India, Oct. 4 -- Fide, the global chess governing body, earlier this week approved setting up of an official rating system for Chess960, a variant of the game that has gained popularity over the years. The move comes amid growing interest in the variant and marks a key step towards integrating it into the broader chess ecosystem.

What is Chess960? How is it different from traditional chess? And what does its popularity mean for the sport's future?

Chess 960, also known as Fischer Random or Freestyle Chess, uses the same board and pieces as

traditional chess but differs in how the pieces on the back rank are arranged. While traditional chess follows a fixed starting formation, Chess960 randomises it within the ambit of rules designed to...