Chess originated in India in the 6th century as Chaturanga and became globally recognized by the 19th century, with the first World Chess Championship held in 1886. The highest title is Grandmaster (GM), awarded by the Federation Internationale des Echecs (FIDE), the international governing body for chess.
India’s chess legends include Viswanathan Anand, the first Indian World Chess Champion and Grandmaster. Other notable players are Koneru Humpy, R. Praggnanandhaa, Nihal Sarin, and D. Gukesh, all of whom have excelled in international competitions.