Giffnock & Clarkston Chess Club

The History Of Chess

• Chess is said to have originated in India in the 6^th century and spread to Europe via Persia (Iran).

• Chess pieces in the form we play today have remained unchanged for the last 500 years.

• Chess pieces (78) carved from 12^th century Scandinavian ivory were found buried on the Isle of Lewis, in 1831.The British Museum kept 67 pieces and 11 went to the R.S.M., Edinburgh.

• The oldest chess clubs in Scotland are: Edinburgh -1822; Glasgow -1822; Dundee -1847; Aberdeen -1853; and Stirling, founded on 27^th September 1893, in the YMCA Institute.

• When Bobby Fischer (USA) and Boris Spaasky (USSR) met in the 1972 World Chess Championships, the publicity arising led to an explosion of chess clubs in Scotland.

• The Current FIDE World Chess Champion is Vishy Anand from India, although the recognised Champion is Vladamir Kramnik, who recently defeated Gary Kasparov to attain the title.

Chess: Art, Science and Sport:

• In 1999 Parliament debated whether to designate chess as a sport for funding purposes.

• Chess is being considered by the Olympic Organisation with a view to including it.

• Chess has no age, class or race barriers and is played by people of all occupations.

• Chess in schools in New York has been found to aid earlier scholastic development.

(Compiled with thanks to George Clark, Stirling Chess Club)