The person called the "father of chess" in the context of modern chess theory is Wilhelm Steinitz. He is widely regarded as the father of modern chess due to his revolutionary contributions to positional play and strategy, transforming chess from a romantic, attack-focused game into a scientific and strategic game of long-term planning. Steinitz was the first official World Chess Champion, holding the title from 1886 to 1894. His ideas laid the foundation for modern chess theory that emphasizes control of the center, pawn structure, and positional advantages rather than just aggressive attacks.
Historically, chess as a game originated in ancient India, but Wilhelm Steinitz's influence is specifically on the development of modern chess as a competitive intellectual pursuit, and he is most famously called the "father of modern chess" or "father of chess theory" rather than the inventor of chess itself.
