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,
READ MORE
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.