KABUL, Afghanistan — More than three years after the Taliban’s return to power, Afghanistan’s national chess federation remains in a state of uncertainty, with no formal leadership, administrative structure or authorization to resume activities.
Officials from the Chess Federation say the organization has effectively been suspended since 2021, when the Taliban took control of the country, and that all efforts to revive the sport have so far failed.
“We are at serious risk of losing chess entirely from the country’s athletic scene,” said Wais, the federation’s deputy, in a statement to local media. He warned that continued inaction could result in the permanent disappearance of the game in Afghanistan.
According to Wais, chess players recently sought clarification from the Taliban’s sports authority, only to be told that the matter had been referred to a special commission tasked with determining whether chess is permissible under Islamic law.
The federation has appealed to the media to amplify the concerns of athletes left in limbo, many of whom fear for the future of one of the world’s most enduring intellectual sports.
While chess is widely regarded internationally as a tool for developing concentration, strategic thinking and cognitive skills, its status in Afghanistan remains precarious. The country had been active in international chess competitions in recent years, before the regime change halted much of the nation’s athletic programming.
