Theme this year: “Teach someone how to play chess”

The idea to commemorate International Chess Day was proposed by UNESCO after it was established by FIDE in 1966. FIDE, the International Chess Federation has 181 chess federations as its members organize chess events and competitions across the globe on International Chess Day.

FIDE: Fédération Internationale des Échecs

Chess:

Chess is a board game played by two players. It is enjoyed all over the world. There have been many grandmasters and the records get tougher to hold the title. Chess is an abstract strategy game and involves no hidden information.

 It is played on a square chessboard with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. At the start, each player controls sixteen pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns. The main chessboard and pawns are black and white.

The goal of the game is to put the opponent’s king under immediate attack .i.e. in “check” and give no way for it to escape. There are also several ways a game can end in a draw. Each pawn has its own limitation of movements.

It is one of the most fun, intellectual, and brainy indoor games.

Players: 2

Abilities: Strategy, tactics

Fact: In 1997, Deep Blue became the first computer to beat the reigning World Champion in a match when it defeated Garry Kasparov.

History:

The origin of chess date around 7-8th century. Three are written in Pahlavi and one, the Harshacharita, is in Sanskrit. Chatrang was named shatranj, after the Islamic conquest of Persia. Xiangqi is the form of chess best-known in China

The modern piece movement rules began to appear in intellectual circles in Valencia, Spain around 1475. The queen replaced the vizier chess piece and by the 15th century had become the most powerful piece.

Prague-born Wilhelm Steinitz laid the foundations for a scientific approach to the game, the art of breaking a position down into components. In addition to his theoretical achievements, his triumph over the leading German master Johannes Zukertort in 1886 is regarded as the first official World Chess Championship.

Significance of chess:

“The United Nations recognizes that sports, the arts and physical activity have the power to change perceptions, prejudices and behaviours, as well as to inspire people, break down racial and political barriers, combat discrimination and defuse conflict, and therefore contrabute in promoting education, sustainable development, peace, cooperation, solidarity, social inclusion and health at the local, regional and international levels.

The designation of World Chess Day of the UN will not only recognize the important role of the FIDE in supporting international cooperation for chess activity and aiming to improve friendly harmony among all peoples of the world, but also to provide an important platform to foster, dialogue, solidarity and culture of peace”

-United Nations

Fact: The rules of chess are published by FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs)

Notable Men and women in the world of chess:

• Judit Polgár
• Garry Kasparov
• Vera Menchik
• Magnus Carlsen
• Rohini Khadilkar
• Andrey Espienko
• Nona GAprindashvili
• Hou Yifan

Movies to watch:

1. The Queen’s Gambit
2. Queen of Katwe
3. Pawn Sacrifice
4. Searching for Bobby Fischer
5. Brooklyn Castle
6. Hikaru no Go

What to do?

LEARN CHESS!!

Cause why not? Learning moves or moving pieces entirely after thorough thought, being on your toes to find the easiest or quickest win to checkmate, and tricking someone to make the move you wanted them to do! It is a load of exercise for your brain.

Refernces:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chess#1200%E2%80%931700:_Origins_of_the_modern_game