The «Schachgesellschaft Zürich» (Zurich Chess Club) is by far the oldest chess club in the World. Founded in 1809, the club has been in continuous existence ever since and will shortly be celebrating its 200th anniversary. This brief history looks back at some of the milestones in the eventful existence of the venerable society.

The first hundred years of the club's existence have already been documented in the form of a centennial publication written by longstanding club secretary Chief Justice Eugen Meyer in 1909 (Festschrift zum 100-jährigen Jubiläum der Schachgesellschaft Zürich, enthaltend die Geschichte des Vereins von 1809 bis 1909, Zurich: Lohbauer, 1909, 55 pages). A second publication by Richard Forster, to mark the 200th anniversary of the club, will be released later this year.