What distinguishes Amir Timur's chess from modern chess?

The Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan will create a model based on the earliest historical sources, dedicated to the chess of the great military leader and statesman Amir Timur.

Azizjon Sharipov, the head of the Timurids History Museum, noted:

— Specifically, in the works of Sharaf ad-Din Ali Yazdi, "Zafarnama", and the Arab historian Ibn Arabshoh, in his works such as "Ajayib al-Maqdur fi Akhbar Timur" ("The Wonders of Fate in the Stories of Timur") and "Tarikh-i Timur" ("The History of Timur"), there is important information about this unique form of chess. Ibn Arabshoh calls this chess "Shatrangi Kabir" — "Great Chess."

Amir Timur's chess did not consist of the 32 usual pieces found in modern chess but included 11 different pieces. In addition to the traditional pieces and infantry, special pieces were added, such as a camel, an elephant, and a catapult, which symbolized military and strategic forces. This shows that the game was not only focused on developing mental abilities but also on fostering military and tactical thinking. Unlike modern chess, Amir Timur's chess had a broader scale, more complex content, and conceptual foundations that better suited the spirit of its time. This reflects the high level of intellectual gaming during the Timurid era.

Currently, fragments of a manuscript dedicated to Amir Timur's chess are stored at the National Library of France. It is expected that facsimiles (copies) of these fragments will be provided to the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan. Based on these materials, the restoration of the original form of the chess game will be undertaken, to present it as cultural heritage.