2006-10-17 12:58:29 · 8 answers · asked by gingko 1 in Games & Recreation ➔ Board Games
Granted, Eastern Europe and Russia are not the best climates in the world and there aren't the same level of comforts in the United States. This could play a role into their passion for chess. But there are other reasons as well.
Russia has always liked chess, much because of the climate. In fact, in 1917 a tournament was held in St. Petersburg. Czar Nicholas the Second was the first to issue the title 'grandmaster' to the top five finalists- two germans, one russian, one american, and one cuban. Russia was not yet known for its chess skills then.
A power stuggle changed things a bit in Russia. Their new leader, Nikolai Lenin, loved chess (John Lennon loved chess too, for that matter). He thought a chess program would demonstrate soviet intellectualism and show superiority. They taught chess as a class along with reading and mathematics. They developed the most effective ways to teach it and emphazied brute tactical strength. They even had special chess schools where students would learn more about the game all day!
By the 1940s, the results were being shown. Most of the world champions were won by germans at that time. After the death of Alekhine in 1946, the soveit school took stronghold. Botvinnik won the title. from 1946 until the 2000, all the world champions were from the Soveit Union.
- Except for Fischer. The soviets valued the game, thinking that was a demonstration of their mental greatness. Some nut with a genius IQ and a photographic memory was able to single handedly destory this notion, during the hights of the cold war. It caused quite a public display.
The current world champion, Krammnik is from the former Soviet Union. But there are more people from other countries who are establishing themselves. More than likely the soviet foothold on the game will be gone soon.
Will there be another american champion, such as a prodegy like Fisher or Paul Morphy? I can't say, but wouldn't that be interesting!
2006-10-17 16:19:37 · answer #1 · answered by coffee_addict 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it widely played in these regions much more than anywhere else. They also appear to have a certain type of logic that is slightly different but enough to make a difference.
2006-10-17 20:03:14 · answer #2 · answered by philipscottbrooks 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they start playing at an early age
2006-10-17 20:11:37 · answer #3 · answered by llamedos 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's much more widely played there and they even have schools where youngsters play alongside normal studies.
2006-10-20 14:01:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
unreliable electricity supplies.you can still play chess by candlelight!
2006-10-17 22:56:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
must start at an earlier age to learn it?
2006-10-17 20:05:31 · answer #6 · answered by cadaholic 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they dont have much else to do
2006-10-20 06:56:21 · answer #7 · answered by lou 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they got nothing better to do with there time
2006-10-17 20:03:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋