A short history of chess
Although it may be over a thousand years old, chess remains a global phenomenon with the power to captivate. This super-short history uncovers the game’s origins and looks ahead to its future.
The Past
It’s possible to trace the roots of chess back to seventh-century India, where a strategic game called chaturanga was played. Translating to ‘four divisions’ in Sanskrit, it reflected military formations at the time, with elephantry, chariots, cavalry and infantry all represented on the board. From India, the game then travelled to Persia, evolving into Shatranj before it was further refined as it spread further afield. Reaching Europe by the 10th Century, it continued to develop, and by the 15th Century, it started to resemble the game we know and love today. Fast forward to the 19th Century, we can see the advent of standardised chess sets, clocks and tournaments, and the first universally recognised World Chess Champion title, marking a new era of competitive play.
The Future
In 1997, the supercomputer Deep Blue defeated the reigning world champion Garry Kasparov, which changed the chess world. The age of computers continues to revolutionise the game, pushing the boundaries of human understanding with powerful engines able to analyse millions of positions per second. Despite this march of the machines, the sport’s human element remains its most significant draw, with chess tournaments and grandmasters attracting a global audience of fans.
