Medieval chess was more inclusive than the world around it

Popular Science 

Black, white, Muslim, or Christian: Players found common ground across the board. A black chess player about to win against a light-skinned cleric. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Chess is widely seen as a great equalizer. Players from every social, racial, and economic class have squared off across the board for nearly 1,500 years, with victories determined solely by skill and strategy.