How come most of the top players are still from former Communist countries? - Chess and Board Game Strategy

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How come most of the top players are still from former Communist countries?

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02-18-2013 , 12:21 AM

betgo

banned

Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 28,590

I thought the reason for so many of them before was Communist governments provided financial support.

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02-18-2013 , 01:41 AM

airwave16

Carpal \'Tunnel

Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 6,218

because 7 year old americans who want to be good at chess just get made fun of.

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02-18-2013 , 05:14 AM

Paymenoworlater

adept

Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 1,111

Because in the western world youd probably make more money with an ordinary fulltime job than a 2700 super-GM...
With 2600 or less you wouldnt even be able to support yourself.

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02-18-2013 , 09:03 AM

John_Douglas

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Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 667

In most of these countries the state still does provide support for top players, as well as sponsoring the development of young players, which also allows players of lower qualifications to earn a living as trainers.

Also, it's the effect of a throwback to the Soviet period. Even though the Soviet Union doesn't exist anymore, there are still people who trained as chess teachers in Soviet times and continue to work in that field. Chess was prestigious in the Soviet period and it retains a certain degree of prestige among people of the older generations.

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02-19-2013 , 07:41 PM

RoundTower

ɹǝʍoʇpunoɹ

Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 14,563

I think you have your causation backward.

The first four world champions -- Steinitz, Lasker, Capablanca and Alekhine -- came from what are now "former Communist countries", long before Communism. So you might as well ask, why did the countries of top chess players become Communist?

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02-19-2013 , 08:11 PM

TexAg06

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Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 2,475

Quote:

Originally Posted by airwave16

because 7 year old americans who want to be good at chess just get made fun of.

airwave is good at making me laugh out loud lately.

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02-22-2013 , 01:09 AM

betgo

banned

Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 28,590

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoundTower

Yeh, this is true. Before Communism, most of the masters were from what became Communist countries.

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08-27-2013 , 09:27 AM

HunterX

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Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 79

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoundTower

All hitherto existing history is the history of chess struggle.

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