Chess is one of the most popular games globally. The rate of popularity can be measured by the number of movies about famous players and the growing interest in the young generation.

Last year, Indian teen prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju made history by becoming the youngest undisputed world chess champion after defeating China’s Ding Liren in the final match of their series held in Singapore.

In a moment of despair, the 32-year-old Ding Liren collapsed onto the table upon realising he had committed a critical endgame blunder, allowing Gukesh to seize the opportunity. Meanwhile, the young champion was overcome with emotion, hiding his face in his hands as tears of joy streamed down.

In December, the international chess event saw dramatic developments when Magnus Carlsen withdrew from the World Rapid Chess Championship in New York City after refusing to change out of his jeans, despite a dress code violation. But the next day he announced his return to the event following a change in the tournament’s dress code.

Here are the key steps to get started:

1 Set up the chessboard: Players should position the board so that a white square is in the bottom right corner for each player.

2 Learn piece movements: Each piece has unique movements; it’s essential to understand how they operate, including the knight’s jump and the pawn’s forward progression.

3 Understand special rules: Familiarize yourself with critical rules like castling and pawn promotion, which add depth to the game.

4 First move advantage: The player with the white pieces always moves first, giving them a slight strategic edge.

5 Objective of the game: The ultimate goal is to checkmate the opponent’s king, leading to victory.

6 Regular practice: Engaging in frequent play and studying basic strategies will enhance your chess skills.

7 Enjoyment is key: Maintaining a positive outlook and having fun is crucial for learning and improvement in chess.