess player and noticed artist, took on 40 German competitors in a simultaneous display on Thursday in support of the Israeli hostages in Gaza.
Polgar is a global role model for women in chess and a chess icon in her own right. Famous leaders like Polgar usually avoid participating in events that might harm their standing and reputation globally, yet she bravely went to the event on behalf of the hostages.
The relatives of Gadi Mozes and Carmel Gat, whose loved ones are being held prisoner in Gaza by Hamas, spoke poignantly about their family members who have been held by the terrorist organization for 160 days.
German Officials Protest Antisemitism
In her introductory remarks, the event’s president, Marlene Schoenberger, a member of the German Parliament, stressed the need to fight antisemitism, which is on the rise and harming Jews worldwide. She also stated that it is vital to stop Hamas from attacking Israel in the future.
Schoenberger expressed gratitude to the Berlin Chess Federation for setting up the event. Ingrid Lauterbach, the president of the German Chess Federation, made a speech after the event about the need for stronger action against Iran to stop Iranian chess players from competing against Israeli players. The event also included a round-table discussion on antisemitism in sports.
Germany’s Deputy Israeli Ambassador Israel and Germany’s relationship was stronger than ever, according to Aharon Sagi.
The event’s organizer, Lior Isenberg, also discussed the Chess4Solidarity campaign, which targets antisemitism. He thanked the Diaspora Ministry for supporting the campaign as well as other organizations that assisted with event planning.
An international online tournament featuring 133 participants from Germany and Israel was held simultaneously, showing close ties even further. The competition allowed players to compete remotely. The main competition was won by the previously successful German Jewish chess great Georg Meier, who finished with 9 points from 9 games.