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Chess in Africa
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Jan 5, 2011
0
#4
elikemattah wrote:
I want to know if anything is being done to make chess a little popular in Africa. In my country its totally nonexistent. people don't even know what it is.
At least you are now on chess.com where you will find friends and lots of knowledge about chess. Follow padman's advice and wear a chess.com cap or T-shirt or both. It might bring about some questions.
Elikemattah,who told you chess is not popular in Africa? ,I understand where you coming from. I leant it since my high school days. Competitions are held occasionally, at coconut grove hotel,near Ako Adjei overpass. I do not know much about chess clubs.
Jan 27, 2011
0
#6
thx robandygh. i'm never knew there were competitions. i'm in my final year at Ghana National college, cape coast. i learnt to play when i was i junior high and i've taught many of my friends how to play. if a tournament is organised for high schools now my school will definitely win.
As long as you have online chess, you can just play that until you get really good. There is no need to be in such a rush to play OTB games.
Marrrrrokkkkooooooooooooooo :) bissmilah
Apr 19, 2011
0
#10
Yeah not many people play chess in Africa, I guess it's because of heat - people don't like the idea of sitting and playing chess in the sun BECAUSE you can go and sit on the beach or play football
or... I don't know why it isn't popular - it's fun game
.
Jan 2, 2012
0
#11
U can link up with others here in Ghana. Regular tourneys are held mainly in Accra. I don't get to attend because of clashes with my work schedule but I keep track of what's going on. These are details of Ghana Chess Association (under FIDE):
| Ghana |
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Federation Name | The Ghana Chess Association (1990) Zone 4.2 |
| Address | c/o National Sports Council, P.O. Box 1272, Accra, Ghana | |
| Phone | 0243144966 | |
| Fax | (233)21-662281 | |
| sliss143@yahoo.com | ||
| Web | ||
| Member, National Olympic Committee | ||
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Based on my own experience having lived for 3.5 years in Western Africa, the problem for chess being unpopular is not due to "heat" as somebody suggested. The issue is far more complicated. My own experience - that of course should not be interpreted too strictly as conditions vary - suggests that:
It all starts at the junior level. Strikingly, I saw no juniors in the events I played. This might be due to a relative lack of poverty or lack of basic schooling; in a country where 70 % of people are unemployed/underemployed and illiteracy at some 40 %, there are more urgent needs than playing chess.
In the same spirit, playing chess also costs money. The only tournament outside my city of residence where I participated happened only because I took players there with my car, otherwise they would not have afforded it. Sponsorship is very scarce and indeed rather focuses on football.
Neither did I see any proper organisators for tournaments, not to mention FIDE standards, and I lived in a city of 3 million people. In other words, there seemed to be some club players, up to perhaps 2100 rating level but no systematic approach and promotion of chess. A pity, as with simple things one could have organised so much more.
Jan 2, 2012
0
#13
Conseiller wrote:
Based on my own experience having lived for 3.5 years in Western Africa, the problem for chess being unpopular is not due to "heat" as somebody suggested. The issue is far more complicated. My own experience - that of course should not be interpreted too strictly as conditions vary - suggests that:
It all starts at the junior level. Strikingly, I saw no juniors in the events I played. This might be due to a relative lack of poverty or lack of basic schooling; in a country where 70 % of people are unemployed/underemployed and illiteracy at some 40 %, there are more urgent needs than playing chess.
In the same spirit, playing chess also costs money. The only tournament outside my city of residence where I participated happened only because I took players there with my car, otherwise they would not have afforded it. Sponsorship is very scarce and indeed rather focuses on football.
Neither did I see any proper organisators for tournaments, not to mention FIDE standards, and I lived in a city of 3 million people. In other words, there seemed to be some club players, up to perhaps 2100 rating level but no systematic approach and promotion of chess. A pity, as with simple things one could have organised so much more.
Hit the nail right on the head bruv. Couldn't have said it better...;-)
Jan 2, 2012
0
#14
Here in South Africa chess is getting stronger by the day. Chessa (http://www.chessa.co.za/) is getting more organized and our president is an avid chess player.
Especially at school level our chess is doing quite well. There's lots of initiatives to get children to play chess for instance Moves For Life (http://www.movesforlife.co.za/).
Our biggest problem though is chess after school. I wouldn't know where to go play in tournaments that aren't for school kids. We'll see how Chessa handles adult chess players this year though. I'm hoping for the best.
elikemattah wrote:
thx robandygh. i'm never knew there were competitions. i'm in my final year at Ghana National college, cape coast. i learnt to play when i was i junior high and i've taught many of my friends how to play. if a tournament is organised for high schools now my school will definitely win.
Chess competitions are organised in Presec, If any competition is organised it will surely be Presec
There wasn't a single tournament held in Presec,, when I was there..
Skeleize wrote:
Chess competitions are organised in Presec, If any competition is organised it will surely be Presec
Lol. In my house we used to play among ourselves.That was my idea of a competition
I want to know if anything is being done to make chess a little popular in Africa. In my country its totally nonexistent. people don't even know what it is.