The seemingly meaningless string of notations is actually an opening to the whole world of chess. These exact two moves are considered to be the first set of moves ever played: the pawn before the white king and the pawn before the black queen. So many chess positions can be reached after these two moves. While chess is a game of endless possibilities, it might come as a surprise to many that even at the top level, novelties or new chess moves and positions aren't as common as one might expect. Although, with the rise of cloud computers and software like Stockfish, these expensive pieces of technology can be used to analyze and calculate intricate positions and lines, these types of new moves are becoming more common with each passing day. As can be seen many times in this year's candidates (the tournament, which decides who plays the world championship match.), Which brings us to the question: are we being ushered into a new era of chess?
The world has recently witnessed a huge rise in the popularity of an ancient sport. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more players have started enjoying chess because of its online accessibility. With this rise in popularity, chess has gained millions of followers across the globe. Many proficient grandmasters and other chess masters have amassed a huge online audience and fanbase. Hikaru Nakamura, who is the third highest-rated player in the world, is an avid streamer and YouTuber with a huge fanbase in nearly all corners of the world. But talking more about the national frontiers, popular comedian and YouTuber Samay Raina has revived the chess boom in India, and along with GM Vidit Gujrathi and IM Sagar Shah, he has managed to build a massive chess community in India.
India today is one of the strongest chess federations in the world. with 85 GMs and many super GMs on the rise. GMs Arjun Erigiasi, Gukesh D, and Pragg are among the top ten players in the world. GM Gukesh became the youngest contender for the world championship this year, with a promising hope of becoming the youngest world champion. But the impact Indian chess players have left on the international field doesn’t end here; from winning many Super tournaments to having five Indians in the race for the World Championship, Indian chess players have taken the world by storm. Although we have seen a surge of young Indian talent in the sport, one cannot forget the man who started it all, GM Viswanathan Anand, the five-time world champion who solely dominated the international chess scene for years. At 52 years of age, GM Anand continues to dominate the chess world even today.
The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has also taken a keen interest in this chess boom. We are working towards providing better monetary support and opportunities to chess players in India, especially international players. One of the most notable feats is the astonishing support of Indian industrial titans like Adani, Tata, Mahindra, etc., who not only provide sponsorships but also host international chess events. The Tata Steel Chess Tournament is one of the strongest and most respected tournaments globally. The Global Chess League is a joint venture between Tech Mahindra and FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs) and is played by players like GM Magnus Carlsen, who is considered by many to be the best chess player of all time.
The future of Indian chess looks bright, but only time will tell what new heights will be reached by our players. For now, chess continues to get much love and support across the nation. In contrast to the last few decades when this ancient sport had been in the shadows, the last five years truly feel like the rebirth of chess, not just in India but also across the world.
- Asmi Khandekar
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