Chess - The Scotsman 12/04/13

CHESS is becoming increasingly global, and fast on the heels of the final German Bundesliga weekend, the circus now moves to Loo in Sochi for the 20th Russian Team Championships.

At the height of the Soviet dominance of chess, the legendary USSR club championship – called the Spartakiad – was the highlight of the year as the most demanding and strongest team event outside of the biennial Chess Olympiad, where even the world champion of the day and his title challengers had to

attend.

The tradition continues today, although the state support that once bankrolled the game has been replaced by western-styled financial backing for teams from oligarchies, banks and utility companies.