Dr Irving Finkel of the British Museum's Middle Eastern department asks what makes chess better than other more ancient games? How did it spread across the world? Show more
Author Anuradha Roy explores the power and poignancy of chess as a metaphor in Indian culture, where it has so often been used in stories and films. Show more
Dr Marilyn Yalom explores how the queen in chess transformed from a piece as week as a pawn to what she is today. When Chess came to Europe from Persia she was a vizier to the king. Show more
Writer Andrey Kurkov reflects on the murderous history of chess in Russia. Ivan the Terrible died during a match and Stalin got Krilenko to promote chess before killing him. Show more
