Chess has a deep-rooted history in India, widely believed to have originated from the game of chaturanga during the Gupta Empire in circa 6th century CE. Over centuries, it evolved and spread across the world, influencing modern chess as we know it today.[1]
In the contemporary era, India has emerged as a major chess power, excelling in international tournaments and the country currently has the second best federation in the world with a 2721 top-ten rating.[2] The country holds multiple Chess Olympiad victories in both the men's and women's sections[3] and has crowned two World Chess Champions: Viswanathan Anand, a five-time champion who revolutionized Indian chess, and Gukesh D, the current reigning champion.[4]
The rise of chess in modern India is often credited to Anand, whose dominance from the late 1990s to the early 2010s inspired a generation of players. His success, coupled with the growth of digital platforms and widespread grassroots training programs, has fueled a chess boom, making India one of the leading nations in the sport. The country now has a robust chess ecosystem, supported by the All India Chess Federation (AICF) and a network of state associations, academies, and online communities.[4][5]
- ^ "A Game of Thrones - How Chess Conquered the World". Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
- ^ "Top Chess Federations FIDE Open>". ratings.fide.com. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
- ^ "India's dominant Chess Olympiad win reminds Viswanathan Anand of Soviet teams". India Today. 23 September 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
- ^ a b "68 years in the making: Olympiad golds mark milestones in Indian chess history". ESPN. 22 September 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
- ^ "Gukesh Dommaraju: How the Indian teenager became youngest world chess champion". 13 December 2024.
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