The Various Times Chess Became Popular

Late Medieval and early Renaissance:
The game was popular among the European nobility and aristocracy, and was sometimes considered a necessary skill for young knights. 
19th century:
The game became widely known, and the first chess tournament was held in London in 1851. The modern standard for chess sets was established around 1835 by Nathaniel Cook, an Englishman. 
20th century:
The game became even more popular as professional players competed for the world championship title and lucrative tournament prizes. 
Pandemic:
The internet helped chess become even more popular during the pandemic, as people spent more time online and could play chess without finding a partner in person. 
Recent years:
Chess has seen a recent surge in popularity, with more people playing the game and clips about it becoming popular on social media. 

Chess originated in India around the 6th century AD, and spread to the Middle East and Europe by the 10th century. The rules of chess as we know them today emerged in Europe by the end of the 15th century

Cultural and intellectual climate: Chess was a reflection of the cultural and intellectual climate of the time, and could be used to express feelings about social, cultural, and religious conditions. 
Gender identity: Chess was a medium for male-female interaction, and was often used as an allegory for courtship. 
Class and power: Chess was embedded in larger issues of class, power, and patriarchy. 
Training warriors: Under Muslim influence, chess was used to train warriors without bloodshed. 
A miniature history of medieval life: The six chess pieces represent a cross section of medieval life, with its many ceremonies, grandeur, and wars. 
Enjoyed by all: Chess was enjoyed by both commoners and nobility. 

Chess originated in India in the 7th century CE as a game called chaturaṅga, which translates to "four divisions of the military". The game was introduced to Europe from the Islamic sphere in the 9th or 10th century.