ABC under fire for questioning if rules of chess are racially insensitive

The ABC has sparked controversy after reaching out to former Australian chess representative, John Adams, to discuss whether the rules of chess could be seen as racially insensitive. Adams, an economist and chess enthusiast, took to Twitter to express his frustration, claiming that the ABC had labeled chess as racist due to the player with the white pieces moving first.

Adams criticized the national broadcaster for focusing on what he deemed as an irrelevant topic, especially during a time when people are grappling with the impacts of COVID-19. He questioned why the ABC was spending time and resources on such a debate when there are more pressing issues at hand.

Despite the backlash, the ABC confirmed that presenter James Valentine would be hosting the segment on his afternoon show. Chess expert Kevin Bonham was also contacted to provide insight on the matter, stating that the tactical nature of chess is the reason why the white pieces move first. However, he later dismissed the debate as ‘the silliest culture war ever’.

Bonham’s comments on the issue were met with criticism from some, including a segment on Sky News that condemned ‘cancel culture’. Bonham pointed out that the hosts of the show were suggesting the interview be cancelled before it even aired, further fueling the debate surrounding the topic.

As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the discussion on the rules of chess and potential racial insensitivity will play out in the public eye.