If chess gets the same level of excitement from the public that soccer gets, people following their country's players in the Zonal and later tournaments, and advertisers getting involved it may well do it.
Will chess ever become a major spectator sport?
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I doubt that most of the World is going to regard chess as a legitimate sport instead of a competitive board game.
The problem with watching chess is that it's only interesting to people who are already good at the game. In addition every game takes like a billion hours to complete and always ends in a draw.
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#5
Have the echo the sentiments of those posting so far; I doubt it will be a mainstream attraction. I would not equate it with hockey or basketball, however. If anything, it is a kin to golf, which tends to be slow moving and more cerebral.
It will NEVER happen. Chess is boring to watch.
For sure, if they can get the strong chess player in the world with 3500 ELO to play a game of chessboxing with Magnus Carlsen
I belive the only thing holding chess back as a spectator sport is the lack of Cheerleaders and Popcorn stands.
FUN FACT: In Norway Chess is already a bigger spectator sport than Football (US version).
This already happened about 60 years ago when Bobby Fischer dominated the board. For whatever reason, chess fell out of fashion and people stopped caring about it.
Feb 11, 2018
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#11
What about a game that lasts five days? That still draws some sizeable crowds.
That said, you don't have to be competent to be able to enjoy Test cricket.
no .because to enjoy it you have to learn it.
No, learning curve for enjoyment is too steep for most and video games suck up most of the potential audience with any aptitude.
No.
With online or live commentary, it may be possible. Though, it would only be viewed by people who at least enjoys playing the game. Especially if it's a multi-day title match. Same as Poker having commentators and cameras to see players cards. I don't see why it couldn't happen.
Blitz/bullet chess is more watched because it's about who's the fastest so either someone checkmates the other player quickly or wins by time, simple to understand. As shown by the videos with Nakamura in South Africa. Fans there quickly went to spectate and see how fast he was and probably to meet a GM.
#17
But with chess most of those 5 hours is only interesting by what the master is thinking. The position on the board becomes unreadable to most after a maximum of 15 minutes staring at it. If a game lasted five hours with a move a minute? Maybe- but it won't. There could be an hour of 2 elderly men starring at a board without touching a single peice.
But with chess most of those 5 hours is only interesting by what the master is thinking. The position on the board becomes unreadable to most after a maximum of 15 minutes staring at it. If a game lasted five hours with a move a minute? Maybe- but it won't. There could be an hour of 2 elderly men starring at a board without touching a single peice.
This is a photo from the Royal National Chess Championship of Norway 2016 in Oslo
Carlsen v. Agdestein (Carslen won)
Chess riots: the future of miscreant activities
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If the interest in chess continues to grow as it has done over the last five years, chess will have a bigger audience than football by 2032. Is this scenario realistic? Or will chess, as a spectator sport, stagnate at a mediocre level like basketball, figure skating or hockey?