Chess journeyed from ancient India's Chaturanga to become a global game of strategy, evolving over centuries with pieces like the queen gaining power, here are some things to know.
1
Chess originated in India as a game called Chaturanga, which means "four divisions" referring to the four arms of the military.
2
Arab traders brought Chaturanga to Persia, where it evolved into a game called Shatranj.
3
From Persia, chess spread to the Islamic world, where it flourished in centers of learning and culture.
4
The game underwent further modifications, with the queen becoming the most powerful piece and castling being introduced.
5
The modern design of the chessboard and pieces emerged, and chess openings and endgame theory began to be developed.
6
The first World Chess Championship was held in 1886, & chess federations were established to organise tournaments and award titles.
7
The 20th century saw the rise of chess computers, which eventually surpassed human players in strength.