Whenever Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) saw any of his household playing chess (or backgammon), he would beat him and break the chessboard.

Yahya said: I heard from Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him: Playing chess is not good, there is no benefit or goodness in it, and he considered it disliked. And I heard from Imam Malik, may Allah have mercy on him: He used to say: Playing chess and all frivolous, useless games are disliked, and he used to recite this verse «﴿فَمَاذَا بَعْدَ الْحَقِّ إِلَّا الضَّلَالُ﴾ [يونس: 32] » "So what is there after the truth except misguidance?"