China-bound chess players not allowed to board plane

The country's brightest and most promising players were ready to do battle against Asia's best at the 7th Eastern Asia Youth Chess Championship in the island province of Hainan, China.

They already have the letter of invitation from the Hainan chess organizers. They have trained for weeks for the tournament. They have bought tickets and arranged for their accommodations in Hainan. They were even looking forward to tasting Hainan's authentic and popular chicken dish.