Saudi Arabia stages chess event two years after game was declared ’forbidden’

Saudi Arabia is hosting a world chess tournament for the first time nearly two years after the country’s top cleric issued a religious edict against playing the board game.

Saudi Arabia is hosting a world chess tournament for the first time nearly two years after the country’s top cleric issued a religious edict against playing the board game.

Politics have also interfered, with players from Israel and Qatar missing the tournament due to regional tensions.