Is playing chess permissible or forbidden under the mentioned conditions, and is it true that Imam Al-Shafi'i used to play chess?

We have previously mentioned the ruling on playing chess. It has not been authentically reported that Imam Al-Shafi'i permitted it; rather, what is transmitted from him is his dislike for it and his hesitation regarding its prohibition. He said about it: "It is an amusement similar to falsehood. I dislike it, but its prohibition is not clear to me."