Chess is a board game for two opponents, where a square board of 64 cells of two colors and 32 pieces is involved. India is considered the historical homeland, translated from Persian “shah” - king, “mat” - died. International Chess Day is celebrated by both amateurs and professional players on July 20.
1500 years of chess
The legend from the "Book of Kings" (10th century, India) tells this version of the origin of the game. The mighty queen had two twin sons. Equal in strength and intelligence, they could not both become rulers. There must be only one king. Mother, on the advice of the sages, sends them to war, where everyone must prove themselves as a hero.
The brothers win the battle with the enemy, but during the battle Giv fakes Talhand's death. No one dares to tell the queen how her second son died. Only one wise man invents a game on a board of cells with figures of actors and, in the process of chess moves, tells her the true state of affairs.
Game Options
Firstoptions were for two or 4 players. Pawns protected the king from both sides, and camels were present on the board. The queen (the king's mentor) could not move more than one square away from the main piece. The moves of other pieces also changed. Elephants could only move diagonally three squares.
Chaturanga, where 4 opponents played from four corners of the board with 8 pieces each (pair for a pair), is a late variation of chess. How the figures walked and what their meanings were - did not reach us, but it is known that it was from this version that the Arabic game "shatranj" originated. Among the Persians, it was transformed into "shatrang", among the Mongols - into "shatar", and when it came to the Tajiks, it was called "chess" (defeated ruler).
Recognition of chess
In 1966, International Chess Day was officially designated. The history of the game in one and a half thousand years gave it the right to be called the most ancient entertainment of the mind and strategy. The initiative of the holiday belongs to FIDE, the World Chess Organization and UNESCO. The first time this day was celebrated in France, since then it has been held around the world in the form of tournaments, thematic events and competitions.
The tradition of celebrating International Chess Day was enthusiastically accepted in 178 countries around the world. Tournaments and simultaneous games are popular both in prisons and among such politicians as Obama, V. Zhirinovsky, V. Yushchenko.
The best chess players in the world
In 1886, Wilhelm Steinitz, an Australian who took American citizenship, became the first world chess champion. Before him the bestLuis Lucena and Ruy Segura (Spain), Giovanni Cutri and Gioachino Greco (Neopolitan Kingdom), F. Philidor and L. Labourdonne (France) were recognized. These are 19th century players.
Lasker (Germany), Capablanca (Cuba), Euwe (Netherlands), Fischer (USA), Anand (India), Topalov (Bulgaria), Carlsen (Norway) are considered the best in the 20th and 21st centuries. But most of all champions from Russia: A. Alekhin, M. Botvinnik, V. Smyslov, M. Tal, T. Petrosyan, B. Spassky, A. Karpov, G. Kasparov, A. Khalifman, V. Kramnik. Also worth mentioning are Ruslan Ponamarev (Ukraine) and Rustam Kasymdzhanov (Uzbekistan).
On International Chess Day, photos of the smartest players decorate the halls. Their names went down in history as well as their parties. The best strategists and logicians of the planet, which their countries are proud of, have united in one organization since 2006.
Moscow, 2015
International Chess Day (2015) in Moscow was marked by a grand action. The opening was attended by the President of the International Federation K. Ilyumzhinov, the President of the Moscow Federation V. Palikhata, grandmasters M. Manakova, S. Karyakin, A. Savina, Y. Nepomniachtchi and other honorary representatives and guests.
Events for the International Chess Day started immediately at 5 separate venues in the city. The grand opening, where chess players were congratulated by the leaders of the Federation and representatives of UNESCO, was filled with humor and friendly warmth.
At school No. 1883, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov reminded the children that chess is not so much a sport as it is education of inner perseverance andculture. It is art and science rolled into one. A. Akhmetov held a simultaneous game session with the best players of the studio.
On Strastnoy Boulevard, honored guests played a game of floor chess after congratulations and gifts. Further, A. Golichenkov spoke about the success of the young club of the Faculty of Law of Moscow State University within the walls of the university. T. Gvilava shared her hopes for the development of the Lift to the Future project.
V. Palikhata and the grandmasters arrived at the chess school with the beautiful name "Etude" in the evening and solemnly opened the 2nd round of the Moscow Cup. The holiday ended with a game of "live chess" and a discussion of the all-Russian project "Chess in School".
The Art of Play
International Chess Day is celebrated with enthusiasm all over the world. The game is the pursuit of excellence through training, development and maintenance of form, ambition and victory. The Olympic Committee in 2006 recognized this sport, but is not going to include it in the program, just like checkers and bridge.
Such distrust of chess comes from the preconceived notion that sport is first and foremost a physical development. And everything that is connected with the mental is culture and art. International Chess Day is not only a celebration of the players' unity, but also an action against the mistrust of the Olympic Committee.
Aspects of the action can be stated as follows:
- During the game, both hemispheres of the brain are involved. Abstract and logical thinking work in the same direction at once.
- Memory uses operational and long-term processes, which trains intellectual abilities.
- Develops logic, emotional stability, the desire to win, analysis of mistakes.
