The United Nations (UN)’s World Chess Day or International Chess Day is annually observed across the globe on 20th July to recognise the important role of chess as an affordable and inclusive activity.
- 20th July 2022, World Chess Day 2022 also marks the observance of the 98th anniversary of the International Chess Federation – Federation Internationale des Echecs (FIDE).
Background:
i.Since 1966, as an initiative of FIDE, the 20th July has been observed as International Chess Day by Chess players across the globe.
ii.On 12th December 2019, The United Nations General Assembly(UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/74/22 and proclaimed the 20th July of every year as World Chess Day.
iii.The first ever UN recognised World Chess Day was observed on 20th July 2020.
Why July 20?
- 20th July is observed as World Chess day, marking the foundation day of FIDE.
- Federation Internationale des Echecs (FIDE) was founded on 20th July 1924, at the 8th Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France.
- International Chess Day began as founding day on 20th July 1966.
Significance:
i.The day also acknowledges Chess as a global game that promotes fairness, inclusion and mutual respect and recognises the role of FIDE in international cooperation for chess activity and aims to improve the harmony among all peoples of the world.
ii.The day also aims to recognise the opportunities offered by Chess to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).
iii.The global game, Chess, can contribute to an atmosphere of tolerance and understanding among peoples and nations.
About Chess:
Chess is a 2-player board game with a 64-square checkerboard made of 8×8 squares. Each player starts the game with 16 pieces (8 pawns, 2 knights, 2 bishops, 2 rooks, 1 queen, and 1 king).
History of Chess:
i.According to the UN, one of the theories states that an early game similar to the present day Chess called Chaturanga originated in the Northern Indian Subcontinent during the Gupta Period(around 319 to 543 CE) and travelled along the Silk Roads west to Persia.
ii.Chaturanga was introduced as “Shatranj” in Sassanid Persia around 600 CE,
iii.The Alfonso manuscripts, also known as the Libro de Los Juegos (Book of Games), are a medieval collection of texts on 3 different types of popular games from the 13th century Common Era(CE) describe the game of Chess as very similar to Persian Shatranj.
World Chess Champions:
- World Chess Champion– Magnus Carlsen(Norway)
- Women’s World Chess Champion– Wenjun Ju(China)
About International Chess Federation(Federation Internationale des Echecs – FIDE):
President– Arkady Dvorkovich
Headquarters– Lausanne, Switzerland
