The prevailing cross-border tension ended Pakistan chess team’s campaign even before it started as the players were due to return on Thursday night after a last-minute pull out from the 44th Olympiad here.

Pakistan was invited by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) to participate in the Chess Olympiad being held in Mamallapuram near here from July 28 to August 10. However, Pakistan on Thursday withdrew from the prestigious event, citing the torch relay of the event passing through Jammu and Kashmir, which the neighbouring country views as a disputed area.