The game came to represent strategy and intelligence and was frequently connected to the aristocracy and the well-educated class. Chess was adopted by the aristocracy & became a popular pastimestarburst slots uk in medieval Europe. The publication of "Repetición de Amores," the first chess manual known to exist, in Spain in 1497 was a major step toward the formalization of chess rules and strategies. As chess developed further, it evolved beyond a simple game to become a reflection of intellectual interests and societal values, opening the door for its current status as a competitive sport.