Game Blotter

A statement made in 2014 by Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah, the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, declaring Chess forbidden received a wave of sudden internet attention this past month. In answering a question on his regular television show, the Sheik had said that Chess is a waste of time, promotes conflict between players, and encourages gambling. However, subsequent announcements by the Saudi Chess Association indicate that the group has had no trouble receiving official recognition or organizing events.

The sheikh was also apparently unaware of Marottichal, India, where Chess, played actively by 90 percent of the population, was the tool that helped break the village of its addition to cheap booze.

Derrick Maddox, an inmate of Fayette County Prison (Pennsylvania), is facing charges for theft of candy bars and assault with a Chess piece. When his fellow inmate initially refused to hand over the candy, Maddox allegedly punched the man twice in the ribs and then forced him to insert a Chess piece in to his rectum. According to Pittsburgh CBS affiliate KDKA TV, “Police reviewed surveillance footage of the incident, in which the victim can be seen leaving his cell and walking uncomfortably with a wide stance.”

Eagle-Gryphon Games and Martin Wallace have settled their dispute over the rights to the board game, Brass. The publisher has sold off its entire print run and a new version of the game will be produced by Roxley Games.

Playing dice for drinks is a tradition at bars in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. And that tradition includes playing against the bartender. So when the owners of three bars decided to put a stop to the games at their establishments—because their employees were getting distracted and drunk and losing money—locals were very upset. In fact, the uproar was so fierce that bar dice was allowed back in just 3 days later.

Hasbro has been sued by Font Brothers for using their Generation B font, as well as distributing it and directing others to use it, on My Little Pony products without a license.

A man in Guyana found himself in trouble with the law after kicking another man who wouldn’t play Dominoes with him

There appears to be some dispute over whether the next World Chess Championship will take place in the United States. The head of the Russian Chess Federation says no, presumably because the United State government instituted sanctions against FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. Agon Limited, the company under contract with the World Chess Federation to run the event, says yes.

A cat-shaped mummy-like figure made of toilet paper was found in Chess Park in DeLand, Florida. Police are investigating and have increased patrols. The West Volusia Beacon promises to update the story when more information becomes available.

Iran’s highest ranked Chess grandmaster, Ehsan Ghaem-Maghami, refused to play against Yuliya Shvayger of Israel in the Basel Schachfestival tournament in Switzerland. According to Iran’s MEHR News Agency, Ghaem-Maghami “rejected the existence of the Zionist state to announce to the world the voice of justice and support for the oppressed people of Palestine.” The tournament’s organizers disqualified him from the remainder of the event.

Pat’s Games in Austin, Texas was broken in to and had $75,000 worth of Magic: The Gathering cards stolen. The owners of the store believe the thieves are Magic players because they knew exactly where to go to grab the most valuable product in the store.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has rejected Electronic Arts’ request to register a trademark for its upcoming video game, Unravel, indicating that the name had the potential to cause confusion in the marketplace with SimplyFun’s Beary’s Unravel.

An attempt was made to oust the board of the Singapore Chess Federation. Some say the effort was motivated by international politics. Others say the board, made up of Chess-parents, not players, is not qualified. In any case, it was rejected by a 60 percent majority vote of the membership, which vote may have been influenced by the fact that membership renewals were rejected at the meeting.

Six men in Lake Charles, Louisiana are under arrest, accused of organizing a dice game only so that they could rob other people who came to play.

Disco choreographer Deney Terrio and Hasbro have settled their dispute over claims that the latter’s Vinnie Terrio toy violates the choreographer’s publicity rights by copying his signature dance move, the finger point made famous by John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever.

The Boardroom, a board game cafe under construction in Kingston upon Hull, was able to secure an alcohol license despite the objection of locals.

Two gunmen robbed a group playing Dominoes in Tortola, British Virgin Islands.