A decades-long rivalry over the Falkland Islands is playing out in the least likely of forums - the civil world of chess.

An ugly row is brewing over a recent decision by the Argentinian Chess Federation (ACF) to host a tournament on the island and list the location as "Puerto Argentino" - the name given to the capital Stanley by Argentine troops when they occupied it for 10 weeks during the war.

Staged in a hotel near a memorial of Margaret Thatcher it has prompted an uproar among the English Chess Federation (ECF), which has accused Argentina of a "diplomatic provocation", and ignited lingering tensions around the 1982 conflict.

World Chess Federation (FIDE) chiefs have now been called in to settle the dispute, which centres on claims over the sovereignty of the isolated and sparsely-populated British overseas territory.

The government-backed sporting body ACF’s involvement came to light last month when they asked FIDE to recognise the tournament as a ranking event.