Did Chess or Checkers Come First?

The Answer
Checkers came first with roots that date back about 5000 years. The modern form of the game dates back to the 16th century. Chess, is relatively new by comparison. The earliest forms arose in the 6th century, with the modern form dating back to the 19th century.

Is checkers or chess older?

Checkers, however, is much older than chess. Historians believe that the earliest form of checkers was discovered in Iraq and archeologists have used Carbon dating to trace their findings back to 3000 B.C , over 5000+ years ago, whereas was only discovered a 1500 years ago.

Who invented chess and checkers?

Although some scholars argue that its origins stem from China, chess finds its most ancient form in India, of all places, where it is thought to have originated via a game called Chaturanga in the 6th century A.D. It eventually spread to Persia, where the game found the new name Shatranj.

Sophia Al-Mansoor

Sophia Al-Mansoor

Global Business & E-Commerce Reporter

Sophia analyzes international trade, startup ecosystems, retail transformation, and supply chain logistics for modern digital publications.