There was a game called chaturanga in northern India during the Gupta empire over 1500 years ago [550 A.D.]. Its popularity reached Persia [now known as Iran]. Among the Persians, chatrang became the game’s name.
The love for this game didn’t diminish even after Persia was conquered by the Arabs. They were the people who introduced it to the Arab world as shatranj.
About the same era, Buddhist pilgrims, Silk Road traders and numerous travellers brought the game to the Far East where it evolved into xiangqi [in China], shogi [among the Japanese people] and janggi [from the Koreans].
Over the years, the game arrived in Europe through Spain [during the Moorish conquest of Spain around 800 A.D.] and Russia [from the Khanates in the muslim territories]. After the Europeans have mastered it, they made some changes which significantly improved the game and the whole world fell in love with their version. Some of the notable changes included its new name [chess], rules of the game, the chessboard’s design and new identities for the chessmen [king, queen, bishop, knight, rook and pawn].
The popularity of the game across the globe eventually led to the creation of the International Chess Federation [FIDE: Fédération Internationale des Échecs] on July 20, 1924. Its main purpose is to always standardize the rules of chess and related international competitions. For the records, in 1927, FIDE organised its first Chess Olympiad.
42 years after FIDE’s creation, the celebration of the International Chess Day commenced on July 20, 1966. This complements the celebration of the organisation’s founding date. Various countries observe it annually.
Key Moments in History.
550 A.D.
The Birth of Chess.
The tournaments of chaturanga in northern India were truly historic. They became the reference points for the origin of chess.
800 A.D. - 1000 A.D.
Chess Arrived and Grew in Europe.
The Moors were the people who brought the game, which will later be called chess, to Spain in 800 A.D. By 1000 A.D., there had been the widespread of chess in Russia and the whole of Europe.
July 20, 1924
FIDE Was Founded.
The need for an organisation to always standardize the rules of chess and related international competitions led to the creation of FIDE.
Ways to Celebrate the International Chess Day!
A. Enjoy chess as a recreational game.
Go on a picnic with your family and friends as you take your chessboard along. Playing the game in the process will be an intellectual fun!
B. Go and join a chess club.
The membership of a chess club will give you the opportunity to always know the latest trends in the game. This can be helpful in improving your skills.
C. Learn to play chess via an artificial intelligence.
Look for some interesting video games on chess and play for as long as you want. Remember to get enough snacks by your side as you play.
Why various countries love chess!
1. The rich history of chess is undeniable.
From northern India where it began to this present day, chess has been everywhere. The information on its rich history is available to everyone.
2. Chess is a recreational game.
You can always enjoy playing chess during your vacation. The basic knowledge of the game is enough to start with.
3. Chess inspires strategic thoughts.
Everyone faces situations in life which require thinking through in the best of ways. This wouldn’t be difficult for someone who is already used to it via playing chess.
Frequently Asked Questions.
How many players can play chess at a time?
Chess requires two players at every given time. They are expected to have at least basic strategic skills to play according to its precise rules.
What is the origin of chess?
It started in northern India as chaturanga during the Gupta empire around 550 A.D.
Does chess give players any meaningful insight?
As often as you keep playing chess, your strategic thoughts will be improving in order to always see the solutions to specific challenges.
Source: https://dareyoyeledun.tumblr.com/post/657253505104510976/the-origin-of-chess
