World Chess Day 2025: History of Chess in India, India's Chess Legends, Rising Indian Chess Stars and Impact of Indian Players on Global Chess
World Chess Day celebrates chess as a global game that transcends borders, religion, languages and cultures.
World Chess Day marks the foundation of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in Paris in 1924. The day was first proposed by UNESCO before it was officially recognised by the United Nations in 2019. The day celebrates chess as a global game that transcends borders, religion, languages and cultures.
Players, clubs and chess enthusiasts around the globe commemorate the day by organising tournaments, exhibitions and educational events about chess as not just a sport but also as a tool for intellectual development and peace.
India leads the junior rankings with 21 boys and 10 girls in the world's top 100 players. World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen praised Indian grandmasters Dommaraju Gukesh, Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa, and Arjun Erigaisi on the sidelines of the Norway Chess 2025.
Among the prominent stars, the legendary Viswanathan Anand continues to inspire players from all over the globe with his meticulous planning and preparation strategies studied by other elite-level players. India hosted the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai (2022), reflecting the growing influence of Indian chess in the world as the All India Chess Federation (AICF) also expands the sport's wings across the country and identifies wonderful talents at an early age.
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First Published:
July 20, 2025, 11:47 IST
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