The Federation is an organisation for the Swedish shogi players. Somewhere in Asia, probably 2000 years ago, a precursor to all present chess games was created. Along the caravan routes in Asia the idea of the game travelled together with the world religions and the written characters in the trade caravans. Via the arabs the chess game came to Europe, and in the end of the 15th century the game we now call chess was born in Italy. Similarly, the original game was developed differently in the Oriental countries.
Chinese chess has several million players.
There are also nationally och culturally distinctive chess games in Thailand, Burma and Korea. In the 8th century the idea of the chess game is supposed to have come to Japan. The game was, like in all Asian countries, played with flat pieces, arrow-shaped in the forward direction. The king can take one step to all surrounding squares. These pieces are used at all major competitions in the world.