The game of chess is thought to have originated in India, before spreading to China and eventually Europe. There is no record of chess being played in Scandinavia during the Viking Age, however this does not mean that Vikings did not play the game. It is possible that chess was simply not well-documented during this time period.
There are a few references to chess in Norse mythology, which suggests that the game was known to the Vikings. One story tells of Odin playing chess with an ogre, while another features Loki tricking Thor into playing for stakes that he cannot afford to lose. These stories suggest that chess was a popular game among the Norse people, even if there is no concrete evidence of it being played.
So did Vikings play chess? It’s hard to say for sure, but it seems likely that they were at least familiar with the game.