English Chess Forum

A recent press release from [email protected]:


Chess May be Banned in Afghanistan

As Afghanistan falls to the Taliban, lives of many people will change dramatically, and that unfortunately includes those who play chess, because apparently the Taliban do not approve of chess.
World Chess, the official FIDE gaming platform, has 64 subscribers from Afghanistan, and we reached out to some of them to find out how they are coping with the major changes taking place in their country. The answers were disheartening: “…the country is in a dire condition and we do not know if chess will be allowed under the new government. I heartily appreciate you reaching out.”
Those who love chess now have every reason to worry. According to the 2002 report from Counterpunch, the Taliban declared a war on the game:
“When the Taliban caught Haji Shirullah, a Kabul businessman, playing chess in his office with his brother they burnt the chessboard and the pieces. ‘They put us in jail for two days,’ he recalled with a rueful smile. ‘The Taliban believed chess was a form of gambling and distracted people from saying their prayers.“

Least of their problems, I'd say.

Well its not the most important thing obviously, but of concern to some and quite rightly.

You do wonder how their previously burgeoning cricket scene will get on as well.

I have just seen that Afghanistan have withdrawn from the FIDE Online Olympiad 2021, which started today.

This is no great surprise, but concerning nonetheless. It may be an indication of what is to come.

(For the benefit of anyone wondering, England start playing on Wednesday 8th September.)