Marking World Chess Day on Tuesday, the UN is celebrating the fact that while COVID-19 has forced most sports to standard down, this ancient game of intellect, not brute strength, has demonstrated singular resilience and adaptability passim months of lockdown worldwide.

Games and sports of all kind, have always helped reduce anxieties, improve mental health, and survive times of crisis.  

Over the past fewer months, the wide involvement successful chess has reportedly doubled with much players than ever playing in events online. 

A combination of strategical and scientific thinking, combined with elements of pure art, chess is 1 of the astir cultural of games handed down over generations, the UN recognizes. 

Crossing barriers 

Affordable and inclusive, chess can be played anywhere and played by all – across the barriers of language, age, gender, carnal ability and social status. 

Because it is a planetary game that promotes fairness and mutual respect, it can lend to an ambiance of tolerance and knowing among peoples and nations, according to the UN. 

And chess besides offers important opportunities successful the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including by strengthening education, realizing sex equality and the empowerment of women and girls. 

Interesting chess facts 

  • Some 605 cardinal adults play chess regularly. 
  • Mathematically, determination are much possible outcomes successful a chess game, than determination are atoms successful the universe, as observed from earth. 
  • About 70 per cent of adults in Germany, India, Russia, United Kingdom and United States have played chess astatine immoderate point.  
  • Despite the complexity of the game, it is imaginable to checkmate an hostile successful chess, in just two moves. 

Multiplying values 

With the start of the Olympics successful Tokyo conscionable days away, the UN credits sport, arts and carnal activity with the powerfulness to alteration perceptions and prejudices. 

The satellite assemblage besides sees them as inspiring people, breaking down radical and governmental barriers, combating discrimination and defusing conflict.  

Therefore, according to the Organization, they lend to peace, cooperation, solidarity and wellness astatine local, determination and planetary levels.

Designating the day

On 12 December 2019, to people the day of the constitution of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) successful Paris successful 1924, the General Assembly proclaimed 20 July arsenic World Chess Day.

The UN’s designation of the time volition not lone admit the important relation of the FIDE successful supporting planetary practice for chess enactment and aiming to amended affable harmony among each peoples of the world, but besides to supply an important level to foster dialogue, solidarity and civilization of peace.