CHESS WAS ONCE PLAYED AS BLOOD SPORT AMONG EQUALS

The game of Chess has been attributed to the Asian Indians both by the Persian people and by the Arabs. However, the origin of the game remains lost in antiquity. This game was introduced to the Near East from India and became a part of the princely or courtly education of Persian nobility.  The game was developed extensively in Europe, and by late 15th century, it had survived a series of prohibitions and Christian Church sanctions to almost take the shape of the modern game.

The earliest precursor of modern chess is a game called Chaturanga, which flourished in India by the 6th century, and is the earliest known game to have two essential features found in all later chess variations — different pieces having different powers (which was not the case with Checkers and Go), and victory depended on the fate of one piece, the king of modern chess. Other game pieces, often known as "chess pieces," uncovered in archaeological findings, are considered as coming from other, distantly related, board games, which may even have boards of 100 squares or more. The Arab scholar Abu al-Hasan detailed the use of chess as a tool for military strategy, mathematics, gambling and even its vague association with astronomy in India and elsewhere. Chess remained largely unpopular among the North European people — who could not relate to the abstract shapes — but started gaining popularity as soon as figurative pieces were introduced. The popularity of chess in the Western courtly society peaked between the 12th and the 15th centuries. The game found mention in the vernacular and Latin language literature throughout Europe and many works were written on or about chess between the 12th and the 15th centuries. Chess terms, like "check", were used by authors as a metaphor for various situations. Chess was soon incorporated into the knightly style of life in Europe.

Peter Alfonsi, in his work Disciplina Clericalis, listed chess among the seven skills that a good knight must acquire. Kings Henry I, Henry II and Richard I of England were chess patrons. Two separate incidents in 13th century London involving men of Essex resorting to violence, resulting in death as an outcome of playing chess. The practice of playing chess for money became so widespread during the 13th century that Louis IX of France issued an ordinance against gambling in 1254 CE. By the Mid 12th century, the pieces of the chess set were depicted as kings, queens, bishops, knights and men at arms. We know Chess around the world today as the ultimate intellectual game of skill. It is played by young and old and for large money prizes as well, but without any threats of bodily harm.