A Short History of Chess

The early history of chess, much like history itself, is obscured by the mists of time. Historians can only speculate about where and when chess first emerged.

According to the majority of researchers, the history of chess begins in Northern India, on the banks of the Ganges, in the town of Kannauj, during the reign of Sharvavarman.

Indian envoys brought the mysterious game "chatrang" to the capital of the Persian Shahinshah Khosrow I (currently within Iraq). It fit well in Sassanid Persia and began to spread around the world.

The Persian encyclopedist, musician, and player Ziryab brought shatranj from Baghdad to the Cordoba Caliphate, now Spain. Thanks to his efforts, the game became fashionable. This is the earliest mention of chess appearing in Western Europe.

The first depiction of a black and white chessboard in Europe is found on the choir floor of the Basilica of San Savino in Piacenza. The mosaic shows a man playing chess with the "hand of fate."

One of the oldest European chess sets, made in Norway from walrus tusk in the late 12th century, is a symbol of medieval chess and the Vikings' role in spreading the game across Europe. It was found in 1831 on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland.

The printing press revolutionized the popularity of chess. English pioneer William Caxton's second printed book, "The Game and Playe of Chesse," was based on the famous "Book of Chess" by Jacobus de Cessolis, the first chess book ever printed.

The Göttingen manuscript, a Latin treatise stored in Göttingen, Germany, contains chess problems and descriptions of chess openings. It uses rules close to modern chess, marking the final stages of the transition to modern chess in Europe.

Chess spread to the Americas with the conquistadors. The last Inca emperor, Atahualpa, is considered the first chess player in America, learning the game from his Spanish captors. The house where he was held is still preserved.

In Madrid, at the court of King Philip II of Spain, the first international chess tournament was held. Participants included representatives from Spain and Italy, such as the famous Ruy Lopez and Giovanni Leonardo.

William Jones, an English philologist and orientalist, wrote a poem called "Caissa", which popularized the chess goddess. She was first mentioned in Marco Girolamo Vida's 1527 poem "Scacchia, Ludus" but became widely known only in the 19th century.

British designer Nathaniel Cook, in consultation with uncrowned world champion Howard Staunton, developed the Staunton chess set for professional play. It became the world standard for official competitions, including FIDE events.

The first official World Chess Championship match between Wilhelm Steinitz and Johannes Zukertort took place across several cities in the United States. Steinitz emerged victorious, being declared the first official World Chess Champion.

At the London tournament, a specially designed chess clock with a double dial was used for the first time.

The International Chess Federation (FIE, later FIDE) was established in Paris. Founding countries included Argentina, Belgium, Britain, Hungary, Spain, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Finland, France, Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia.

With the creation of FIDE, chess entered its modern era, marking the end of its distant history and the beginning of a new chapter. You can read the short history of the International Chess Federation here.