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Playing chess was not allowed under the Taliban but last weekend, a coffee shop in Kandahar was the site of chess tournament. Local Kandahar journalist Rahim Akrami reports.

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MARCO WERMAN: The Afghan city of Kandahar was considered a Taliban stronghold before 2001. Even today it’s an unlikely place for someone to defy a Taliban edict. But that’s exactly what took place when a coffee shop in Kandahar staged a chess tournament last weekend. Rahim Akrami is a local journalist who’s been following the moves. He’s also the son of the director of Kandahar’s Chess Federation. Akrami says that under the Taliban very few Afghans played chess.

RAHIM AKRAMI: It was a forbidden activity back in the Taliban regime so it was a bit undermined during that regime. But the recent tournament that we had in Kandahar played a vital role in promoting the game and expanding it.

WERMAN: I’m wondering during the Taliban regime when chess was forbidden did clients come into the Kandahar and play chess in a locked room where nobody could find them?

AKRAMI: No actually at that time there was no coffee shop. It was built after the Taliban regime fell down. But at that time I remember since my dad is playing chess for a long time, he and his friends would go to one of their friend’s houses and then play in one of the rooms, preferably a basement because that way they could play it secretly because at that time it was a forbidden activity.

WERMAN: And Rahim tell me why you play chess. What do you like about the game?

AKRAMI: Well one of the first reasons was that I was very much inspired by my father who is now the Chess Federation director for Kandahar. But second of all I was playing other sports but now I am a part of this tournament and then since I was … . I was actually [INDISCERNIBLE] and I was not taking part in it but now I’m getting more into the game and I think it’s [INDISCERNIBLE]. The other reason is just to follow in my dad’s steps.

WERMAN: And who is the current chess champion Rahim?

AKRAMI: Well in this tournament that just past his name is Abdul Wasay. He won the tournament. But there are other people that are also very good players. There’s an old guy who was refereeing the game too. He’s also a good player and also my dad. He’s a member of the National Chess team.

WERMAN: I’m glad you represented your dad in that statement. I’m sure he’d be glad to hear that. Rahim I’m curious what would happen if an American GI from like one of the local bases there came into the Kandahar coffee shop to play a round of chess. What would happen?

AKRAMI: He would probably keep attention of the people. Nothing big would happen if [INDISCERNIBLE] but without security I don’t think any American or any other foreign national would want to be in a coffee shop. That’s how I look at it. I mean it may different. They might want to come here. But again it’s a question of the situation and security.

WERMAN: Well Rahim very good to speak with you.

AKRAMI: Thank you.

WERMAN: Rahim Akrami is a journalist in Kandahar. He was a spectator at Kandahar’s chess tournament.

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