Inrernational Chess Day - India and Chess
International Chess Day, celebrated on July 20, honors the founding of FIDE in 1924 and highlights chess as a universal intellectual pursuit. For India, the day is especially significant since the game traces its origins to Chaturanga , played in the Gupta Empire, and today the nation stands as a global chess powerhouse. India’s Chess Legacy and Achievements Origins in India: Modern chess is widely believed to have evolved from Chaturanga , a strategic game played over 1,500 years ago in ancient India. Viswanathan Anand: India’s first Grandmaster (1987) and five-time World Chess Champion, Anand inspired generations and put India firmly on the global chess map. Young Champions: D. Gukesh became the youngest-ever World Chess Champion in 2024, surpassing Anand’s record as India’s top-rated player. R. Praggnanandhaa stunned the world by defeating Magnus Carlsen multiple times and reaching the 2023 Chess World Cup final. Rising stars like Arjun Erigaisi, Vidit Gujrathi, and Koneru...