Chess history goes back many years, decades, even centuries! But who invented the game we all love? 

Who invented Chess?

Chess, played by various fans, is famous worldwide, but its roots and history are not evident and pretty questionable. There are several legends, myths, and necessary guesses, beginning with a disagreement about where it came from and finishing with the start of chess. However, most individuals would accept that there was not just one person who created the game because it is much too complicated for any single simple human mind to have produced with all its rules and concepts. 

The game of chess was in steady flux until Wilhelm Steinitz became the first official World Chess Champion in 1886. This was a game that, when we think of today's chess, we would have problems understanding: from either a game governed by intuitive decision-making to a battle between chess engines.

Famous Legend About Chess 

The tyrannical Indian king, Shahram, and a wise man in his kingdom are an ancient legend that many children might even find in their maths books. The wise man tried to persuade Shihram that every resident of his kingdom was important. 

Thus, to represent the country, he invented a game composed of the king himself, his queen, rooks, bishops, knights, and pawns, all of which have been vital. The king was fond of the game and knew that the game was just like real life. So, he told everybody to play chess in his empire! Shahram gave the man all the gold and silver he wished, but the wise man wanted no treasure at all. He went to the chessboard with the king and asked him to place one grain of wheat on the first square, two on the second, and double it again until the board was full. 

Image result for Indian king, Shahram chess

The king felt highly insulted first of all but then ordered his servants to satisfy the man's wish. The servants urgently announced that there was no such large quantity of wheat! The king realized that the wise man had given him a second lesson. You should never, much like the pawns in chess, underestimate the little stuff in life. It's one of the most famous legends in chess history. But there are, for sure, several more.


A man named H. J. R. Murray was willing to get closer to the origins of the chess game. By writing a book, 'A History of Chess,' in 1913, he wanted to share his findings with the world. In his book, Murray assumes that chess history began in the north of India, moved to Persia, and then spread across the continent of Asia. Throughout the Eastern World, in India or Persia, chess had become a part of the nobility's courtly education. These days, phrases such as "Shāh!" "-the Persian to the King—or "Shāh Māt! The king is powerless and has been used in sports. These words are very similar to the phrases "check" and "checkmate" that we use today. The rules were already pretty close to the laws of chess we know today. The initial mold of chess, named Shatranj, defines Murray. Then, during the Middle Ages, he presented medieval chess in Europe, traveling from the Middle East to Russia and then to Western Europe. Finally, the author arrives at the beginning of modern chess in the 19th century, as we know it today, in the third part of his book on chess history.

Image result for Persian to the King—or "Shāh Māt!

From 15th century to nowadays 

Chess was modified many times before the end of the 15th century, survived bans by the Christian Church, and full prohibitions from time to time. The game evolved into the form of the modern chess game right up until the 1880s. The "romantic era of chess" is known as this period. Slowly, chess gained its competitive character and definite rules, gaining popularity among individuals. Strategic preparation or lengthy theory research was somewhat subordinate subjects. There were problems in the foreground, such as quick tactical motifs and the emphasis on intuitive movements. In 1886, when Wilhelm Steinitz became the first official World Chess Champion, the first chess tournaments began to occur. There were trends towards romantic chess play until the middle of the 20th century when players relied on strategy and extremely dynamic games. However, with the advent of databases, chess engines, and other methods for comfortable and successful strategic preparations, the 20th century revolutionized chess. 

There are several chess history theories, and there is no particular individual who invented this well-known game. Throughout the years, it has changed and will probably keep changing with the times.

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