A year and a half ago, ChatGPT burst onto the scene, sparking an intense race among tech giants like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Facebook to develop the most advanced AI models. Despite initial rapid advancements, the AI field has hit a plateau, prompting a reevaluation of how we push the boundaries of artificial intelligence

The AI Plateau: When More Data Yields Less Progress

The initial models were trained on roughly 20% of the total text on the Internet. Subsequent models accessed more substantial segments of the web, with the latest iterations trained on 15 trillion tokens, covering a vast expanse of the entire history of written content produced by humanity.

The anticipation was that the more data the models were trained on, the better their capabilities would become. Expectations were high that training on the entirety of human-written language might lead to the emergence of superhuman intelligence. Predictions included groundbreaking achievements such as discovering new laws of physics, developing innovative drugs, and solving long-standing mathematical puzzles.

However, these expectations were not fully realized as the incremental improvements in AI capabilities began to plateau. For instance, the leap in performance from GPT-2 to GPT-3 was significant, but subsequent improvements, such as from GPT-3 to GPT-4 and then to GPT-4o, demonstrated diminishing returns. This suggested that simply amassing more data might not necessarily translate into exponential growth in AI intelligence.

AI's New Paradigm: The Path to Mastery Through Self-Play

In contrast, the development of AlphaZero by DeepMind showcased a different model of AI excellence. AlphaZero, an AI program designed to master the games of chess, Go, and others, did not rely solely on human expertise. Instead, after an initial phase of learning from human game data, it transitioned to a phase of self-exploration and self-play.

This second phase involved the AI playing against itself billions of times, creating and exploring numerous new game scenarios never seen before in human play. This extensive experimentation allowed the AI to develop a profoundly deep and innovative understanding of game dynamics, leading it to discover strategies and techniques previously unknown or underappreciated by human grandmasters.

From Imitation to Innovation: AI's Next Leap Forward

(photo credit: Razor Labs)

This approach underscores a potential pathway for AI to achieve superhuman capabilities in fields beyond games. By adopting a similar two-phase approachinitial learning from existing data followed by a phase of creative self-explorationthere is a possibility for AI to achieve superhuman intelligence and make significant contributions to fields such as physics, medicine, or mathematics. This method could enable AI to not just mimic human thought processes but to diverge and possibly innovate beyond them.

By leveraging the strategies evolved through countless self-play sessions, new frontiers in AI development are being opened. AI systems can independently generate knowledge that hasn't been explicitly programmed or previously conceived by humans. This independent creative capability could lead to breakthroughs in numerous domains, offering new solutions that are currently beyond our grasp.

Drug Discovery, Novel Materials, and Sustainable Energy: Embrace the Excitement, Not the Fear

Looking ahead, these capabilities could extend far beyond traditional game boards. AI systems could revolutionize drug discovery by predicting molecular behaviors and interactions, rapidly developing new medicines. They could also aid in formulating a unified theory of physics, unraveling cosmic mysteries. In materials science, AI might invent novel materials, enhancing sustainable energy solutions and driving technological advancements.

While these technologies may take years to mature, their potential societal benefits should inspire excitement rather than fear. As these tools evolve, they promise to solve some of humanity's most pressing challenges, turning distant possibilities into achievable realities.

Michael Zolotov, 33, is an AI expert with a master's degree in electrical engineering. He is the Co-Founder and CTO of several leading AI companies, including the publicly traded Razor Labs, which develops AI technologies for asset-intensive industries, and Axon Vision, which provides AI solutions for the defense market. Michael also co-founded the Future Learning school, the first Deep Learning training academy for AI engineers in Israel.

By Michael Zolotov, AI Expert, Co-Founder, and CTO of Razor Labs

This article was written in cooperation with Razor Labs

Link:

Breaking the AI barrier: From Chess masters to superhuman AI - The Jerusalem Post

Candidate Master (CM) Ronuel Greenidge remained undefeated in rounds seven and eight to win the Guyana Chess Federations (GCF) Malta Supreme Grand Prix.

When play continued yesterday at the David Rose Special School in Thomas Lands, Greenidge faced Alexander Zhang, and the duo engaged in a gripping seventh-round battle that ended in a draw after time had expired.

However, in the eighth round, Greenidge sealed the deal with a victory over another Zhang, this time younger sibling Nicholas, to end the tournament undefeated and become the undisputed winner of the GCFs fourth Grand Prix. In his eight games, Greenidge secured 6.5 points.

Read more:

Undefeated Greenidge wins Chess Grand Prix - Stabroek News

The 37th edition of the Magistral Ciudad de Len took place on June 28-30 at the Spanish citys Auditorium. A 4-player knockout tournament with a rapid time control was once again the format of the festivals main event.

Three matches took place, one per day, from Friday to Sunday. The semifinals were played on Friday and Saturday, and the two winners faced each other on Sunday. The drawing of lots resulted in Vishy Anand facing Veselin Topalov in the first semifinal and Arjun Erigaisi facing Jaime Santos in the second semifinal.

Master Class Vol. 12: Viswanathan Anand

This DVD allows you to learn from the example of one of the best players in the history of chess and from the explanations of the authors how to successfully organise your games strategically, and how to keep your opponent permanently under pressure.

Each match consisted of four rapid games (20 minutes for the game plus 10-second increments). In case of a draw, two blitz games followed (5 minutes + 3-second increments); if the tie remained, the match winner would be decided in Armageddon (White gets 6 minutes, Black gets 5 minutes and draw odds).

Anand defeated Topalov by a 2-1 score on Friday, while Santos stunned top seed Arjun by the same score in the second semifinal. In the final, Anand got the better of Santos who was the defending champion in an exciting match.

This was Anands tenth title in Len. For many years, the legend from Chennai lived in Collado Mediano, a small city near Madrid, so he speaks Spanish fluently and has often participated in top events organized in Bilbao and Len.

Coincidentally, the 54-year-old obtained the title on his wifes birthday. It is well known that Aruna Anand has played a vital role in her husbands career. As Vishy himself recounted on his X account, it was Aruna who encouraged him to play in Len despite her birthday being on the same date as the final:

It was yet another achievement by the 5-time world champion, who continues to show his strength while semi-retired from official competitions!

Vishy Anand facing Jaime Santos in the final | Photo: Luque

Analysis by Klaus Besenthal

Veselin Topalov | Photo: Luque

Analysis by Klaus Besenthal

The Keymer Variation - 1.Nf3 d5 2.e3

This video course features the ins-and-outs of the possible setups Black can choose. Youll learn the key concepts and strategies needed to add this fantastic opening to your repertoire. An easy-to-learn and yet venomous weapon.

Arjun Erigaisi | Photo: Luque

Master Class Vol.17 - Boris Spassky

In this video course, experts including Dorian Rogozenco, Mihail Marin, Karsten Mller and Oliver Reeh, examine the games of Boris Spassky. Let them show you which openings Spassky chose to play, where his strength in middlegames were and much more.

Excerpt from:

Len Masters: Anand beats Topalov and Santos to claim tenth title - Chess News | ChessBase

When the International Chess Federation created the inaugural list of grandmasters, the games highest title, in 1950, there were 27. Today, there are more than 1,850.

There are too many grandmasters, said Nigel Short, the director for chess development at the federation, the games governing body, who himself is a grandmaster. Mr. Short, who is English, said that when he is in Germany, which has almost 100 grandmasters, To call me grandmaster adds nothing. They are two a penny.

Mr. Short, 59, pointed out that the high number of grandmasters is a relatively recent phenomenon. When he was a rising junior player in the late 1970s, there were only about 100 of them in the world.

To become one is technically not easy. A player must at least once achieve an Elo rating, the system used to rank players, of more than 2,500 less than one percent of players ever do that. A player must also achieve a norm, a performance equivalent to playing at the level of a player rated 2,600, in at least three tournaments.

But not all grandmasters are created equal. Magnus Carlsen, the former world champion, who has been ranked No. 1 in the world almost continuously since 2009, is one. So is Jacob Aagaard, a coach and trainer. The difference between them is their ratings: Mr. Carlsens is 2,830, while Mr. Aagaards is 2,426.

Mr. Aagaard, 50, explained that he stopped playing professionally 15 years ago, shortly after he became a grandmaster. Though he still competes occasionally, he plays more for enjoyment and does not worry as much as he once did about whether he wins or loses, he said.

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Are There Too Many Chess Grandmasters? - The New York Times

One grandmaster, two international masters and seven FIDE masters are competing in the Cerrado IM tournament in Barcelona, with an Elo average of 2320. To get an IM norm, 6 points from 9 games are required, and Faustino Oro has a good chance of achieving this score. With four wins and two draws, he has 5 points from 6 games with three rounds to go and only needs 1 points from the last three rounds to break the record of US Grandmaster Abhimanyu Mishra, who became the youngest ever International Master at the age of 10 years, 9 months and 20 days.

And if the young Argentine continues to play as confidently as he did in the first six rounds, he should win the title.

In the very first round, Oro had to play against the top seed and the only grandmaster in the field the 10-year-old came away with a surprisingly confident and composed victory against Hipolito Asis Gargatagli.

Master Class Vol.4: Jos Ral Capablanca

He was a child prodigy and he is surrounded by legends. In his best times he was considered to be unbeatable and by many he was reckoned to be the greatest chess talent of all time: Jose Raul Capablanca, born 1888 in Havana.

Oro also impressed in rounds 2 and 3 with his composed positional play.

In rounds 4 and 5, the young talent slowed down a bit and allowed himself two unspectacular and safe draws. But in round 6 he managed another convincing win: he had no problems finding a convincing concept against the rarely played Benoni Defence, and soon after the end of the opening phase, he won a pawn with a neat tactical trick and then exploited this advantage with incredible precision.

Two FMs and an IM await Faustino Oro in the last three rounds: FM Xavier Mompel (Elo 2279), FM Cesar Alcal (Elo 2274) and IM Fernando Valenzuela (Elo 2358). Whether Faustino Oro holds his nerve in the last three rounds and secures the title and record remains to be seen.

Two out of the three final rounds will take place on Saturday, while the ninth and deciding round will take place on Sunday at 10.00 local time.

Attack like a Super Grandmaster

In this Fritztrainer: Attack like a Super GM with Gukesh we touch upon all aspects of his play, with special emphasis on how you can become a better attacking player.

Read more from the original source:

Faustino Oro might break another record this weekend - Chess News | ChessBase

To find out, I spent 15 hours researching chess sets online and sat down for an extended conversation with Imad Khachan, owner of Chess Forum, a New York City institution that hosts matches and sells all manner of chess books, clocks, and sets. Khachan loves chess, and he loves chess boards and pieces, but his advice surprised me: It doesnt really matter which set you get.

There are hundreds of sets and millions of combinations if you start mixing things, Khachan told me during our talk. But ultimately, chess is a game that can be played anywhere, with anything. Khachan said that a set itself is just a means to an end, an opportunity for a conversation: one player moving a piece, introducing an idea onto the board, and the other player responding in kind.

You realize eventually that this is what matters: the human contact, the precious moments you spend with people, the memories you create, Khachan said, And that memory can be created with a $10 set or a $1,000 set. It does not make a difference.

Read more:

How to Pick the Best Chess Set | Reviews by Wirecutter - The New York Times

Black to move.

Black has every piece aimed at the Kside.

White threatens 2. Qxg7#.

1. ... Qf3+ is the obvious first move. There is no chance of 1. ... Rf2+ 2. Kxf2 Qxc2+ since the Rook is defended.

1. ... Qxd5+, with the idea of winning the Knight, is not good due to 2. Qe4+, blocking check and checking the Black King, forcing a Queen trade.

1. ... Rg1+ 2. Kxg1 Qb1+ 3. Kg2 Qf1# fails due to 3. Rc1.

However, the ... Qf1# idea might still be valid, just not this particular variant.

Does Black need to prevent White from reaching h3? What will he do if White does reach h3? Short of 1. ... Qf1#, I don't see a way. And then what does Black do?

1. ... Rg1+ and 1. ... Rf2+ are the only non-Queen checks that exist and both are bad.

Does a wild move like 1. ... Qxg3+ lead anywhere? No.

Since White threatens M1 and there is no Queen move that can defend g7, the only Queen move must be a check [1. ... Rg6 stops checkmate but is very passive so unlikely to be the solution].

Also, even if Black can get a Rook on the 2nd rank and the Queen on h5, White can always play Qh4 to block check, protected by the pawn so no ... Rxh2+ tactic will work to win the Queen [edit: I later figured out this only applied if the Rook moved and opened up the White Queen's sight of h4].

1. ... Qf3+ 2. Kh3 Rg6, threatening 3. ... Rxg3+ 4. hxg3 Rh1# fails due to 3. Qe4, pinning the Rook and attacking the Queen.

Remember to keep open the possibility of combining elements of ideas that don't work because that might form a sequence that does work.

1. ... Qf3+ 2. Kh3 Qh5+ 3. Kg2 Qxd5+ still runs into 4. Qe4+.

Aah, but now a previously "bad" idea becomes good: 1. ... Qf3+ 2. Kh3 Qh5+ 3. Kg2 Rg1+!! 4. Kxg1 Qd1+ 5. Kg2 Qf1#.

.

The most important factor for me was not discarding ... Rg1+ just because it didn't work in my original calculation. I saw that it led to ... Qf1# in one variation so, even though it wasn't forced, it was something to plan towards [I don't read titles so I didn't see the f1 hint until after I solved it].

.

I'm sure some will ask why bother with the "useless extra Queen moves": if Black attempts ... Rg1 from the initial position, even assuming White accepts [it's not forced; White can play 2. Kh3], 2. Kxg1 Qb1+ 3. Rc1 and there will be no checkmate on f1. 3. ... Qb6+ 4. Kg2 Qf2+ 5. Kh3 and Black is lost.

Think of 3. Rc1 like forming a wall that keeps the Black Queen outside the perimeter:

Now compare that to the solution: the "useless" Queen moves allowed it to deliver check on d1, not b1, inside the perimeter:

Here's what I think happened [not just in this puzzle but in most]: someone did not successfully solve the puzzle, looked at the solution, and then worked backwards to ask, legitimately, why the shorter solution didn't also work.

The critical assumption they are making is that the opponent will make the same moves with the variation as in the solution. If 1. ... Rg1+ 2. Kxg1 [ignoring that White could play 2. Kh3 also, since there is no Queen on h5 to prevent it] Qb1+, they assume White will play 3. Kg2 just like in the solution. If so, 3. ... Qf1# indeed works.

But White will not make things easy; he'll instead find the optimal 3. Rc1.

This is why there are so many people wondering why the shorter solution doesn't work.

They could also run the analysis tool and the engine would show them.

Read the original post:

2024/06/30 DPA: "Getting Inside The Castle Wall" - Chess.com

The Grand Hotel Bucharest in the capital of Romania is hosting the second event of the 2024 Grand Chess Tour. Ten strong grandmasters are set to battle in a single round-robin with a revamped classical time control. This year, the participants of the GCT will receive 120 minutes for the whole game plus 30-second increments in the two classical events of the series, the Superbet Classic and the Sinquefield Cup.

Navigating the Ruy Lopez Vol.1-3

The Ruy Lopez is one of the oldest openings which continues to enjoy high popularity from club level to the absolute world top. In this video series, American super GM Fabiano Caruana, talking to IM Oliver Reeh, presents a complete repertoire for White.

Adding to the fact that the time control means that players will never get a respite if they find themselves in time trouble, two of the round-1 games saw the contenders entering sharp positions right out of the opening.

In fact, commentator Yasser Seirawan described Fabiano Caruanas opening approach as dodgy talking to Christian Chirila after the round, Caruana responded to Seirawans comment by evaluating his position as much worse than dodgy, even close to lost. The risky strategy worked wonders for the defending champion, though, as he ended up scoring a 59-move victory over Alireza Firouzja with the black pieces.

Tied for first with Caruana is D Gukesh, who played his first classical game since his victory at the Candidates Tournament in Toronto. Much like his US colleague, Gukesh prevailed by showing resourcefulness in a complex battle to outplay his opponent, Bogdan-Daniel Deac, in a position that saw the evaluation favouring either contender at different points of the game.

The remaining three games ended drawn, with Nodirbek Abdusattorov and R Praggnanandhaa playing the longest encounter that ended peacefully. In a technical struggle, Pragg gained a pawn in the late middlegame, but Abdusattorov had enough compensation and showed good technique to keep the balance.

Results - Round 1

Check out the times on the clock incredibly, Bogdan-Daniel Deac often stood up from the board while living on increments in his game against Gukesh | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Attack like a Super Grandmaster

In this Fritztrainer: Attack like a Super GM with Gukesh we touch upon all aspects of his play, with special emphasis on how you can become a better attacking player.

Nodirbek Abdusattorov | Photo: Lennart Ootes

After playing his dodgy opening, Caruana found himself dealing with a sort of Kings Indian Defence structure in which Black struggles to create counterplay. But, as the defending champion later noted, Firouzja missed his chance to create a one-sided battle on move 16.

Caruana noted that 16.a4 here would completely close off the queenside, which would allow White to safely look for attacking schemes on the kingside. Black would then be stuck defending his king without many chances to create counterplay.

Instead, Firouzja went for an immediate 16.g4, and the game continued 16...Rb8 17.g5 hxg5 18.Bxg5 b5, with pawn breaks on opposite flanks of the board.

Chaos ensued. Firouzja went for a number of tactical continuations as he tried to create a deadly attack on the kingside, while the ever-resourceful Caruana showcased his calculation abilities to successfully deal with the charge.

Eventually, the battle cooled off and Black emerged with an extra pawn in a position with a closed pawn structure in the centre. Firouzja decided to offer a queen trade on move 34.

It is understandable for Firouzja to enter the queenless endgame, as it is difficult to foresee a winning plan for Black especially with Caruana having 5 minutes on the clock.

However, engines show that the position is winning for Black, and the US grandmaster patiently made progress until finding the perfect time to play the winning 53...f3

After 54.Nxf3 Kf7 55.Bg3 Black created a passer on the queenside with 55...Nxb3. Firouzja attempted desperately to muddy the waters, but Caruana continued to find good moves. The French representative resigned the game four moves later.

Alireza Firouzja smiling despite having just lost the game | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Continue reading here:

Superbet Classic: Caruana and Gukesh start off with wins - Chess News | ChessBase

Dear all,

Today I would like to invite you on an exciting journey through the history of the most famous and beloved board game in the world! The common hobby that unites all of us here and has captured the hearts of so many genius players and their passionate fans for over a thousand years. Of course, you can easily guess that I am talking about... checkers! No, just kidding, it is obviously chess. Sorry for trying to fool you.

But since I know that the history of chess can easily be found in numerous articles around the web and probably many people have already written about it much earlier and much better than me, I tried to think what I could do to present it to my readers in a different and entertaining way. After reflecting on this for a while, I decided that it might be a good idea to show it not only as a straight and direct informative text, but to add a pinch of literature and fictional story.

So let me introduce you to Kaida, a 9-year-old girl who has just found an old chess book in her house and is curious to know more about this fantastic game she is discovering. I hope you will enjoy her adventure below:

Table Of Contents

1. Introduction

2. 6th-century India

3. Persia and the Middle East

4. Middle Age Europe

5. Romantic Era

6. Post-World War II and the 21st century

7. Back to the future

1) Introduction

It was a cold autumn day in 2087 when the young Kaida, alone in the basement, found an old book at the bottom of her late grandfather's trunk. There was a dedication on the first page, revealing that it had been given to him in 2024, when he was her age. The girl soon became interested when she saw that the contents of the book were about a game called chess, which she had never heard of before.

Not surprisingly. After all, her parents, two of the most brilliant scientists of the time, were always too busy to give her any attention, let alone to play or teach her any kind of game. All they cared about was finishing their Time Machine Project, which Kaida couldn't care less.

She spent a few minutes leafing through the book and trying to understand what was that all about. Despite her interest, it was hard for her to comprehend everything without the help of an adult. Full of curiosity in mind, she decided to enter alone and hidden in the lab of her parents. Her goal was to find any bizarre equipment that could help to unravel the mystery of this strange game she was discovering.

Kaida found a silver helmet wirelessly connected to a small box, which she innocently thought was some kind of device capable of absorbing the knowledge in the book and implementing it in her brain, saving her from all the reading. She put the book into the box, held it in her hands, put on the helmet, and pressed the red button.

What she didn't know was that this was the time machine her mother had talked about so much, but never let her get close to. Feeling everything around her spinning and a severe headache, Kaida passed out. When she woke up, she seemed to be in a completely different world.

2) 6th-century India

"Can you repeat, please? Where am I?"

"Oh, you speak Sanskrit! You are in Bhratvarsha. What is your name?"

Kaida recognized the ancient name of the country she knew as India. She looked at the box in her hands and noticed the display indicating that she was in the 6th century. It was then that she became suspicious of what had happened.

"Oh my God!"

"Here, take this hat, it looks good on you. This helmet you are wearing is too ugly. Where did you buy it?"

She put on the hat, diverted from the question, and spoke to him again, worried.

"Sorry to interrupt you. What are you doing?"

There was a group of six or seven people playing around an 8x8 square board they called Ashtpada.

"Oh, we are playing Chaturanga, it is a battle-simulation game. Actually, we just invented it, so it is in the testing stage. Would you like to learn?"

The friendly man showed her how it worked. The infantry, 8 foot-soldiers who started in the second row, could always move one square forward and capture enemies diagonally. He then explained the confusing L-shaped movement of the cavalry, represented by horses; the elephants, which should always move two spaces (no more, no less), and like the horses, could jump over a piece in between; the counselor, which moved only one space diagonally; the chariot, which could move freely vertically and horizontally through the entire board; and finally, the most important, the king, who could move one square to any direction.

She became very interested in learning more and even made some suggestions, such as allowing soldiers to advance two squares on their first move, which was immediately rejected by her older colleagues. Eliminating the need for dice, however, was something they promised to think about.

"What happens when the soldier reaches the end of the board?"

"Oh, then the brave warrior will be promoted to a counselor!"

Kaida was also amazed at how beautiful the pieces were, with detailed shapes, well-polished, and handmade with great care, showing that these people took their newest creation seriously.

"Thank you for teaching me this game! I hope it will become more popular as time goes on. I am sure many people may like it."

"Oh, little girl. I don't think so, but thanks for the encouragement!"

They gave her a set of pieces as a gift. Kaida left the small hut and opened the book she had hidden from them. To her surprise, the first chapter was about the very game she had just seen being invented. Her eyes widened as she realized that she was witnessing and making history herself.

"I just hope I don't mess up the future..."

She placed the bookmark at the beginning of the second chapter, titled "Persia and the Middle East", and pressed the button on her helmet, now hidden under her new hat.

3) Persia and the Middle East

Kaida arrived in the middle of the desert, near a palace of the Persian nobility, around 600 CE. Scared but determined, she entered the building, unaware that it belonged to the king himself. Upon noticing her presence, a guard exclaimed:

"Stop! Who are you? You don't look like a Persian. And what kind of hat is that? Are you from Bhrat?"

The king, who happened to be passing through the entrance hall in a good mood at that moment, turned to his soldier.

"Come on. Let her in, she's just a little girl. What do you want, young kid?"

"I wanted to ask where I can play Chaturanga."

"Chaturanga? What is that?"

Realizing that they had no idea what she was talking about, Kaida decided to present the game to the king and his nobles, patiently explaining everything as she remembered. They loved it, but suggested some changes to the rules and the shapes of the pieces, which she preferred not to discuss. They also renamed the game Chatrang, which was easier to pronounce in their language.

"I don't mind changing the name. As you wish, Mr. King."

"We should create a battle cry for when the king is attacked. What do you think?"

He began to shout "Shh!" (Persian for "King!") when attacking the opponent's king, and "Shh Mt!" (Persian for "the king is helpless") to checkmate. The nobles had the idea of creating a manuscript explaining the basic rules of the game, called "Matikan-i-chatrang" (The Book of Chess).

After a few games, Kaida gave them her own set of pieces and left the palace, thinking about the potential of Chatrang. If the king of Persia liked it, wouldn't other civilizations appreciate it too? Well, she had a time machine to check it out with her own eyes, on a journey through different places and times, spending a few minutes in each of them to watch her beloved game spread around the world.

First, she visited the 8th-century Muslim world in the Middle East, where it was renamed again, this time Shatranj, and witnessed the oldest known complete manual being written by al-Adli ar-Rumi, entitled "Kitab ash-Shatranj" (also "The Book of Chess").

Kaida then followed the game spreading eastward and westward along the Silk Road to Central Asia, where some of the oldest artifacts were handmade by local artisans, and from there to China.

She saw it reach Russia in the 9th century via the Volga-Caspian trade route, from where it also went to Eastern Europe. The girl followed the Arabs introducing it to the Iberian Peninsula and the Emirate of Sicily, today's Italy, during the 10th century, reaching as far as the Byzantine Empire.

In Baghdad, she watched the oldest recorded game, registered in a 10th-century manuscript, played between a historian and his pupil. Then, in a bold move, she traveled to the 11th century and decided on her own to teach the game to the Vikings, who later took it to the British Isles, the Nordic countries, and even Iceland.

Satisfied to see that Shatranj was now known throughout the North of Africa and the whole Eurasian continent, Kaida again bookmarked the next chapter of her book, the "Middle Ages," and pressed the button of her helmet to see what the future of the past would look like.

4) Middle Age Europe

This time, it took her to the heart of medieval Spain, circa 1560. An imposing castle in the region of Segura de Len stood before her eyes. In the garden, a man of about 30 was sitting, apparently analyzing positions on a Shatranj board. Kaida approached him cautiously, so as not to disturb his concentration, and watched him for a few moments until he finally noticed her.

"Good morning, child. What brings you here? And where did you get that unusual hat?"

"Hi, I am Kaida. Is this a Shatranj board?"

"Well, yes... but we are not in the ancient Arabian Empire. Here we call it chess, let me show you. Anyway, please call me Ruy Lpez."

The Spanish master explained the basic rules of modern chess. She recognized the knights, the rooks, the king, and the pawns. It was very satisfying to hear that they could now advance two squares on their first move. Kaida was a visionary. However, two pieces were different from what she was used to.

"What are those pointy-headed guys?"

"Those are bishops. They move diagonally. There is one for each squares color. Like this..."

"But can they move as many squares as they want? Where are the elephants?"

Ruy Lpez, though surprised that she somehow learned the old rules and pieces of the game, patiently explained that it had changed a bit. In addition to the bishops, he introduced her to the queen.

"Queen? Is there a woman on the board?

"Yes, dear. She is the most powerful piece and can move any number of squares in any direction. Vertically, horizontally, or diagonally. You can thank our former esteemed Queen Isabel la Catlica for that.

"Cool! But why were you playing alone?"

He then clarified that he was not playing alone but studying some ideas for the first moves, called openings. He shared his knowledge with her, emphasizing the importance of developing the pieces, controlling the center, and protecting the king. Kaida was astonished as she realized that the simple game she had witnessed being born and spread was now taken so seriously, with so many new things discovered.

"Wow! Are you the first to study chess so deeply?"

"Oh no... I may be one of the first, but some giants came before me, like my compatriot Luis de Lucena, or my Italian rival Paolo Boi. But none of them went as deep into the opening as I am trying to do.

Ruy Lpez showed her the book he was writing, concentrating mainly on the opening lines, especially the one that he considered the most promising for the white pieces, quickly developing the knight and bishop on the kingside and preparing for the protection of the king. (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5)

"That makes sense. Do you think people will start playing this opening after you publish it?"

"Oh, I am not so optimistic, but who knows. Imagine how crazy if it becomes the most popular opening in chess. Ha-ha, it costs nothing to dream".

Kaida thanked him for the lessons and for showing her the new version of the game. She found it very interesting and dynamic, and now looked forward to seeing what it would be like in the future. The next chapter of the book was called "The Romantic Era". She placed her bookmark there, closed the box, and continued her journey.

5) Romantic Era

The landing place this time was St. Petersburg, Russia, in the year 1914, where a huge tournament was taking place between the best players in the world. Kaida carefully watched the final round of this historic event, which ended with the victory of German player Emanuel Lasker.

She was thrilled to realize that chess was now an organized sport. Great players, making a living at it, competing point for point, with clocks marking the time, while hundreds of fans watched the games. After a few mesmerized moments watching Lasker give his post-victory interview, Kaida was determined to talk to him as soon as he stood alone on the street on the way to his hotel.

"Mr. Lasker, excuse me. May we talk?"

"Hallchen, little Mdchen! What is your name? Sure, we can talk. Oh, and I love your hat, so elegant!"

"Thank you. I am Kaida. I wanted to ask you about the tournament. Congratulations on winning. Are you the best player in the world?"

"Ha-ha, that is so nice of you. I am the world champion, but I think I cannot say that I am the best in the world."

"Why not?"

Lasker found an outdoor chess table in a park, so common in Russia at that time, and took the girl there. It was a joy for him to talk about his favorite subject with such a fascinating and interested child.

He explained to her that there had been many other great players before him, such as the legendary Paul Morphy, his German colleague Adolf Anderssen, and the first official World Champion Wilhelm Steinitz. He also mentioned Tarrasch, Marshall, Tartakower, Schlechter, Rubinstein, and Nimzowitsch, as well as the rising stars Jos Ral Capablanca and Alexander Alekhine, whom he assured would be world champions in the years to come.

"Ah, and don't let me forget the great Franois-Andr Philidor and his book 'Analyse du jeu des checs', written in the middle of the 18th century. It was certainly a great contribution to modern chess".

"By the way, would you like to play a game? I always have a set of pieces with me."

Kaida was struck by how beautiful the Staunton-style pieces were, especially the knights. It would be a great pleasure for her to play with such well-designed figures.

"Sure, let's play!"

Despite her best efforts, the little girl was easily outplayed. Lasker won by exploiting many of her positional weaknesses.

"Good game, my young friend. You have potential. Let us analyze this game together!"

While analyzing with her, Lasker took the opportunity to explain some principles that had developed over the last few years, such as the slow change from the attacking and sacrificing era to what was now the initial concepts of a more positional game.

He showed her the importance of placing pieces on active squares, cooperating with each other, and waiting for the right moment to attack. The man also pointed out the value of castling and the en-passant rule. She listened intently, trying to absorb as much knowledge as possible from the legend before her.

"Thank you for the game and the lessons, Mr. Lasker! It was a pleasure!"

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A Brief Dive Into The History Of Chess - Chess.com

Praggnanandhaa, hailing from Chnnai, India, burst onto th intrnational chss scn at an astonishingly young ag. H achivd th titl of Intrnational Mastr at just 10 yars old, solidifying his plac in history as th youngst prson to accomplish this fat. Not stopping thr, h wnt on to bcom a Grandmastr at th ag of 12, bcoming th scond-youngst Grandmastr vr. Ths accomplishmnts ar a tstamnt to his talnt, ddication, and th support of his family and trainrs.

Ramshbabu Praggnanandhaa, born on August 10, 2005, is an Indian chss grandmastr who achivd rmarkabl fats at an incrdibly young ag. Praggnanandhaa bcam an Intrnational Mastr at 10 yars old, a rcord at th tim, and a Grandmastr at 12, th scond-youngst vr. H dfatd thn-world champion Magnus Carlsn at 16, bcoming th youngst playr to do so. On Fbruary 22, 2022, whn h was 16 yars old, h achivd th distinction of bing th youngst playr to conqur th rigning world champion Magnus Carlsn. This rmarkabl victory occurrd during a rapid gam at th Airthings Mastrs Rapid Chss Tournamnt. It's worth noting that this rcord was latr surpassd by Guksh D on Octobr 16, 2022.

Youth Championships: H won th World Youth Chss Championship Undr-8 and Undr-10 titls in 2013 and 2015, rspctivly, arning him th titl of FIDE Mastr.

Historic Achivmnts: H bcam th youngst-vr intrnational mastr at 10 yars, 10 months, and 19 days. H gaind his Grandmastr titl at 12 yars, 10 months, and 13 days, th scond-youngst GM in history.

Continud Succss: Praggnanandhaa won tournamnts lik th Xtracon Chss Opn and World Youth Championships. H achivd a rating of 2600 at 14, th scond-youngst to do so.

Onlin Triumphs: H won th Polgar Challng, bsting comptitors in th Julius Bar Challngrs Chss Tour. H prformd wll in th Mltwatr Champions Chss Tour, vn drawing with Magnus Carlsn.

Tournamnt Prformancs: H shon in vnts lik Tata Stl Chss Tournamnt, dfating high-ratd playrs. H rachd th Chss World Cup final, bcoming th youngst to do so, scuring a plac in th Candidats Tournamnt.

Bating Carlsn: Praggnanandhaa achivd multipl victoris against Magnus Carlsn in prstigious tournamnts, showcasing his growing prowss.

Playing in th Chss World Cup Final: Praggnanandhaa mad history by scuring a spot in th World Cup final. This fat is rmarkabl as no othr Indian has rachd this stag sinc Vishwanathan Anand in 2002. Praggnanandhaas achivmnt also includs bing th youngst playr in th finals and th third-youngst qualifir for th Candidats Tournamnt, placing him among chss prodigis lik Carlsn and Fischr.

Youth Championships: H won th World Youth Chss Championship Undr-8 and Undr-10 titls in 2013 and 2015, rspctivly, arning him th titl of FIDE Mastr.

3. Historic Achivmnts: H bcam th youngst-vr intrnational mastr at 10 yars, 10 months, and 19 days. H gaind his Grandmastr titl at 12 yars, 10 months, and 13 days, th scond-youngst GM in history.

4. Continud Succss: Praggnanandhaa won tournamnts lik th Xtracon Chss Opn and World Youth Championships. H achivd a rating of 2600 at 14, th scond-youngst to do so.

5. Onlin Triumphs: H won th Polgar Challng, bsting comptitors in th Julius Bar Challngrs Chss Tour. H prformd wll in th Mltwatr Champions Chss Tour, vn drawing with Magnus Carlsn.

6. Tournamnt Prformancs: H shon in vnts lik Tata Stl Chss Tournamnt, dfating high-ratd playrs. H rachd th Chss World Cup final, bcoming th youngst to do so, scuring a plac in th Candidats Tournamnt.

7. Bating Carlsn: Praggnanandhaa achivd multipl victoris against Magnus Carlsn in prstigious tournamnts, showcasing his growing prowss.

8. Playing in th Chss World Cup Final: Praggnanandhaa mad history by scuring a spot in th World Cup final. This fat is rmarkabl as no othr Indian has rachd this stag sinc Vishwanathan Anand in 2002. Praggnanandhaas achivmnt also includs bing th youngst playr in th finals and th third-youngst qualifir for th Candidats Tournamnt, placing him among chss prodigis lik Carlsn and Fischr.

Praggnanandhaa's journy is a tstamnt to his xcptional talnt, ddication, and rlntlss pursuit of xcllnc, making him a tru inspiration for aspiring chss playrs worldwid.

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About Praggnanandhaa: A Story of Inspiration for Aspiring Chess Players - Chess.com