Chess is a recreational and competitive board game played between two players. It is sometimes called Western or international chess to distinguish it from related games such as xiangqi. The current form of the game emerged in Southern Europe during the second half of the 15th century after evolving from similar, much older games of Indian and Persian origin. Today, chess is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.
The International Chess Federation or World Chess Federation, commonly referred to by its French acronym FIDE, is an international organization based in Switzerland that connects the various national chess federations and acts as the governing body of international chess competition. FIDE was founded in Paris, France, on July 20, 1924. Its motto is Gens una sumus, Latin for "We are one people". In 1999, FIDE was recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). As of September 2020, there are 195 member federations of FIDE.
Computer chess includes both hardware and software capable of playing chess. Computer chess provides opportunities for players to practice even in the absence of human opponents, and also provides opportunities for analysis, entertainment and training.
Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik is a Russian chess grandmaster. He was the Classical World Chess Champion from 2000 to 2006, and the undisputed World Chess Champion from 2006 to 2007. He has won three team gold medals and three individual medals at Chess Olympiads.
The World Chess Championship is played to determine the world champion in chess. The current world champion is Magnus Carlsen of Norway.
Nigel David Short is an English chess grandmaster, columnist, coach, commentator and, since October 2018, Vice-President of FIDE. Short earned the Grandmaster title at the age of 19, and was ranked third in the world by FIDE from July 1988 to July 1989. In 1993 he became the first English player to play a World Chess Championship match, when he qualified to play Garry Kasparov in the World Chess Championship 1993 in London, where Kasparov won 12½ to 7½.
Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov is a Bulgarian chess grandmaster and former FIDE World Chess Champion.
World Computer Chess Championship (WCCC) is an event held periodically since 1974 where computer chess engines compete against each other. The event is organized by the International Computer Games Association. It is often held in conjunction with the Computer Olympiad, a collection of computer tournaments for other board games.
Karen Asrian was an Armenian chess player. Awarded the title of Grandmaster by FIDE in 1998, he was a three-time Armenian champion. Asrian was a member of the gold medal-winning Armenian team in the 37th Chess Olympiad.
The Interregnum of World Chess Champions was the period between March 24, 1946 and May 17, 1948.
Surya Sekhar Ganguly is an Indian chess grandmaster. His peak ELO rating was 2676. Ganguly became an International Master at the age of 16 and a grandmaster at the age of 19.
Susan Polgar is a Hungarian and American chess player. Polgár was Women's World Champion from 1996 to 1999.
Viktor Lvovich Korchnoi was a Soviet and Swiss chess grandmaster and writer. He is considered one of the strongest players never to have become World Chess Champion.
The Gymnasiade, or World Gymnasiade, is an international multi-sport event which is organised by the International School Sport Federation (ISF). It is the largest event among many other sport events held by the ISF.
Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, also known as Sara Khadem, is an Iranian chess player who holds the titles of International Master (IM) and Woman Grandmaster (WGM).
Mitra Hejazipour is an Iranian chess player who holds the title of Woman Grandmaster.
Pouya Idani is an Iranian chess player. He was awarded the title of Grandmaster (GM) by FIDE in 2014. He won the World U18 chess Championship in 2013. He is the 2nd best chess player in Iran.
Shayesteh Ghaderpour, also known as Shayesteh Ghader Pour is an Iranian chess player who hold the title of International Women Master. She is a silver medalist the Iranian Women's Chess Championship and has represented Iran at six Chess Olympiads.
The Asian Team Chess Championship is an international team chess tournament open to national federations affiliated to FIDE in Asia and Oceania. It is organized by the Asian Chess Federation, and the winner qualifies to participate at the next World Team Chess Championship. The open championship has been held at intervals of anywhere from one to four years since 1974. The Asian Women's Team Chess Championship has been held concurrently with the open championship since 1995. Recent editions have additionally featured side team events held at rapid and blitz time controls.
