Throughout history, playing organised games has served as a means of entertainment, competition, and intellectual stimulation for humanity. We’ve been playing games for as long as our species has existed! However, some games have evolved from being mere pastimes into more formalised, competitive pursuits.
Included in this pantheon of activities is a group of games known as mindsports — competitive games that rely not just on accomplished skill and strategy but also a deep level of mental engagement.
In this article, we’ll take a quick trip back in time to explore the history of the most popular mindsports, as well as touch on the present-day landscape for competing in these prestigious and historical games.
An Ancient Game of Strategy
Chess is quite possibly the quintessential mindsport. Known for being intensely strategic, this centuries-old board game has its roots in 6th century India during the Gupta Empire. Originally termed Chaturanga, this early version of chess represented the four divisions of the Indian military: cavalry, chariots, elephants, and infantry. Over time, the game spread to Persia, where it became known as Shatranj.
The growth of chess didn’t end there; by the time it made its way to the Islamic World and Middle Ages Europe, significant evolutions had taken place, and it began to resemble the game that is at the center of many a mindsport event and tournament to this day. Today, chess is globally recognized for its status, with millions of enthusiasts and grandmasters alike dedicated to mastering its complexities.
The Art of Bluffing and Probability
Even someone without any knowledge of casino gaming knows what poker is. For centuries, this compelling card game has kept players hooked with its fiendish combination of skill, strategy, and psychology. Did you know, though, that its history stretches internationally?
The card game we’re familiar with today can actually be traced to several different games as far apart as 10th-century China and 17th-century Persia. And that’s not to discount the European influence — the name poker is believed to have originated from the German word for ‘to knock’: ‘pochen’.
It was during the days of the Wild Wild West in 19th century America that poker fully began to form, though. The introduction of a 52-card deck, the concept of bluffing, and Wild Bill Hickock’s ‘Dead Man’s Hand’ all came about during the US Renaissance. For over 200 years, poker grew in popularity, and it became a global industry powering TV shows, elite tournaments, and much, much more.
Nowadays, of course, iGaming operators have made it more accessible for adult gamers to not just play games of poker online, but continually improve their skills, too. Digital resources make it easy for beginners to get to grips with the fundamentals of this classic card game, like the most effective hands order that exists. Meanwhile, an abundance of online tournaments means that players of all levels from across the globe can participate in competitive events and even play for the opportunity to win real money prizes.
Mindsports in the Modern World
Chess and poker are just two examples of mindsports that continue to be enjoyed here in the modern world. Several other games can be categorised under the banner, too, including bridge and draughts. Plus, thanks to the rise of digital gaming, esports has not only garnered immense popularity in recent years, but it has also become widely accepted as a mindsport in its own right. Competitive video gaming is as much of a test of skill and strategy as an “offline” sport like chess, while its team-based elements require collaboration, communication, and true sportsmanship.
Today, numerous competitive mindsport events are held worldwide, and they continue to attract both avid enthusiasts and top-tier professional players. Take chess, for instance; the World Chess Championships represents the pinnacle of chess competition. Meanwhile, poker has its own similar iterations in tournaments like the European Poker Tour and WSOP. Even draughts has a dedicated following as an individual mindsport, with national and even world championship events in Beijing held on a regular basis.
Major competitive events haven’t just developed around individual mindsets, however. The Mind Sports Olympiad is an annual international event that pits competitors from across the globe against one another in over 100 different games. The most recent edition, which was held in London, saw a number of tournaments playing out in categories including multiplayer games, backgammon, chess, poker, and abstract games.
