The history of chess begins in India, but the game has found fans all over the world. Today it is more than just a game, it is an official sport. The interest in the battle on the chess board attracts players of all ages, genders and cultures. In our article, we will discuss countries where chess is popular and how the intellectual game became a sport.
History of the spread of chess
The emergence and evolution of chess is such an ancient story that today it is not easy to establish exactly who was the creator of the game. The generally accepted fact is that the roots lay in India and the progenitor was the Indian Chaturanga. Mentions of the game are found in works and literature dating back to 570 AD.
Chinese historians do not consider the thesis of Indian origin fully proven. According to their assumption, chess could have originated from the Chinese variant – Xiangqi, or Indian Chaturanga and Chinese Xiangqi came from a common ancestor, whose existence has not yet been confirmed. 
If we move away from debates about potential discoverers and return to the history of how chess conquered the world, then in the 6th century, the Indian people presented their version of chaturanga to the Persian king. After the Arabs conquered Persia, they took an interest in the game, though they changed the rules and the name a bit. Now it was Shatranj.
Conquest, trade and nomads helped spread chess in the East and Europe. But the 19th century was a truly pivotal moment in the history of chess. During this period, communities of players began to be actively created, and the first tournaments were held. It is worth noting that the personal presence of opponents was not always a requirement for the game: games were played both in person and by correspondence. One of the first distance tournaments was between the clubs of Edinburgh and London in 1824-1828. Yes, that’s right, the tournament lasted four years and was won by the Scots (2-1). The loss did not prevent the British from loving chess: they were the main popularizers of the game in Europe and later in the USA.
The growing international interest in chess, along with an expanding base of enthusiasts, led to a comprehensive overhaul of the game’s rules and tactics.
Chess schools developed, in which outstanding players from different countries formulated strategies, types of defenses (Sicilian, French, Old Indian), and types of openings.
calculating the time of the game. Chess clocks were first used in 1883 in London. The American grandmaster Robert Fischer later improved them, and now among chess players there is the Fischer clock.
Chess confrontations were so serious that they had to invent “adjourned games” for matches that lasted more than one day. For this purpose, the position of the pieces and the move order were recorded on paper, which was then sealed in an envelope. The envelope would be opened right before the “new round.”
Why chess is a sport
The intense struggle between chess players required not only high intellectual and analytical abilities. A chess player must also possess excellent endurance, emotional stability and physical fitness.
In 1924 a trial chess Olympiad was held in Paris, which was timed to coincide with the Olympic Games of the same year. The winner was the Latvian chess player Gherman Matison. At the same time the main governing body of chess sport, the International Chess Federation (Fédération Internationale des Échecs, FIDE), was established.
Three years after its foundation, FIDE held its first official chess Olympiad in London (“gold” went to Hungary), followed a little later by the Women’s World Championship. In the first half of the 20th century, the only and invariable winner of the women’s championships was the chess player Vera Menchik.
Factors Contributing to Chess Popularity
Chess is not only a game, but also a unique tool for developing various aspects of human life. The impact of their popularity depends on many factors, including the following.
- education and intellectual development. Chess has proven its value in education, especially in improving analytical and strategic skills. Many countries have introduced chess into educational programs to stimulate the mental development of students. In some regions of Spain, chess has become part of educational programs. It promotes logical and creative thinking in students.
- cultural factors. Cultural traditions and history can strongly influence the popularity of chess. In India, for example, the title of “the birthplace of chess” contributes to popularity, while in Russia the main popularizers are the outstanding achievements of Russian and former Soviet chess players.
- technology. The Internet and online chess platforms have given a new impetus to the popularity of the game. Widespread access to online learning resources and games has attracted new players. Chess has gained more media attention due to the broadcasting of important matches and a wide range of viewers.
In which countries chess is popular?
India, as the historical home of chess, has a rich history in this game. Chess in India is not only a sport, but also part of the culture and way of life. Chess is widely taught in schools and India has given the world many talented chess players.
China has become one of the countries with the fastest growing chess culture. Chinese chess players are achieving success on the world stage and the country is actively investing in the development of the chess sport.
Despite the fact that chess has long been neglected in the country, the USA is actively developing chess education and competitions, attracting a new generation of players. The number of fans here continues to grow steadily, especially in the last decade.
Russia is famous for its chess traditions and chess champions. It is the leader that has given the world the most great chess players, such as Garry Kasparov and Anatoly Karpov. Chess is hugely popular in Russia, and many chess schools and clubs help to develop the sport among young people.
Germany also has a rich chess tradition and numerous clubs that attract players of all levels. It also organizes major tournaments and supports chess education.
Georgia is another country where chess is popular. The country is known for its talented chess players and the many chess clubs and schools that contribute to the development of the game in the country and beyond. Georgia has a long and successful chess tradition and has contributed to the world chess culture.This is only a part of the countries where chess is popular. Since 2000, chess has been recognized as a sport officially by the International Olympic Committee. The discipline was in the Asian Games in 2006 in Doha and again in Guangzhou in 2010. Chess is a game that can be found in almost every corner of the world. It brings people together regardless of nationality or age, and promotes intellectual skills and strategic thinking.
