National Chess Day 2024: Dates, History, Significance

National Chess Day 2024: Chess is one of the oldest games and brings together people from different countries, and cultures. The popularity of chess in the US has grown over years and 21% of the US population plays chess.

National Chess Day is observed every year on the second Saturday of October to spread awareness about the importance of chess and bring together chess enthusiast around the world to improve their skills and acknowledge.

Chess is also considered one of the important games that helps to boost your cognitive functions.

Let’s dive into more about National Chess Day, how it was formed, and its significance.

National Chess Day 2024 Dates

National Chess Day is observed every year on October 12, This year, National Chess Day falls on the second Saturday of October.

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National Chess Day 2024 History

National Chess Day was established by the 38th President of the United States, Gerald Ford on  October 9, 1976, to mark the United States bicentennial celebration. Since then, National Chess Day has been celebrated on a large scale across the United States.

The history of chess goes back to the early 600 AD when there was a game in India during the Gupta dynasty known as Chaturanga. It is believed that the Chaturanga is the ancestry of Chess and the game is derived from it.

Since then, the game has evolved significantly year after year and received global recognition. Several books were published in the 16th century and the legendary player during that era was a Spanish priest named Ruy López de Segura.

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National Chess Day 2024 Significance

National Chess Day is celebrated to honor the rich history and cultural significance of the game. This day is also observed to promote how people from different backgrounds and cultures are united by chess.

On this day, there are several organizations and groups that set up tournaments in different places and bring together chess enthusiasts to improve their skill and knowledge.

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