Why Alireza Firouzja won't be part of France national chess teams?

The French Chess Federation shocked the world when GM Alireza Firouzja's name was missing from the French Team for the Samarkand Olympiad from September 15 to September 27, 2026.

The team, featuring rising star Marc’Andria Maurizzi and bolstered by the return of Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Étienne Bacrot, looks formidable on paper, with Sebastien Maze leading the charge.

But GM Firouzja’s exclusion remains the biggest surprise, given that he has been a cornerstone for France's campaigns, raising questions about why he was left out.

Why was Firouzja left out?

Alireza Firouzja will not represent France after the French Chess Federation revealed that he will no longer receive a permanent call-up. According to Europe Echecs, the GM had left his invitation unanswered without an official reason. The FFE added that this is the fifth consecutive year in which Alireza did not participate in the European Team Championships and the Olympic Games, which is why they made the decision.

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"The national coach and technical directorate believe that representing the French national team requires a strong commitment to the national team project. Consequently, Alireza Firouzja will no longer be called up to the national team in the future, unless he clearly expresses his desire to permanently rejoin this collective endeavor," a press release from the French Chess Federation mentioned.

The FFE added that they are not questioning Firouzja’s brilliance, but called for dedication towards national duty.

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Firouzja struggled in Rapids at GC Tour

Alireza Firouzja has been one of the most exciting talents in world chess, showcasing flair and temperament in blitz. At the Grand Chess Tour’s Super Rapid & Blitz Poland event, he scored 11.5/18 in blitz and topped day one after scoring 6.5/9.

But the Iranian-French GM was struggling for consistency in rapid after finishing 9th with 6/18, wrapping up the tournament behind stars like Hans Niemann and Fabiano Caruana and finished fifth overall with 17.5 points.