Is playing chess (as it is currently known) Islamically permissible?

Playing chess is forbidden if it distracts one from an obligatory duty or involves something prohibited, and this is by scholarly consensus.

However, if it does not distract from an obligatory duty and does not involve anything prohibited, scholars have differed concerning its ruling. The majority of scholars have ruled it to be prohibited.

They cite as evidence Allah Almighty's saying: ﴿O YOU WHO HAVE BELIEVED, INDEED, INTOXICANTS, GAMBLING, [SACRIFICING TO] STONE ALTARS [AND] DIVINING ARROWS ARE DEFILEMENT FROM THE WORK OF SATAN, SO AVOID IT THAT YOU MAY SUCCEED.﴾ (Al-Ma'idah/90).

They also cite as evidence the sayings of the Companions, such as the statements of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Ibn Omar, may Allah be pleased with them both, and the Prophet's ﷺ hadiths: "Whoever plays backgammon has disobeyed Allah and His Messenger," and "Whoever plays Nardashir is as if he dipped his hand in the flesh and blood of a swine."

Ibn Qudamah, Ibn al-Qayyim, and Al-Dhahabi ruled it to be prohibited by analogy with backgammon, because it surpasses it in corruption.