World Chess Day Quiz: Will your moves show elegance, fear, or victory?

“Why, who is he?”

“An ingenious man. He never took any training,” Dad beamed, a signal about what was to be the quality of mine.

Today, 15 years later, I confirmed that he had never read a word about Fischer’s life. It was all hype. Schoolyard rumours and the allure of becoming a prodigy had pulled him in. If you’re on the same boat, armed with only the basics, then no worries. That’s all you need to crack today’s World Chess Day Quiz!

Guide to algebraic chess notations, used as shortform to write moves. A must-learn to win today’s quiz.

We’ve partnered with ChessBase India to create 15 quiz questions to highlight the legacy of chess, covering unusual trivia and pop culture moments. To test your instinct for strategy, this also includes six arrangements from famous players (think Carlsen, Praggnanandhaa) where you must pick the next best move. Think hard, think fast—the clock’s ticking!

Meaning of your chess quiz score

> 0-50: Building castles in the air.

> 50-100: Knight-in-training

> 100-150: Like bishops, you could teach others.

> 150-200: Absolute queen.

> Over 200: You’ve earned a shoutout on @iepuzzles!

Why is International Chess Day celebrated?

International Chess Day was created by UNESCO to mark the founding of FIDE, the global body that governs chess’ rules, federations and various tournaments. Today, July 20, 2023, is FIDE’s 99th birthday. Its Deputy President, by the way, is Viswanathan Anand!

“I am a happy victim of chess; the game occupies what many would consider an unhealthy amount of my mental space,” chuckles Satanick Mukhuty, resident Problemist at ChessBase India. Mukhuty is the mind behind all your best-move questions today, his mathematics background finding elegance where others find trauma. “But that is okay. As the Dutch Grandmaster Hans Ree said, chess is beautiful enough to waste your life for!”