i'm glad you're finally getting it but--i don't get all uppity. i actually am all uppity.
Popularity of Chess
Sort:
Garry Kasparov once said :
'The world sees chess as a game for small built men, with brains..
The world should see chess as a violent blood sport where people try to crush one another'
( atleast something alongs those lines :p sorry if it has already been said, I didnt want to read the whole thing )
Elona wrote:
Compared to most other sports, Chess is second-banana in terms of popularity.
So, I thought about why Chess is less popular, and felt I should spread my opinion on the matter across the chess.com community.
Firstly, lets consider money. In Chess, I think there are only 4ish people that come up to one million dollar salaries. Now, payment given to other professionals for their service in a sport reach between 5 to 30 thousand dollars (in many cases).
Going back into my childhood I had an idol, I think most people do to some degree. Most of whom would feature on TV. We try and imitate our idols characteristics to some degree and their contribution to their profession (football, acting, politics). We want to be as 'cool' and as powerful and famous.
As a personal example,I believe I have various similarities to 'Bilbo Baggins', my own childhood hero. To this day, I still have a grubby old ring I found under the table of a restaurant. My career involves the writing of events deemed important to others (much like Bilbo would do after his adventures). Finally, I am of course, very chatty. Talking of which, I am getting away from myself here...
If we are influenced by those we come to know when we are young, the chances are our idols shall be from media such as magazines and the tellybox. Who do we see here? The stars of course, but NOT Chess stars. Or at least, very rarely.
I believe this has a huge impact on the popularity of chess.
Now, I could not work out weather to put this in my Blog, or throw it to you in the Forums. I decided to shove it in the forums, as I would be interested in what others think about the lack of popularity in chess.
You may disagree entirely, I sometimes find it hard to imagine a lack of popularity when surrounded by so many chess lovers on this site.
You may feel there is a different factor to consider or more to add.
I throw this tantalizing topic to you, fantastic chess community.
We should use convicts as living chesspieces, and every time a "piece" is "captured" the "piece" would be speared, skewered and have it's head chopped off. There would be plenty of blood and gore. People would pay big money to see this, both live and on TV.
The first thing I must say is that chess is not a sport, it is a agme. Such as cards, checkers even billiards or snooker. that said, the reason for athletic sports being popular is that they are entertaining to the masses, not many people are intrigued by a chess match. There are fans, that is for sure, but without a demand by the masses, including corporate sponsorship, nothing will ever change.
Elona wrote:
Compared to most other sports, Chess is second-banana in terms of popularity.
So, I thought about why Chess is less popular, and felt I should spread my opinion on the matter across the chess.com community.
Firstly, lets consider money. In Chess, I think there are only 4ish people that come up to one million dollar salaries. Now, payment given to other professionals for their service in a sport reach between 5 to 30 thousand dollars (in many cases).
Going back into my childhood I had an idol, I think most people do to some degree. Most of whom would feature on TV. We try and imitate our idols characteristics to some degree and their contribution to their profession (football, acting, politics). We want to be as 'cool' and as powerful and famous.
As a personal example,I believe I have various similarities to 'Bilbo Baggins', my own childhood hero. To this day, I still have a grubby old ring I found under the table of a restaurant. My career involves the writing of events deemed important to others (much like Bilbo would do after his adventures). Finally, I am of course, very chatty. Talking of which, I am getting away from myself here...
If we are influenced by those we come to know when we are young, the chances are our idols shall be from media such as magazines and the tellybox. Who do we see here? The stars of course, but NOT Chess stars. Or at least, very rarely.
I believe this has a huge impact on the popularity of chess.
Now, I could not work out weather to put this in my Blog, or throw it to you in the Forums. I decided to shove it in the forums, as I would be interested in what others think about the lack of popularity in chess.
You may disagree entirely, I sometimes find it hard to imagine a lack of popularity when surrounded by so many chess lovers on this site.
You may feel there is a different factor to consider or more to add.
I throw this tantalizing topic to you, fantastic chess community.
Unfortunately, chess is less popular in the United States than in Europe. I wish more people (especially my classmates) knew how to play it. I'm pretty sure I saw at least one comment regarding young people and video games that I felt uncomfortable about. I am 16 and I love both chess and video games. Do not pick on anyone for what they like to do. Anyway, if chess is to be more popular, it CANNOT be perceived as "nerdy". Almost every time when I talk to someone online outside of chess.com , when I tell them for the first time that I like chess, they say something like "Oh, you must be a nerd :P " And, it angers me because of how narrow minded they are.
pawn11 wrote:
Unfortunately, chess is less popular in the United States than in Europe. I wish more people (especially my classmates) knew how to play it. I'm pretty sure I saw at least one comment regarding young people and video games that I felt uncomfortable about. I am 16 and I love both chess and video games. Do not pick on anyone for what they like to do. Anyway, if chess is to be more popular, it CANNOT be perceived as "nerdy". Almost every time when I talk to someone online outside of chess.com , when I tell them for the first time that I like chess, they say something like "Oh, you must be a nerd :P " And, it angers me because of how narrow minded they are.
Ignorance is one of the saddest factors we must all face or posses during our time on earth. We must be tolerant of our fellow man.
Nerd and chess should never be used in the same sentence. It's true chess takes brains but to classify chess nerdy is narrow mind to say the least. Brains will also get you further in life.
I think some of you have already listed the reasons.
1. To follow athletic sports and respect the talent is much easier. Without any depth of knowledge about football or basketball, I can seem some clips and be very impressed. Chess can have this appeal, but only with some analysis. I do think that if chess would be aired on PBS for coveniant spectating there would be some patzers who would enjoy watching some tactics.
2. Beyond the complexity that prevents it from becoming massively popular, 5 hour games will never be all that fun to watch live. I only check the popular youtube channels, or videos on chess.com if I want to review some old games. Blitz games can actually be very exciting to watch live. Maurice Ashley is a good caster, and with 5min 3+ they could be entertainment for patzers to watch on TV. Even the rapid games of 30min could maybe be watched for live events but that is pushing it. Ideally I think 10min games would be really good to allow for helpful casting and exciting quick play.
And on the subject of professional gaming, that business is THRIVING. They get 50 million viewers in S. Korea for major events; and 35 million unique viewers for the last Major League Gaming event here in the USA.
Sep 23, 2011
0
#72
once i saw college kid driving a mercedes benz with a che guevera sticker in the rear window. so i busted the head lamps and tail lamps out. what a wanker.
Also on the subject of chess being a sport or not, I think it is. Perhaps you could find some technicality to prevent it from being one, but from what most dictionaries say, chess is a sport. I think athletics is another category of sports. In Europe and Asia the name given to video game competitions is "e-Sports". Forbes magazine has been following all the Major League Gaming tournaments and boldly took the stance that it is a sport. Chess is presented as a sport at tournaments so practically speaking it is.
Sep 23, 2011
0
#74
or it's not. why don't you go get in your dad's hummer and make a beer run?
CHEssGUEVARA wrote:
Also on the subject of chess being a sport or not, I think it is. Perhaps you could find some technicality to prevent it from being one, but from what most dictionaries say, chess is a sport. I think athletics is another category of sports. In Europe and Asia the name given to video game competitions is "e-Sports". Forbes magazine has been following all the Major League Gaming tournaments and boldly took the stance that it is a sport. Chess is presented as a sport at tournaments so practically speaking it is.
I have very much the same opinion as this. I can see why others feel it is not a sport
I understand that their is some prejudice against Blitz chess among GMs. But Anand claims that this is decreasing and that he sees Blitz as the oppurtunity to get it on TV some. I have no illusions about chess becoming a huge event in mainstream sports, however, it is not far fetched at all to think that some people would watch some Blitz games if they were easy to catch on TV. I actually think it is very probable. Taking in the country as a whole not many people really play chess consistently, but people do respect it. And I don't buy the whole nerd stereotype. I really think people see chess as something "cool". I bet if we had Kosteniuk, Anand, Carlsen, Nakamura, and other popular competitors doing some Blitz games with some level of televised coverage, that people would not only watch, but even be willing to look at Classical Time Controlled GM analysis if those were then aired.
I think it is quite obvious that people respect chess as a game. If you build it they will come.
I recall watching the Fischer match on television.
eddiewsox wrote:
We should use convicts as living chesspieces, and every time a "piece" is "captured" the "piece" would be speared, skewered and have it's head chopped off. There would be plenty of blood and gore. People would pay big money to see this, both live and on TV.
Ihope you don't work in the field of network television programing.
Sep 30, 2011
0
#80
Chess honestly is just not a very good spectator sport. Long periods of time with little activity (watching people think is not that entertaining). On the other hand, chess seems to have staying power, it seems as popular now as it ever has in terms of participation. Internet sites like chess.com of course are mostly responsible for that. I think it is a mistake to think chess will ever compete against football,etc. I wold bet however that chess has a significant advantage in the publishing world over team sports - just looking at my book shelf, there are way too many chess books. 
Celebrity chess tournament sounds like a good idea
We've always had celebrity chess. John wayne, Errol Flynn, Humphrey Bogart, Frank Sinatra, John Lennon, Bill Gates, Bob Dylan, Will Smith, Barbra Streisand and many others.
Hell, Bogart wanted Casablanca to be called Capablanca! He actually played a Capablanca game in the movie! And thats the rest of the story.
Actually, I made that last part up. Thats not right, I shouldn't do that. Forgive me God for lying.
Do they really have celebrity chess? I learn something new every day!
Point me in that direction please!