It is a little known fact that many
countries feel that they were the first to play the game of chess.
When it comes down to it, it is most widely thought that the game
was first played in India. The game of chess is first documented in
Indian literature in 500 BC. As you can imagine, this makes chess
one of the oldest games in the world.
In the 9th century,
chess reached Russia and Europe and from there it began to spread
even more. Although the game was around during this time, it is safe
to say that the rules were not quite the same as they are today.
Around 1475, several changes were made to the game that resemble
chess as it is today. These rules began to spread, much like they
did early on, and by the 19th century mostly everybody was playing
in this manner. As the 19th century began to move on, the game of
chess continued to pick up in popularity. Several chess publications
appeared, and people all over the world began to organize clubs
around the game.
In 1851, the first chess tournament took place in London, England.
This was a major event that would change the way that the game is
played forever. Without this first tournament, who knows if chess
would have become as popular as it is today. From that first event,
many other tournaments sprung up all over the world; including in
the United States.
Over the years, there has been much debate surrounding the greatest
chess players of all time. Some names come up time and time again.
They include: Garry Kasparov, Veselin Topalov, Vladimir Kramnik,
Viswanathan Anand, and Bobby Fischer. When it comes to American
chess players, it is safe to say that Fischer is the best ever.
The game of chess has been around for hundreds of years, and since
day one it has been popular among a large group of people. At this
point in time, chess is one of the most popular games in the world,
being played by millions of people on a regular basis.
