Why Chess

Brief History

Modern chess is the logical and linear descendant of a game played in India in the sixth century. The trail of chess dates back to approximately A.D. 500. In the Modern Period, since around A.D. 1600, chess has solidified into its present form (Davidson, 1949).  The sport of competitive chess has been organized throughout the United States since 1939 by the current national governing body, the United States Chess Federation. The first official World Chess Championship took place in 1886, with Wilhelm Steinitz defeating Johannes Zukertort to become the first recognized World Chess Champion. The match was a significant event, marking the start of a grand tradition in chess history that continues to this day.   There have been 18 different undisputed World Chess Champions since the title's inception in 1886, including the current champion, Gukesh Dommaraju. The only American World Chess Champion was Bobby Fischer. He was World Champion for three years, from 1972 to 1975. He won the World Chess Championship by defeating Boris Spassky in 1972, but later forfeited his title in 1975 by refusing to play a match against Anatoly Karpov.  

Cognitive Improvement

Chess offers players more than the opportunity to just play a game. The residual effects of learning, understanding, and playing chess lead to greater mental acuity. This improved focus and sharpness is what allows great chess players to be able to play a single game for sometimes hours on end, and analyze multiple moves ahead. Beyond the board, chess has been linked to show improvement in other areas as well. According to one academic source, the game of chess seems to exert a slight positive influence on both academic and cognitive abilities (Sala & Gobet, 2016). 

Social Connection

Chess is a game played all across the world by players of all backgrounds, ages, and skill levels. Learning to play chess bridges players to a larger sense of community, whether it be through local chess clubs, competitive chess competitions, or just casual play anywhere you find yourself over the board with a fellow player.

References

(Davidson, Henry. A Short History of Chess. Greenburg, 1949).  

(Sala, Giovanni & Gobet, Fernand. Do the Benefits of Chess Instruction Transfer to Academic and Cognitive Skills? A Meta-Analysis. Liverpool, 2016).