"An estimated 44 million Americans are regular chess players. Some 60 percent are male, and the same percentage falls in the magic 18-35 demo. More than one-third have a masters or Ph.D., and 44 percent enjoy an average household income of $75,000 or higher. Given stats like those, you might assume that when the World Chess Championships roll around every two years, upscale brands would be tripping over themselves to sponsor them.
And you would be wrong.
Despite chess’ 605 million global fans, its championship matches enjoy a profile that is somewhere between roller derby and camel wrestling. Championship chess is essentially ignored by mainstream media, lacks a big-name sponsor and struggles to cough up the $1.4 million in prize money that goes to the winner."
From: A Media Mogul’s Daring Move to Make Chess Big
Andrew Paulson says championship chess deserves major play By Robert Klara adweek.com/news/advertising- … big-141168
If Paulson’s venture is based on the nonsense that there are 44 million chessplayers in the US then I doubt he will get very far.
He would do better to donate the half million bucks to the USCF.
Bottom line: Unless someone is already a half way decent player, he or she will have NO interest in watching a chess game. Forget about filling a stadium to watch a game on a jumbotron.
Why are people so darned pessimistic about chess achieving a more prominent role in the world? If we are interested in it, other people can get interested in it. Many who play chess well, even at the top level aren’t geniuses in any other area. Anyone can learn the rules, and then, anyone can enjoy the game, because it truly is a great game.
The one time it was presented well, by Shelby Lyman in 1972, well, I knew people watching those telecasts who didn't even know the rules, they were so excited. And don't give me that nonsense "oh, it was Fischer-Spassky", etc, etc. No reason Nakamura-Morozovich couldn't generate similar excitement with proper publicity. Granted, we need some modification of the World's Championship to avoid a ghastly repetition of the recent boredom (some elitist fans just loved it, because such boredom would surely keep the masses out).
I suspect that many chessplayers DON'T want chess to achieve popularity due to an elitist thing. It's a "I know something you couldn't understand, so I'm better" type attitude. Note that they're against any attempt whatsoever to popularize the game. They're obstructionists.
I give this dude Paulson credit for his optimism in furthering the popularity of chess. We should be cheering him, not putting him down. His stats are indeed off, but in a good cause. I look forward to some ORIGINAL attempts to bring new fans into the chess world.
Everyone has heard of Shelby Lyman because of the program on public tv during the Fischer -Spassky match, but he was also on tv commentating on at least one Karpov-Kasparov match for the world championship. My lady-friend at the time, a redhead named Jan, while watching with me, waggishly called Shelby, “Mr Charisma.”
Chess coverage has improved by light-years since then, fortunately. For example, I like to think she would have greatly enjoyed commentary by ‘Beniffer’.
Armchair Warrior