Valencia, the cradle of modern chess for 550 years

Three Valencian poets from the 15th century were the first to describe the movement of the queen piece in chess in the poem Scachs d’amor (1475), thus establishing the rules of modern chess. Two decades later, another Valencian author published the new rules of the game in one of his works, which spread across Europe thanks to an exceptional ally: the printing press.

550 years later, the city of Valencia is celebrating this anniversary with an extensive program of activities, making it the epicenter of more than 20 events that combine history, culture, and competition.

A year of chess in Valencia

The activities kick off this month with the exhibition Valencia, Cradle of Modern Chess 1475 at the La Petxina sports complex and the traveling exhibition The Route of Modern Chess.

On February 23, the Great Chess Simul will take place, featuring Spain’s female chess champion, Sabrina Vega Gutiérrez, in the Valencia Hall of the La Petxina Sports Complex.

In March, as part of International Women's Day, Sabrina Vega will offer another simultaneous chess game in the Valencia Hall, reinforcing the role of women in this sport.

In May, five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand, vice-president of FIDE, will visit the city to give a masterclass and play with young Valencian chess players.

The main event will be the 6th International Open Valencia Cradle of Chess, held from July 5 to 13 at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, featuring top national and international grandmasters. There will also be simultaneous exhibitions, interactive challenges such as the Blindfold Challenge, and games with the popular Rey Enigma.

A video to highlight the importance of women in chess

As part of the celebration, the video "The Piece That Changed History" has been released, highlighting the introduction of the queen piece—550 years ago—as a reflection of the growing influence of women in society and chess.