What was the greatest influence on Chess?

Question

Was it from Europe, India, or Persia? I need to know to rub it in my friend's face!!!

Answer 1

chess was started in Persia but Bobby Fischer had the greatest influence

Answer 2

It was from North America and his name was Bobby Fischer. The man revolutionised the game during 1970-72, drawing the media and even people who hadn't heard of chess to the game, made curious people go out and buy boards and learn the game, raised the prize monies in hundredfolds and in general popularised and introduced the game to the world. Chess has been less popular since, but since Fischer there has been an interest in the game that is unrivaled beyond anything before 1970. Of course his influence within the chess community is maifest: he brought a new understanding of middle-game play, proved the effectiveness of scientific study and introduced many new concepts in opening play, as well as demonstrated winning endgame lines in real play that were previously confined to theory.

Answer 3

they said it came from a game called "Chaturanga" and it was from India - or so they say .. greatest game ever!

Answer 4

I'd say Paul Morphy of the US. He was the greatest of his time. He easily defeated the greatest the world had to offer before he was 25. By 26 he was pretty much retired from chess. This could easily be considered a turning point for professional chess because there was no such thing as professional chess at the time. Chess was just another form of gambling back in Morphy's day. His death in 1884 occured just around the time professional chess began to pick up. This could be interpretted in a variety of ways, but I think he was the reason players began to try and improve their game and the tragedy of such lost talent could have been the reason professional chess became a more popular concept. Also, he was the first chess prodigy and a celebrity during his time; this attributed to a rise in popularity of chess.

Although, modern chess rules began to be shaped in southern Europe, so I suppose the reformation of the rules to what we see now is probably a pretty big influence.

Answer 5

The game we refer to as chess was present around the 15th century in southern europe, but it ad evolved from a simliar game with roots in persia.

And I disagree, Paul Morphy had more influence on modern chess.