Chess and Saudi Arabia

Sir, – Further to "Chess forbidden in Islam, rules Saudi Arabia's grand mufti" (January 21st), chess players in Saudi Arabia now find themselves caught between a rook and a hard place. It is unclear whether Saudi chess players share their grand mufti's black-and-white views on the matter.

Perhaps it was inevitable that any game which permits a bishop to unseat the king might eventually fall under suspicion in a unitary Islamic absolute monarchy. – Yours, etc,

Dr JOHN GIBBONS,

Castlebar,

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Co Mayo.

Sir, – The news that the Saudi grand mufti has decreed chess forbidden in Islam will no doubt be a blow to Arabian knights. – Yours, etc,

BRIAN AHERN,

Dublin 15.