For The Love Of The Game

Chess addiction is a real thing. As H.G. Wells once put it, “The passion for playing chess is one of the most unaccountable in the world. [ . . . ] It is the most absorbing of occupations, the least satisfying of desires, an aimless excrescence upon life. It annihilates a man. [ . . . ] There is no remorse like the remorse of chess.” Chess can make you ignore your job, your spouse, and even your own life. In AD 813, the succession struggle between the brothers Caliph Muhammad ibn Harun al-Amin and al-Ma’mun was reaching its climax as al-Ma’mun’s forces laid siege to the Abbasid capital of Baghdad. In an unparalleled bloodbath, al-Ma’mun advanced street by street to the Golden Gate Palace. Within its thick circular walls, Caliph al-Amin was engaged in a different kind of battle. Instead of fighting his brother, he was dueling his favorite eunuch, Kauthar, in a game of chess. According to the medieval Islamic historian Jirjis al-Makin, a messenger burst in with news of the approaching enemy. “O Commander of the faithful,” implored the emissary, “this is not the time to play. Pray arise and attend to matters of more serious moment.” He might as well have been light-years away. Al-Amin was too engrossed at the game to pay attention to the messenger’s desperate entreaties for him to escape while there was yet time.“Patience my friend,” the caliph calmly replied. “I see that in a few moves I shall give Kauthar checkmate.” A few moments later, al-Amin triumphantly trapped Kauthar’s king. But by then it was too late for al-Amin. The man who checkmated his eunuch was himself checkmated as his enemies swarmed the palace. Al-Amin was swiftly beheaded, and his brother Al-Ma’mun took over the Abbasid Empire. H.G. Wells was right. Chess can annihilate a man.