International Master Vantika Agrawal, a key player in India’s Chess Olympiad-winning team, pulled out of the 3rd International President Cup A in Uzbekistan due to a major arbiter error. After her third-round game was incorrectly recorded as a loss, Vantika sought an immediate correction. However, citing FIDE’s rule barring changes to published pairings, the arbiter refused.

Announcing her withdrawal on X, Vantika expressed frustration, stating, “I can’t play in a tournament where mistakes go uncorrected.” She also urged FIDE to revise the rule to prevent such errors from affecting players’ careers.

Calling the incident stressful, Vantika highlighted the broader impact of such mistakes, particularly for players pursuing Grandmaster norms. With rising costs and high stakes, her stance sheds light on the need for better accountability in international chess administration.

This incident raises questions about player rights and arbiter responsibilities, igniting a debate about necessary reforms in FIDE’s regulations.