Historical Journey – From the Origins of Chess to the Present Day

Chess is a fascinating, mysterious, and ancient game.

As Stefan Zweig said, “it is the only game that belongs to all peoples and all eras, and of which no one knows what divinity bestowed it on the world to kill boredom, to sharpen the senses, and to exhilarate the spirit.”  

As President of the History Committee, I am pleased to present a space we have created on the FIDE website, where we will share related works generated by members of this Committee.

We begin, within the section entitled ‘Historical Journey – From the Origins of Chess to the Present Day’ by sharing published documents by the Argentine researcher Sergio Ernesto Negri, a member of the History Committee, namely:

1. On the Origins of Chess
2. Milestones of Chess, Year by Year, from 1886 to 1891.

Chess is a game that has transcended time, adapting to changes in context. Drawing on civilizational contributions, it has become a syncretic discovery.

Therefore, understanding its history, in all its complexity and scope, is a task for everyone.

Just as we are a family (Gens una Sumus), every family has a history.

A history that deserves to be told and that we strive to record.

Willy Iclicki
President of the History Committee