Origin of chess
The Origins of Chess: The Journey From Chaturanga to the World Stage
Chess – a game of wits enjoyed by millions around the world – has a long and fascinating history, spanning many civilizations, from ancient India to the courts of medieval Europe. The evolution of chess is not only a story of a game, but also a cultural, military and intellectual map of humanity.
Chaturanga – Originated in India (around 6th century)
Most historians agree that chess originated in India, under the name Chaturanga – a battle simulation game, which was born around the 6th century. In Sanskrit, “chaturanga” means “four arms”: infantry (pawns), cavalry (horses), war elephants (bishops), and war chariots (chariots), corresponding to the chess pieces today.
Chaturanga is not exactly the same as modern chess. It is usually played on an 8x8 board, but the rules of movement of the pieces and the game objectives are different. However, this is the first seed of chess as we know it today.
From Chaturanga to Shatranj – A Journey to Persia and the Islamic World
Around the 7th century, Chaturanga was introduced to Persia, where it evolved into Shatranj. Terms such as “Shah” (King) and “Shah Mat” (Caught King, later “Checkmate”) originate from this period. The Arabs later adopted Shatranj as they expanded the Islamic empire, carrying the game throughout the Middle East, North Africa, and into Europe via Spain and Sicily.
Cờ vua thời Trung cổ châu Âu – Cải tiến luật chơi
When it entered Europe, chess began to change dramatically. From the 12th to the 15th century, the rules of the game were gradually improved to become faster and more attractive. A major turning point occurred at the end of the 15th century when the Queen – which had only moved slowly – became as powerful as it is today, able to move in straight lines or diagonally without limit. Also during this period, the Bishop was given the freedom to move diagonally.
This change led to the modern version of chess (Modern Chess), often called “Western Chess".
Standardization and professionalization
Vào thế kỷ XIX, các giải đấu quốc tế đầu tiên ra đời, luật chơi được chuẩn hóa, và Liên đoàn Cờ vua Thế giới (FIDE) được thành lập năm 1924. Từ đó, cờ vua phát triển như một môn thể thao trí tuệ chuyên nghiệp. Những tên tuổi như Bobby Fischer, Garry Kasparov, Magnus Carlsen... đã đưa cờ vua lên một tầm cao mới, kết hợp giữa trí tuệ, công nghệ và sự phổ cập toàn cầu.
