Grandmaster absentees weaken chess entry
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.THE British Chess Championships will begin this afternoon in the Plymouth Pavilion with a near record entry of more than 900, but with few leading players contesting the national title.
Of Britain's 20 grandmasters, only Jonathan Mestel and Mark Hebden are sure to play, though the reigning champion, Julian Hodgson, was said to be leaving it to the last minute before deciding whether to defend his title. The reason is simple: money.
In 1988, a long-running sponsorship of the championships by Kleinwort Benson, the merchant bank, ended. The tournament had, through its support, been transformed into an attractive professional event that offered good prizes and, perhaps more importantly, expenses and appearance fees to the star names.
Since then, the event has struggled to find backing. Last year the money ran out, and, with nothing to pay their expenses, the grandmasters stayed away.
The paradox is that while money was available when British players were not so good, it dried up as soon as Britain rose to become the world's second chess nation. Chess is a popular sport that Britons are good at. But that does not seem to be enough to attract financial support.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments