Tuesday 25 June 2013

Where Did Chess Originate From

By Lana Bray


Where did chess originate is a question that has found numerous and varying answers. What is worth appreciating is the fact that it has evolved over time with numerous variations along the way. It is thought to have originated from India in the sixth century but not in its current form. This means that it is approximate 1500 years old.

This game got to Persia after their interaction with Indians. Muslims picked it up and it later spread to the southern parts of Europe. The presence of Arabs in Persia is significant in spreading the game. The current shape began developing in Europe back in the fifteenth century. Nineteenth century saw an increase in tournaments with the maiden championship taking place in 1886.

The World Chess Federation was established in the twentieth century and paved way for the development of the theory of the game. The twenty first century has contributed to the growth of the game through introduction of computers analysis. Mind 1990s saw the emergence of online gaming which is responsible for it worldwide spread.

Some features that still remain in the game are accredited to the Gupta Empire who included four of their army divisions to play. This game went by the name Changuranga and represented four divisions in their army. They were chariotry, infantry, cavalry and elephantry. Their representatives on the board are rook, modern pawn, knight and bishop. This formed part of the activities at the Persian palaces.

The roles played by the king and checkmate have their origin in the Persian army. The queen and bishop were weaker and gained strength later in the 1500s. Some nations that have led to advancement of the game include Spain, France, Portugal and Italy. The stalemate situation was discussed and refined around the nineteenth century.

Records have it that Gioacchino Greco was the first professional, having been born in Italy. He took time to compare different styles and formats of play and draw similarity. These were the first steps towards the development of a formal game with harmonized rules and professional approach.

Modern style and competition has its core in London during the tournament held in 1851. Concerns were raised about players taking too long to think about their next move. Records of over twenty minutes thinking about a single action and a total of twenty hours in a game became a concern. These concerns lead to the development of Speed and Five Minutes chess among other variants.

Players were penalized for taking too long on a move. The game was timed for the first time in Bristol in the year 1861. Sand glass was used. Other timing devices like modern clocks and pendulums would replace the glass. Record champions in different eras included Vera Menchik, Adolf Anderssen and Emanuel Lasker.

There is no straight answer to the question where did chess originate because it is a product of evolution. Different cultures and personalities have contributed to its current shape. Rules have been modified to make the game enjoyable, competitive and professional. This has happened over years and is worth appreciating the contribution of each person, era and association.




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