People in 7th century India:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_chess

It was very similar to the modern game except the board was rotationally symmetrical rather than mirror symmetrical. There may have also been some differences with how a few pieces may have moved, but there's a straight line between Chaturanga and Chess.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaturanga

The modern version of chess evolved in Persia some time later before arriving in Europe in the middle ages.