Chess

Chess is one of the oldest games in the world. According to what is known so far, it is believed that chess had its beginnings in the northwest region of India in around 600 AD. Research of historians and archaeologists lead to this judgment. Historians have found references to chess in ancient writings from that period, and archaeologists have discovered chess-related artifacts along ancient trade routes between India and China in that region. Some scholars believe that chess comes from Russia or Italy, since in both places chess-like figures dating back to the 2nd century have been found. I believe chess is probably much older than we can guess. Garry Kasparov (former world chess champion) once wrote that he thought chess might be 5,000 years old!

During the earlier times, it is believed that chess was used as a way of predicting the outcome of battles, and as a way to predict the will of the gods. In those days, there used to be a dice which helped one to determine the movements of the chess pieces. Similar to the one everybody would picturize from “Mahabharat”!

For people who just love chess it is more than a game – it’s a never ending relation – an obsession. GM Hans Ree once quoted:  “Chess is beautiful enough to waste your life for”. It is amazing that 32 pieces on 64 squares can create such complex and intriguing positions that people remain fascinated by them hundreds of years later.

A practicable and viable opportunity waits for anyone who can vertically integrate within the chess community. Chess is played at the following tournaments: the Chess Olympiad, Continental Championship, World Championship, National Tournaments, Regional Tournaments, Chess Club Tournaments, School Tournaments, and Other Tournaments. Chess Federations serve the chess community by promoting chess and organizing chess tournaments worldwide. Hundreds of chess tournaments are conducted each year globally. There are more than 100 chess federations globally. While there are millions of chess fans who understand and enjoy chess, based on Internet publications, there are up to 5 million chess players worldwide who are members of federations. Tournament participation statistics demonstrate that interest in chess in growing. In 1924 less than 20 countries participated, while in 2010, around 150 countries participated in the Chess Olympiad.

Key benefits from chess one can avail are : developing decision-making, planning, and problem solving skills, improves concentration, memory, intuition and self-control, inspires self-motivation, self-esteem and confidence, and may be a lot many which would be ineffable.

In India Chess has always had its staunch place both in hearts of the people and the competitive arena. All India Chess Federation and Chess Players’ Association of India (CPAI) are central associative bodies for the game of Chess in India. They bring the Chess players of India under a common unified umbrella to ensure the upliftment and promotion of the game and to serve the common interests of the Indian Chess playing community. And Indian chess players just stupendous and are resplendent at their moves. Viswanathan Anand is the current World Chess Champion and highest rated player in the world. He is one of six players in history to break the 2800 mark on the FIDE rating list. He became India’s first grandmaster in 1987.He has been described by Lubomir Kavalek as the most versatile world champion ever, since Anand is the only player to have won the world chess championships in many formats including Knockout, Tournament, Match, Rapid and Blitz. Koneru Humpy is arguably the best woman at the Chess Board that the nation has ever produced. Among the Female Chess Players of India, she holds a World No. 2 ranking among the Female Chess Players. Manuel Aaron has pioneered the game of chess as a youngster and have played a pivotal role ever since in placing India, as an emerging force in world chess forum. He was the first Indian to earn the title of International Master.

Tags: Chess, CPAI, FIDE, Garry Kasparov, Grandmaster, India, International Master, Viswanathan Anand, World Chess Champion