Once upon a time, the former Soviet Union and a number of Communist countries had serious chess programs that were supported by the government. Today, most of those programs no longer exist.
Which countries do you think support chess the most today? I am listing some countries in random order. Please feel free to add your choice.
– China – Mexico – Germany – Turkey – India – Spain – Armenia – Russia – Ukraine – England – France – Georgia – Greece – Kalmykia – Others?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
United States supports chess the least amount. Americans like football, baseball, and basketball.
I wouldn’t be so thrilled with China and Kalmykia at the high end. China in particular may be doing impressive things with its chess program, but it’s at the service of a totalitarian state with a miserable record of political liberty and human rights.
Unfortunately here on Mexico, there are not to many programs to promote chess and otehr relted things.
I hope one day we can have some chess program on schools or some public places.
Chess is quite popular in India.
– Vinay
Chess should stand or fall on its on merits, without government “support,” which is simply taken by force from those who do not want to support chess.
I think that Russia does. By the way, what exactly is Kalmykia?
I think Canada would be at the high end of the spectrum.
Armenia is conspicuous by its absence from your list.
the US sure doesnt deserve to be on this list