The game of chess is considered one of the oldest and at the same time one of the most complex strategic board games in the history of mankind. Chess is a creative product of the human intellect, which today is highly valued not only as a game but also as an interesting area of world culture. The International Chess Federation (FIDE) was founded on July 20, 1924, during the Summer Olympic Games. In 1966, UNESCO decided to celebrate July 20 annually as International Chess Day. FIDE (French Fédération Internationale des Échecs, FIDE) is an international chess federation based in Paris. When the federation was created, it included only 14 countries, but since then it has been constantly expanding. Currently it covers more than 173 countries, including the Azerbaijan Chess Federation. The federation has a flag, an anthem and a motto (“Gens una sumus” - “We are all one family”). The headquarters of the apartment is in Athens. Official languages: French, Russian, English, Spanish and German.

India is considered the birthplace of chess. The exact release date of this game has not yet been established. Scientists take different positions on this issue. Yu. Rokhlin, I.M. Linder, Z. Khojaev and F. Dummel indicate that the age of chess is approximately 1500 years, and M.S. Kogan and V. Panov indicate that it is more than 2000 years. Indian historian T. Krishnamachar dates the history of chess to BC. It dates back to the 5th-6th centuries, that is, about 2500 years ago. In 1924, Iranian historian Murtuza Rawandi reported that chess stones dating back to 3000-4000 BC were found during excavations in the western Indian province of Lower Sindh.

In the Middle Ages, chess gained great popularity. Chess is a perfect and interesting game, which contributed to its rapid spread throughout the world. Some Islamic scholars were interested in its various strategic and mathematical features. During the reign of the Mongol Empire, the game spread to Asia, Europe and Africa. Chess flourished in Europe during the Renaissance. Game rules, strategies, and tournament organization have evolved. By the end of the 19th century, the rules of the modern chess game were determined.

Although there is no exact information about the first appearance of chess in Azerbaijan, it is known that it was associated with the post-Islamic period. Khoja Ali Tabrizi and Jalaluddin Nakhchivani, the first unofficial master in the history of chess, who amazed everyone with his beautiful play in Central Asia in the 9th century, are the first outstanding representatives of Azerbaijani chess players. Medieval travelers and historians noted that there were 17 sports in Azerbaijan, and one of them was chess. Outstanding representatives of Azerbaijan during the Renaissance, Khagani Shirvani, and Nizami Ganjavi, as well as such geniuses as the medieval classics Imaddin Nasimi and Muhammad Fuzuli, praised chess in their poems and expressed meaningful and deep thoughts about the game.

The game of chess has become more widespread in Azerbaijan, as well as throughout the world, since the 19th century. The Baku Chess Championship was held in 1926, and the first Azerbaijan Chess Championship was held in 1934.

Starting from the 70s of the last century, during the leadership of Soviet Azerbaijan by the great leader Heydar Aliyev, special attention was paid to chess at the state level. Heydar Aliyev has done a lot of work to strengthen the material and technical base of sports in the republic, as well as in other areas. The great leader managed to build and put into operation about 60 children's and youth chess schools. During the times of the Soviet Union, it was thanks to the invaluable merit of the outstanding statesman Heydar Aliyev that G. Kasparov won the title of world champion.

Since 1993, the development of chess has become an integral part of independent state policy. Returning to power during the period of Azerbaijan's independence, President Heydar Aliyev, turning the country's chaos into stability and prosperity, soon brought the sport back into the spotlight. Aynur Sofieva, the first female international grandmaster in the Islamic world, who was president of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation from 2002-2007, as well as grandmasters Firuza Velikhanli and Ilaha Gadimova, were well-known female figures in international chess circles.

During the period of independence, Azerbaijani chess players made a significant contribution to the world history of chess. For the first time in the history of Azerbaijani chess, Gadir Huseynov brought the country its first gold medal. In 1994, when he was 8 years old, he entered the Guinness Book of Records as the youngest 10th FIDE Master in the world, taking first place at the European Children's Championship held in Romania. In February 1998, and again at the end of the same year, President Heydar Aliyev signed two decrees “On strengthening state guardianship over Azerbaijani child chess players Teymur Radjabov and Vugar Gashimov” and “On strengthening state guardianship over Azerbaijani child chess players.” In 2001, at the age of 14, Teymur Radjabov broke the record for the youngest grandmaster in the world. He is considered a chess prodigy. In 2003, Teymur Radjabov entered chess history as the youngest chess player to defeat world champion Garry Kasparov.

Our late chess player Vugar Gashimov, who brought great success to Azerbaijani chess, was one of the most advanced chess players in the world and one of the greatest chess players in the history of Azerbaijan. In 2009, he reached 6th place in the ranking of world chess players and managed to become one of the strongest on the planet, repeatedly entering the top ten. In 2009, he took first place at the European Men's Championship.

Chess is one of the most popular sports in Azerbaijan today. President Ilham Aliyev’s concern for sports in our country spans the period from the time when he headed the National Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan (1997-2003) and continues to this day. As a result of the care shown by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev for chess, Azerbaijan has achieved many achievements - the European Chess Championship in 2002, the World Youth Championship in Nakhchivan in 2003, the FIDE Grand Prix tournament in Baku in 2008, dedicated to the memory of Heydar Aliyev, also a tournament dedicated to the memory of our untimely deceased chess player Vugar Gashimov. The highest achievements demonstrated by world champion Vugar Gashimov were the Shamkir Chess super tournament, traditionally organized since 2014 and uniting the strongest chess players in the world. A clear example of the high trust placed in our country by the International Chess Federation was also the 2015 Chess World Cup and the 2016 Chess Olympiad held in Azerbaijan. The 42nd Chess Olympiad 2016, held in Baku, went down in history as the largest competition ever held in Azerbaijan. 181 men's and 142 women's teams from 176 countries competed in this prestigious competition. This is considered a record figure for the number of participating countries.

The International Chess Festival “Baku Open – 2024” is organized with the joint support of the Azerbaijan Chess Federation (ACEF) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The tournament, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the International Chess Federation (FIDE), consists of 9 rounds according to the Swiss system. The list of participants was determined on June 15. The total prize fund of the festival is 50 thousand US dollars. The tournament is held at the Baku Sports Palace. The International Chess Festival "Baku Open - 2024" started on June 29 and ended on July 7.

Today, as a result of the tremendous work done, our republic is among the countries where chess is developed at the highest level.  Students of the Azerbaijani chess school are among the winners and prize-winners of many prestigious international competitions. They receive congratulations on the podium while participating in the European and World Championships, as well as in inter-club continental championships. As a result of the great efforts of our talented chess players, in honor of their victories, today in different countries of the world the flag of Azerbaijan is raised high and our national anthem is played.

Recommended literature:

1. Quliyev, Şəhriyar Paşa oğlu. Şahmat tariximizdən səhifələr /Ş. Quliyev ; red. Z. Vəlibəyov, A. Əliyev. - Bakı: Azərnəşr, 1966. - 111 s.
2. Quliyev, Şəhriyar Paşa oğlu. Azərbaycanda şahmatın tarixi : ədəbi və tarixi qaynaqlar əsasında araşdırma /Ş. P. Quliyev ; red., tərtib edən, ön sözün və əlavələrin müəllifi Q. Şəhriyar. - Bakı: [s. n.], 2012. - 319 s.
3. Əliyev, Akif. Azərbaycan milli idman oyunlarının tarixi: dərs vəsaiti /A. Əliyev; elmi red. Y. Talıbov ; rəyçilər. S. Onullahi, X.Qurbanov, K. Rzayev. - Bakı: Şərq-Qərb, 2001. - 124 s.
4. Bayramov, Oqtay Nəsib oğlu. Heydər Əliyev və Azərbaycan şahmatının zəfər salnaməsi/O. Bayramov; red. İ. Abbasov ; dizayn: F. Əhmədov, R. Məhərləmov. - Bakı: Zərdabi LTD MMC, 2018. - 95 s.