Chess

In AD 569, a Chinese emperor wrote a book of xiangqi called Xiang Jing.

Chess originated from the Indian game chaturanga before the 600s AD. It spread across Asia and Europe, evolving into the modern chess we know today by the 16th century.

In 720, the game of chess spread from Persia to the Islamic world, becoming popular in various regions.

Around 840, the earliest surviving chess problems were discovered, showcasing the early challenges and puzzles related to the game.

In 900, the Chinese work 'Book of Marvels' included a paragraph discussing the game of chess, highlighting its presence in Chinese literature.

The 'Versus de scachis' in 997 is recognized as the earliest known work mentioning chess in Christian Western Europe, indicating the game's introduction and influence in that region.

In 1008, chess was mentioned in the will of Count Uregel, providing another early reference to the game's presence and significance in historical records.

In 1061, Saint Peter Damian criticized the bishop of Florence for playing chess despite being aware of its negative impact on society. The bishop defended himself by arguing that chess required skill and was different from other games.

The first recorded use of algebraic chess notation in 1173 marked a significant development in recording and analyzing chess moves, contributing to the evolution of chess notation systems.

Around 1200CE, chess underwent significant changes in Italy and Spain, allowing pawns to move two squares on the first move, bishops to dominate diagonals, and queens to move freely across the board.

In 1254, Louis IX of France issued an ordinance against gambling in chess due to its widespread practice. However, the ordinance was largely ignored by the public and even the courtly society continued to hold chess tournaments.

In 1283, the earliest collection of chess problems was composed, showcasing the complexity and creativity involved in creating challenges for chess enthusiasts.

By the year 1300, changes in rules and names of chess pieces were observed in Europe. Pieces like the pawn gained the ability to move two places in the first move, and names like 'Fers' for queen and 'Aufin' for bishop emerged.

In the late 14th century, the en passant rule was introduced in chess, allowing a pawn that has moved two squares to be captured by an opponent's pawn as if it had moved only one square.

In 1422, a manuscript from Kraków set the rule that stalemate in chess is considered a draw.

Around 1450, a radical change was made in chess by allowing the queen to move as far as she wanted in any direction, diagonally, vertically, or horizontally, combining the movements of the bishop and the rook. This change was a significant departure from the original rule limiting the queen's movement.

The Göttingen manuscript, published in 1471, is the first book dedicated solely to chess.

In 1474, William Caxton published The Game and Playe of Chesse, the first chess book in English.

In Spain, specifically in the Kingdom of Valencia, the modern moves of the queen and bishop were introduced, leading to the game of chess evolving closer to its modern form. This change increased the value of pawn promotion and made checkmate easier.

In 1493, Hartmann Schedel's Nuremberg Chronicle mentions the invention of chess by philosopher Xerxes in Babylon during the rule of Evil-Merodach, son of Nebuchadrezzar.

In 1497, Luis Ramirez Lucena published the earliest surviving work on the modern European chess game.

Pedro Damiano publishes one of the first chess treatises, detailing chess strategy and providing the earliest known refutation of an unsound chess opening. The Damiano Defense and Damiano Variation of the Petrov Defense are named in his honor.

The poem Caïssa, published in 1527, led to the renaming of the chess rook as 'castle' and influenced the modern shape of the rook chess piece.

Inspired by Damiano's work, Ruy López writes a book where he introduces the term 'gambit' to describe opening sacrifices in chess.

The first formal chess tournament was organized in 1575. This event marked a significant milestone in the history of chess, bringing together players to compete and showcase their skills. The tournament witnessed the famous 'Immortal Game,' which has become legendary in chess lore.

Alessandro Salvio publishes a book describing Italian Chess masters from the previous century.

By 1690, openings in chess were systematically classified, leading to a structured approach in understanding and studying the initial moves of the game.

Philipp Stamma publishes a book featuring an early form of algebraic notation and explores opening theory and endgame theory in Chess.

In 1744, François-André Danican Philidor from France showcased his exceptional chess skills by playing two opponents blindfolded in Paris.

Philipp Stamma's work was translated from French to English and published as 'The Noble Game of Chess' in 1745.

In 1747, Philidor decisively defeated Philipp Stamma in 8 out of 9 games while visiting London, instantly gaining international fame.

Sir William Jones invented Caïssa, the chess muse, in 1763.

Originally designed by von Kempelen to impress an Austrian empress, the Turk was a mechanical chess-playing machine with hidden human operators inside. It gained fame by defeating famous personalities like Napoleon Bonaparte and Benjamin Franklin.

In 1770, Wolfgang von Kempelen introduced the Mechanical Turk, an automatic chess-playing machine that amazed audiences by defeating skilled human players. The Mechanical Turk was a groundbreaking invention in the history of chess.

In 1783, Philidor demonstrated his exceptional skills by playing as many as three games simultaneously without seeing the board.

In 1791, the popular chess book 'Morals of Chess' by Benjamin Franklin was translated into Russian and published in the country.

The earliest known American chess book, 'Chess Made Easy' by J. Humphreys, was published in 1802.

In 1813, the Liverpool Mercury printed the world's earliest chess column.

The earliest known British correspondence chess match, London - Edinburgh, took place in 1824.

In 1830, the earliest recorded instance of a modern female chess player was documented.

In 1834, the competitive chess scene gained visibility with the La Bourdonnais-McDonnell matches. This event marked a significant moment in the history of chess competitions.

In 1843, Howard Staunton from England emerged victorious in a match against Pierre Charles Fournier de Saint-Amant from France in Paris.

In 1845, the telegraph was utilized to transmit chess moves during a match between London and Portsmouth, revolutionizing the way chess games were conducted over long distances.

The Deutsche Schachzeitung, established in 1846, became the first German chess magazine, playing a crucial role in promoting chess culture and knowledge in Germany.

In 1848, the earliest known instance of a game played between blind players took place.

In 1849, Howard Staunton, a strong chess player, became known for creating the Staunton chess pieces. These pieces are now the standard design used in official chess tournaments worldwide.

The famous chess match known as the 'Immortal Game' took place in 1851 between Anderssen and Kieseritzky. This game is renowned for its brilliant sacrifices and tactical play.

In 1852, sandglasses were first used to time chess games.

In 1857, the First American Chess Congress was won by the 20-year-old Paul Morphy, leading to a chess craze across the United States.

The California Chess Congress was held in San Francisco in 1858 and was won by Selim Franklin.

After two years of international play, Paul Morphy was declared the unofficial world champion in 1859.

In 1861, the first time limits in a chess tournament were introduced at Bristol, England, using sandglasses. This innovation marked a significant development in the regulation of chess competitions.

The state of chess in the Netherlands in 1864 was significant in the development of the game. Chess was likely evolving and gaining popularity in the country during this time.

In 1867, mechanical game clocks were introduced in tournament play, revolutionizing the way chess tournaments were conducted.

The earliest recorded chess tournament in Germany took place in Baden-Baden in 1870.

In 1871, Durand published the first book dedicated to endgames in chess, contributing significantly to chess strategy and theory.

The Neustadtl score system was first used in a tournament in 1873.

In 1874, Antonius van der Linde rediscovers the chess codexes written by 16th century Italian master Giulio Cesare Polerio. It is recognized that Polerio's work likely influenced later chess works and featured a nearly modern form of algebraic notation.

The Deutsche Schachbund was formed in 1877, marking a significant event in the organization of chess in Germany.

The first New Zealand Chess Championship took place in 1879, becoming the longest running national chess championship in the world.

The London 1883 chess tournament marked the introduction of chess clocks, which created a new rule for loss on time.

In 1884, the renowned chess player Morphy passes away, marking a significant loss in the chess community.

The first official world chess championship was held in London in 1886, marking the beginning of organized chess competitions and the crowning of Wilhelm Steinitz as the first world chess champion.

In 1888, the first international correspondence tournament in chess history took place, marking a milestone in the development of chess competitions.

In 1894, Emmanuel Lasker clinched victory over Wilhelm Steinitz in a world championship match, securing the title of the second official world champion in the history of chess. This match marked a significant shift in the chess hierarchy.

The Hastings 1895 chess tournament held in England attracted international chess players, becoming a notable event in chess history.

The year 1899 witnessed a notable development in chess technology with the introduction of timeout flags on chess clocks. This innovation added a new dimension to chess matches by ensuring fair play and time management.

In 1902, the first radio chess match took place between players on two American ships, marking a pioneering moment in the integration of technology and chess gameplay. This event showcased the evolving nature of chess competitions.

The British Chess Federation (BCF) was established in 1904, playing a key role in organizing and promoting chess activities in Britain.

In 1905, the British national championship for women began, providing a platform for female chess players to showcase their skills and compete at a national level.

The Lasker - Marshall World Championship match took place in 1907 across several cities in the United States, attracting attention and excitement from the chess community.

In 1910, José Raúl Capablanca achieved a remarkable feat by winning a major tournament with a flawless 100% score, establishing himself as a formidable force in the world of chess. This victory solidified his reputation as a chess prodigy.

The year 1911 witnessed a milestone in chess history with the first simultaneous exhibition featuring more than 100 participants. This event highlighted the growing popularity and appeal of chess as a competitive and engaging sport.

In 1913, H. J. R. Murray's book 'A History of Chess' was published, providing valuable insights into the origins and evolution of the game, becoming a notable reference in chess literature.

In 1914, Czar Nicholas II of Russia immortalized the term 'Grandmaster' by informally giving the title to 5 players.

In 1919, Capablanca showcased his exceptional skills by giving a simultaneous exhibition in the House of Commons against 39 players, further solidifying his reputation as a formidable chess player.

In 1921, Jose Raul Capablanca defeated Emanuel Lasker to become the third world chess champion. Capablanca's style of simple, clear-cut positional mastery and exceptional endgame skills made him one of the greatest players of all time.

After the first world championship, chess tournaments increased, leading to the need for an official organization. The Federation International des Echecs (FIDE) was formed on 20 July 1924 in France to regulate chess events and provide FIDE chess ratings to professional players worldwide.

In 1927, Alexander Alekhine from the Soviet Union defeated Capablanca in Buenos Aires to become the fourth official world chess champion.

Max Euwe from the Netherlands won the world championship title from Alekhine in Zandvoort, the Netherlands in 1935, becoming the fifth official world chess champion.

In 1937, Alexander Alekhine won the return match against Max Euwe to regain the title of world chess champion. Alekhine's aggressive and tactical approach to the game solidified his reputation as a formidable player.

Reuben Fine's book 'Basic Chess Endings' was published in 1941, providing valuable insights into endgame strategies.

The USA vs USSR Radio match in 1945 marked the first international sporting event after World War II. The USSR achieved a significant victory, establishing their dominance in world chess for the next 25 years.

In 1946, the reigning world champion Alekhine passed away in Portugal, leaving the world championship title vacant and prompting FIDE to seek control of the championship.

Bulgaria printed the first postage stamp featuring a chess motif in 1947.

In 1948, Mikhail Botvinnik emerged victorious in the World Chess Championship held at The Hague and Moscow, becoming the sixth official world champion.

In 1949, Claude Shannon speculated on the potential of computers playing chess, laying the groundwork for future developments in computer chess.

In 1950, FIDE introduced the prestigious International Grandmaster (GM) and International Master (IM) lifetime titles to recognize outstanding chess achievements.

In 1951, Botvinnik retained his World Championship title after a drawn match against challenger Bronstein.

In 1952, the Soviet Union began its dominance in Chess Olympiads, embarking on a series of consecutive victories.

In 1953, Vasily Smyslov from the Soviet Union emerged victorious in the Candidates Tournament held in Zurich.

Botvinnik defended his World Championship title in 1954 after a drawn match with challenger Smyslov.

In 1956, Smyslov clinched victory in the Candidates Tournament held in Amsterdam, with Paul Keres finishing as the runner-up.

In 1957, Vasily Smyslov won the World Chess Championship by defeating Botvinnik with a score of 12½–9½, thus becoming the seventh official world champion.

At the age of 15 in 1958, Bobby Fischer became the youngest grandmaster in chess history, showcasing his exceptional talent and skill at a young age.

In 1959, Mikhail Tal from the Soviet Union emerged victorious in the Candidates Tournament held in Yugoslavia, securing a significant chess achievement. Estonian chess player Keres finished in second place.

In 1960, Mikhail Tal defeated Botvinnik with a score of +6 −2 =13 to claim the title of the eighth official world chess champion, becoming the youngest-ever world champion at that time.

The year 1961 witnessed Botvinnik defeating Tal in a rematch with a score of +10 −5 =6, reclaiming the title of world chess champion from Tal.

In 1962, Tigran Petrosian from the Soviet Union emerged victorious in the Candidates Tournament held in Curaçao, achieving an undefeated run throughout the competition. Keres secured the second position in the tournament for the third consecutive time.

In 1963, Tigran Petrosian defeated Botvinnik with a score of 12½–9½, claiming the title of the ninth World Chess Champion.

In 1965, Boris Spassky from the Soviet Union emerged victorious in the Candidates Matches against Keres, Efim Geller, and Tal, showcasing his exceptional chess skills.

In 1966, Tigran Petrosian successfully defended his World Championship title against Spassky with a score of 12½–11½, solidifying his position as the reigning champion.

In 1967, Bent Larsen from Denmark emerged victorious in the Sousse Interzonal tournament after Fischer withdrew while leading, securing the win with 8½ points. Larsen also received the first Chess Oscar.

In 1969, Boris Spassky defeated Petrosian with a score of 12½–11½, claiming the title of the tenth World Chess Champion.

In 1970, Bobby Fischer won the Palma de Mallorca Interzonal tournament with a lead of 3½ points over his closest competitor.

During 1971, Bobby Fischer had an impressive performance in the Candidates Matches, defeating Taimanov, Larsen, and Petrosian with remarkable scores of 6–0 and 6½–2½ respectively.

American chess prodigy Bobby Fischer became the World Chess Champion in 1972, breaking the Soviet dominance in the chess world.

In 1972, Bobby Fischer defeated Boris Spassky in the World Chess Championship, marking a significant moment in chess history. This event is renowned as one of the most famous chess matches ever played.

Digital chess clocks are invented, bringing precision and efficiency to chess tournaments.

Bobby Fischer disappeared from competitive chess and public life in 1975, only to reappear 20 years later for a rematch against Spassky.

In 1977, Nona Gaprindashvili, a female player from the Soviet Union, achieved a remarkable victory by winning the men's tournament at Lone Pine, showcasing her exceptional chess skills.

In 1978, Nona Gaprindashvili made history by becoming the first woman to receive the prestigious FIDE Grandmaster title, breaking barriers in the world of chess.

In 1981, Anatoly Karpov convincingly defended his World Championship title by defeating Viktor Korchnoi with a score of six wins to two, solidifying his dominance in the chess world.

The FIDE president makes a controversial decision to abandon the World Championship match between defending champion Karpov and challenger Garry Kasparov after 48 games, with Karpov leading 5–3.

In 1985, Garry Kasparov became the World Chess Champion, solidifying his place in chess history. This event marked a significant milestone in the world of chess.

On November 9, 1985, Garry Kasparov secured the world chess championship title by defeating Anatoly Karpov with a score of 13-11 in the second Karpov-Kasparov match held in Moscow. Kasparov's win with the Sicilian Defence made him the youngest-ever world champion at 22 years old.

The musical Chess debuts in London's West End.

ChessBase introduces the first chess database, revolutionizing the way players study and prepare for games.

In 1989, IBM hired a team of engineers from Carnegie Mellon University to develop a computer capable of challenging the world chess champion, Garry Kasparov. This marked the beginning of IBM's journey towards creating a powerful chess-playing machine.

Judit Polgár becomes the youngest ever Grandmaster, breaking Bobby Fischer’s record by about a month.

Bobby Fischer reappeared in 1992 to beat Spassky in a rematch, but promptly withdrew from the spotlight again.

In 1993, Garry Kasparov and Nigel Short broke away from FIDE to establish the Professional Chess Association for their world championship match.

Deep Blue defeats Kasparov in the first game won by a chess-playing computer against a reigning world champion under normal chess tournament conditions. Kasparov recovers to win the match 4–2.

On 11 May 1997, the chess engine 'Deep Blue' made history by defeating the reigning world chess champion, Garry Kasparov. This event marked a significant milestone in the development of artificial intelligence in chess.

Kasparov played and won against 'the World' in a game where the moves were determined by a plurality of votes via the Internet.

Kasparov lost his title to Vladimir Kramnik in a match with a score of 8½–6½, making Kramnik the PCA World Chess Champion.

FIDE introduced shortened time controls for the knockout world championship held in 2001, which sparked controversy.

In 2002, Sergey Karjakin achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the youngest ever Grandmaster in chess history at the age of 12 years and 7 months.

Kasparov played against Deep Junior and X3D Fritz in separate matches, resulting in draws. These matches were notable human-computer chess battles.

In 2004, Vladimir Kramnik successfully defended his title in the Classical World Chess Championship against Peter Leko, solidifying his position as a formidable chess player.

In 2005, the supercomputer Hydra defeated Michael Adams, who was ranked seventh in the world at the time, with a rating of 2737. Hydra's victory with 5.5 points out of 6 games showcased the increasing power of computer engines in the world of chess.

In 2006, Vladimir Kramnik, the 'Classical' World Champion, defeated FIDE World Champion Veselin Topalov in the FIDE World Chess Championship 2006 match.

In 2007, Viswanathan Anand from India became the fifteenth World Chess Champion by winning the World Chess Championship 2007 tournament held in Mexico City.

Bobby Fischer passed away in 2008 at the age of 64, which is the number of squares on a chessboard.

In 2009, Magnus Carlsen became the top-ranked chess player in the world at the young age of 18, solidifying his position as a dominant figure in the world of chess.

In 2010, Viswanathan Anand successfully defended his world title against Veselin Topalov in the World Chess Championship 2010.

Boris Gelfand from Israel emerges victorious in the 2011 Candidates tournament, earning the right to challenge Anand in the World Chess Championship 2012.

In 2012, Magnus Carlsen set a new record in chess by achieving an elo rating of 2861, surpassing the previous record held by Garry Kasparov.

In 2013, Magnus Carlsen defeated GM Viswanathan Anand to win the world chess championship, marking the beginning of the Magnus Era in chess history. Carlsen, known for his prodigious talent and diverse skills in chess, became the highest-rated player ever and a grandmaster at the age of thirteen.

In May 2014, Magnus Carlsen achieves his peak Elo rating of 2882, the highest in the history of chess.

In 2016, Magnus Carlsen retains his World Champion title by defeating Karjakin in rapid tiebreak games after a drawn 12-game classical match.

In 2017, AlphaZero, a new entity in the chess world, decisively defeated the popular open source engine Stockfish in a 100 game match, demonstrating the advancements in artificial intelligence and computer chess programs.

In early 2018, AlphaZero once again defeated Stockfish, this time in a 1,000 game match with time odds, further solidifying its dominance in the world of computer chess.

In 2019, Magnus Carlsen won the first 4 tournaments he played, showcasing his continued dominance in the chess world. His classical rating remains high at 2876.

In 2020, the game of chess experiences a surge in popularity attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and the release of the Netflix miniseries 'The Queen's Gambit'.

In 2021, Garry Kasparov played against Jorden van Foreest in a chess match, with Kasparov emerging victorious with a score of 1-0 after 41 moves.

Abhimanyu Mishra from the US achieved the title of youngest chess Grandmaster at the age of 12 years, 4 months, and 25 days. This remarkable feat highlights the immense potential of young chess prodigies.

In 2022, Magnus Carlsen announced that he would no longer defend his World Champion title, paving the way for the next world champion to be decided between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren.

A Nigerian chess prodigy spent over 50 hours playing chess in Times Square to set a new world record. The event garnered attention and showcased the player's exceptional skills and determination.

In 2023, Ding Liren defeated Ian Nepomniachtchi after tie-breaks to become the new World Champion.

A Guinness World Record related to chess was achieved on April 19, 2024. The event showcased the beauty of the game of chess and promoted love through sports.

A Nigerian chess champion achieved a new global record by playing the game of chess continuously for 60 hours. This accomplishment highlights the dedication and skill of the champion in the game of chess.

In April 2024, a Nigerian chess champion and child education advocate set a new Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon by playing nonstop for 60 hours in New York City's Times Square.

In 2047, the first official chess tournament was held on Mars, marking a significant milestone in the history of the game. This event showcased the expansion of human civilization beyond Earth and the universal appeal of chess.