chess
Board game originating as early as the 2nd century. Two players use 16 pieces each, on a board of 64 squares of alternating colour (usually black and white), to try to force the opponent into a position (‘checkmate’) where the main piece (the king) is threatened and cannot move to another position without remaining threatened.
The Fédération Internationale des Echecs (FIDE) was established in 1924. Leading players are rated according to the Elo System, and Garry Kasparov of Russia is ranked highest with a rating of 2,838.
Chess originated in India, and spread to Russia, China, Japan, and Iran, and from there was introduced to the Mediterranean area by Arab invaders. It reached Britain in the 12th century via Spain and Italy. The first official world championships were recognized in 1886.
| The FIDE World Chess Championships in 1998 were decided on a knock-out basis for the first time with reigning champion Anatoly Karpov of Russia winning the tournament. However, the event was devalued by the absence of the world's best player, Garry Kasparov, world champion of the rival Professional Chess Association (PCA). In 2000 the Brain Games Network (BGN) replaced the PCA as the rival federation and held its first world championship in London, England. |
chess - events
| 400–500 | India | Shaturanga (or chaturanga), ‘the army game’, an ancestor of chess through the Persian game of shatranj (or chatrang), evolves in the Indus Valley on the Indian subcontinent. |
| c. 1000 | Europe | Chess is widely known throughout Europe. |
| c. 1475 | Europe | A radically new version of chess, very similar to the game played today, is devised in southern Europe and quickly spreads across the continent and beyond. Among the most important changes are the introduction of castling and the elevation in status of the queen from one of the weakest pieces on the board to the most powerful. |
| 2–9 January 1998 | Russia | The FIDE World Chess Championships are decided on a knockout basis for the first time, with reigning champion Anatoly Karpov of Russia winning the tournament. |
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