About Chess History

Chess, a timeless intellectual pursuit, emerged in India around the 6th century as chaturanga, a strategic game mirroring ancient warfare with infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots. By the 7th century, it reached Persia as shatranj, flourishing across the Islamic world through Arab conquests. By the 10th century, chess entered Europe via Spain and Sicily, transforming in the 15th century when the queen and bishop gained their modern powers, making the game faster and more dynamic.

The first international chess tournament in London in 1851 heralded the era of competitive play. In 1886, Wilhelm Steinitz became the first official World Chess Champion, and in 1924, FIDE standardized the rules. Over centuries, legendary players like Emanuel Lasker, José Raúl Capablanca, Garry Kasparov, and Magnus Carlsen redefined chess with their positional, tactical, and dynamic styles.

In the 20th century, chess became a Cold War battleground, with matches like Fischer vs. Spassky (1972) captivating the world. Today, chess thrives on online platforms, powered by AI like Deep Blue and Stockfish, and driven by prodigies like D Gukesh, who became the youngest world champion in 2024 at age 18. Chess remains a universal language of strategy, creativity, and competition.