Draughts match nearly triggers diplomatic incident between Poland and Russia

Polish official Jacek Pawlicki removed Russian player Tamara Tansykkuzhina's flag during her match

Not widely reputed as a game of belligerence and bellicosity, women's draughts almost sparked a diplomatic incident between Warsaw and Moscow after a Polish official removed a Russian player's flag during a world championship match.

Damian Reszka, the president of the Polish draughts federation, apologised following outrage on Russian social media, but said organisers had no option but to comply with international sporting rules barring Russians from competing under their flag.