Jan 21 2008
Anand
Coincidence or timed right, the day after Fischer died, FT ran an interview with the current champ, an Indian, Viswanathan Anand. He replaced Kasparov but competes with ‘young Russian boys’, :). Looking at his Poppy’s arms, perhaps the trend is changing, that being physically fit is important element for brain fit?
Years back, there was a Chinese woman champ who competed with girls only, excluding the Polgár sisters. China was suddenly hot with ‘international chess’ as to differentiate with the chess we play while growing up. It seems to me, Chinese women are doing very well. They made ways into tennis, movies (not clowning around like Jackie Chan) .. and we don’t have nor need NOW to buoyant our self-esteem. But I could see one day soon, when there are more money to go around, organizations like NOW would spring up in China as well. It’s funny that American women are yelling and crying their heart out for equity, but are they getting what they’re asking for, what got what they wished for?