IRISH detectives have arrested an Italian after a man was knifed to death in a frenzied attack during a late-night chess game.

Police were called to the alleged murder early yesterday morning of 39-year-old Tom O'Gorman, a former journalist with the Catholic Voice magazine in Dublin.

They believe a violent row erupted over a chess move and spiralled out of control and he suffered multiple stab wounds. A 34-year-old from Palermo was arrested at the scene. Police are not looking for anyone else.

A Garda source said: "It was a very unpleasant scene for our people to walk into. This was a bizarre killing."