International Chess Day is celebrated on July 20 every year to honour one of the smartest games ever created, chess. Since 1966, UNESCO has recognised this day to promote this ancient game as a tool for instilling logical thinking, education, and cultural exchange.
July 20 marks the founding of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in 1924. The organisation was established in Paris, France to promote the game and organise and oversee chess competitions internationally.
Chess is known to have originated from the Indian game Chaturanga before 600 AD. Over time, the game spread throughout Asia and Europe and evolved into the game of chess as we know it today.
In ancient times, chess was not necessarily black and white but colours which were influenced by the customs and cultures of the place and time. Around 1010 AD, the texts indicated that chess pieces given to Iranian rulers from India were made of ivory (white) and teak (dark brown).
The likely reason why these colours became a standard in chess would be that they are easy to distinguish between their pieces and that of the opponent's pieces due to the contrast in the colours.
At present time, chess is played by millions of people globally, transcending borders, cultures, and languages. International Chess Day is observed to celebrate the cultural and social exchange that chess brings to people worldwide.