Qatar will not be part of Speed Chess Championship to be held in Saudi Arabia after the local organizing committee banned the raising of Qatari national flag amid the ongoing diplomatic row between the small Gulf country and its neighbors. Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt have since June 5 severed ties with Qatar that they accuse of sponsoring terrorism. Qatar was to show up at the tournament with a men team at men tournament and a woman player in the women’s championship. Qatar was forced this month to relinquish rights to host 2017 edition of football Gulf Cup after Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE refused to take part in the tournament. Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain accepted to join the competition in Kuwait.