Story of Chess in India

The Origin of Chess in India Chess originated in India around the 6th century, where it was known as Chaturanga. Chaturanga represented the four divisions of the Indian army: Infantry (Pawn) Cavalry (Knight) Elephants (Bishop) Chariots (Rook) From India, the game spread to Persia, then to the Arab world, and eventually to Europe, where it evolved into modern chess. Despite being the birthplace of chess, India did not dominate the game for many centuries. Why Chess Was Not Popular in India Before Viswanathan Anand Several reasons explain why chess remained a niche sport in India before Vishy Anand: 1. Colonial & Cultural Shift During British rule, Western sports like cricket, football, and hockey were promoted. Chess was seen as an indoor, intellectual pastime, not a competitive sport. 2. Lack of Infrastructure Very few chess clubs or academies No strong national tournaments Almost no professional coaches Minimal government or corporate support 3. Limited Media Coverage No television or internet exposure International tournaments were inaccessible Indian players had little visibility or role models 4. Financial Insecurity Chess did not offer stable income. Parents encouraged careers in engineering, medicine, or government jobs, not chess. The Rise of Viswanathan Anand Everything changed with Viswanathan Anand (Vishy Anand). Key Milestones 1988: India’s first Grandmaster 2000: Became World Chess Champion 2007–2013: Dominated world chess across multiple formats He proved that: An Indian could compete with—and defeat—the best players in the world Chess could be a respected profession Speed, intuition, and creativity mattered as much as theory Anand became India’s first global chess icon. The Chess Boom After Anand 1. Inspiration & Role Model Effect Anand inspired an entire generation. Children could now say: “If Anand can do it, so can I.” 2. Institutional Support Formation of chess academies Better training programs Increased role of AICF (All India Chess Federation) 3. The Internet & Technology Online chess platforms (ChessBase, Chess.com, Lichess) Access to world-class games and training Young players could train globally from India 4. Rise of Young Indian Grandmasters Post-Anand, India produced a wave of elite players: Pentala Harikrishna Vidit Gujrathi R. Praggnanandhaa D. Gukesh Arjun Erigaisi Nihal Sarin India now has 80+ Grandmasters, second only to Russia. 5. Media & Sponsorship Chess coverage on TV and YouTube Corporate sponsorships Chess Olympiad 2022 hosted in Chennai India Today: A Chess Superpower Today, India is considered one of the strongest chess nations: Dominating youth world championships Competing for Olympiad gold Producing world championship challengers Viswanathan Anand didn’t just win titles — he built a culture. In One Line Chess was born in India, forgotten for centuries, and brought back to life by Viswanathan Anand.