International Chess Day: Quotes, 2023 Theme, Activities

Chess is a popular game among people of all ages. The Game of brilliant minds is a two-player that challenges the mindfulness of players. To honour the game, we celebrate International Chess Day every year on the 20th of July. The International Chess Federation observed the day in 1924. Approximately 605 million people participate in celebrating this day. The game holds certain significance in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia and India. Also, studies show that almost 70% of people played chess at some point of time in their lives. And if you wish to know more about International Chess Day, continue reading the blog to find out.

History of Chess

The chess we know today has its roots back in the Persian manuscript around 600CE. It shows the game was a gift to King Khosrow. It is a strategic board game of two players. The game has its origin in Chaturanga. It was popular in the Northern Indian Subcontinent during the Gupta period. It spread westward to Persia through silk roads and came to be known as Chatrang or Shatranj. Later it becomes common in Europe and Russia as the modern chess of today.

On 12 December 2019, The UN General Assembly observed 20 July as International Chess Day. The day marks the establishment of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in 1924, Paris. Players all around the participate in celebrating the Day.

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Why We Celebrate International Chess Day?

The objective to celebrate this day is to highlight the educational and intellectual benefits of the game. It enhances the logical reasoning skills, cognitive abilities and strategic thinking in individuals. Moreover, the game has a universal appeal that transcends cultural, linguistic and geographical barriers. Thus, the game has different names and rules in different corners of the world.

Moreover, the game fosters various abilities including sportsmanship, camaraderie, decision-making skills, and teaching lessons in patience and resilience. It is a highly-competitive game and keeps players on the edge from the first move itself. It metaphorically symbolises strategic planning and decision-making to win over in situations.

Also Read: Benefits of Playing Chess for Children and Adults

How to Celebrate International Chess Day?

Well, the best way to celebrate a game is to play it. The following are the ways to celebrate the day:

• Participate in chess tournaments – Such tournaments are widely organized to celebrate the game. Many players or individuals from all around the world participate to play the game and even get to know one another.
• Have a chess-themed party – Celebrate the game with your friends. You can organize a party based on a chess theme, set out chess boards, play a piece from the game and much more.
• Another great way to be a part of the revelry is to play chess online and sharpen your skills and cognitive abilities. Playing chess online would give you an idea about your strengths and weakness in the game and challenge yourself.
• Even if you do not know how to play the game, you can always learn to play it. And if you are an expert at it you can teach someone interested in the game.

Famous Chess Players

The following are the famous chess players in India:

• Vishwanathan Anand
• Koneru Humpy
• Pentala Harikrishna
• Vidit Gujarati
• Krishnan Sasikiran
• Parimarjan Negi

The following are the famous chess players in the world:

• Magnus Carlsen
• Bobby Fischer
• Hikaru Nakamura
• Vladimir Kramnik
• Mikhail Tal
• Garry Kasparov

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FAQs

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