Chess is plagued by elitism

Chess, throughout history has shown, at the highest levels to be a game reserved to the wealthy. Granted, back then chess was not as profitable as it was today (where profit gained at the present day is still minuscule except for a handful of players) Perhaps this past history naturally flowed into the modern era of chess, where FIDE rankings, and titles can only be achieved if you are willing to travel, plus pay for many day's worth of housing during said events. Of course, chess has evolved into a game that anyone can play, that anyone has access too if they have a board or an internet connection. This is not my point. My point is, how is it that chess as a game limits the participation of otherwise talented individuals who have a shot at getting a title merely because they are financially limited? I do not think it is right, and will open it up to you all. Should in the perceivable future, sponsorships be made to pay for players to travel to said tournaments?

This may help you understand the history of chess a little more: https://www.chess.com/blog/WSama/the-first-ever-chess-match 

As for financial issues, that applies to all sporting events. People have to travel, it's as simple as that. Sponsorship programs definitely exist out there, and if you can't get your hands on one for some reason, I've seen plenty individuals advertise on the paper for sponsors to come to their aid. These days we even have services such as gofundme's and so forth.

And if all comes to fail, then you have to save up and be patient. You might not get to join every fide tourney out there, but you can still improve at your chess and reach master strength. Then people will start to notice.

Ah I see, I was mainly thinking about kids that have potential to reach CM or FM or greater, but aren't from affluent families. Seems like it would be difficult for them to try to reach higher heights, I was one of those kids that just gave up chess after winning my city championship, because there was nothing else for me that was within my reach/my family would never take me to a multi-day tournament.

This is true of most competitive activities. Compared to other sports, chess has a pretty low barrier to entry, especially with online play. There are tons of learning resources that are free and chess coaches aren’t any more expensive than tennis coaches.

Parents pay tons of money for equipment and sporting camps and I know of a kid who paid $1800 to attend a weeklong football camp. I also know that parents have moved to have their kids be able to attend schools with better programs.

Unless you are a true prodigy, not merely excellent, most activities are going to cost a lot of money.

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Tomorrow is time for the school .So I wool not play the chess.com

@XxDarkKnight402xX

Excellent question, komrade. That's what the Soviet Union and Communism is all about. They spot potential talents and the State develop them into world class level and world champions to prove the superiority of their System.

http://www.crestock.com/blog/design/propaganda-design-aesthetics-soviet-retro-posters-118.aspx

And chess fits perfectly with their top down command economy. There is something to the Russians. They are not stupid. I think every ballet school in America is founded by a Russian. Their is something to them that I cannot just dismiss.

That is what Chess is all about. Chess is the Cold War.

Even in ashes of Communism, something can rise and kick our asses.

https://video.vice.com/en_nz/video/breakdance-ballet/56dee50955946ec24640ecf9

A West German ballet trained dancer in a street dance battle.

Story time.

I went to visit my home country, Vietnam (that's Communist Vietnam).

I was playing Western Chess with a girl. Her father plays Chinese Chess. I have a wooden wind up clock (Made in West Germany) at home that I did not bring on the airplane because it was heavy.

I asked her if she had a clock. She said yes, and brought out a digital clock. It's kinda funny. I thought they were backwards, but I am backwards. Unknown to me at the time, she was the chess champion of her city for her age.

Time control was 1 hour each.

As we started playing, I see her style. I can see the gears turning in her head like a machine. I thought to myself, "Oh my gosh, she's taught in the Russian style." She's trying to mechanically crank out the correct answer. She doesn't, "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, your hands can't hit what your eyes can't see. Now you see me, now you don't. You think you will, but I know you won't" style of fighting.

The game was a draw. I had a weakness that she could have exploited and won the game, but she ran out of time. She wasn't accustomed to a fast game at 1 hour each, she's probably accustomed to 90 m + 60 m.

That was quite an educational experience. A little mini Cold War.

I gave her my chess set after the game. One side was Caesar Augustus, the other side was Napoleon and Josephine, an antique made by Classic Games. You can get them on Ebay.

Her father said, "You wash your hands and you pass on the sword." ala Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon.

I like the fact that I fought her man to man, hand to hand.

I didn't bring any technology with me. No computers. No Internet. No books. No Nothing.

It's just me and her, man to man, hand to hand. And we prove ourselves "karate", empty handed.

the same is true for basically any other game or sport

I fought her at the time control of my choosing (a very reasonable time control though.) That's a little Sun Tsu of me, fight your enemy on the ground of your choosing.

Seems like Communism it is!

Correct, except traditional sports are usually free for children in their public schools, at least in the US that is. One can make it up to state championships from their school, free of cost, but the same cannot be said for chess, which is not usually a part of school curriculum.

And now we rise to sing the National Anthem.

Exactly. The girl I played against was the "chess champion of the city for her age" in a little country of Vietnam. Such a thing does not exist in America.

yes but America is bg on sports (not that that's a bad thing) and Chess isn't as popular as Football/soccer which are more popular in America

A lady from France told me, "America is a young country. A young country is like a young person." A young person relies on his strength. An older person relies on his intellect. Russia is much older than America, that's probably why they like chess more.

but it being a metaphor doesn't make it true. a young person might not change (though i think the US will, for better or for worse) like all countries will in time. Russia liked chess due to showing their dominance on other countries.  i find the saying very poetic and will remember it

but New Zealand (which is were i'm from) is also a new country. and doesn't rely on its strength. it has allies (Australia etc...) and diplomacy