SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
FIDE has 161 country members, making it one of the largest sports organizations in the world today. Here are some statistics of some FIDE member nations. Note that the numbers only describe FIDE elo rated players in each country.
If you are like me, it is fun to see how Canada compares, chess-wise, with the rest of the world. This series will help you understand where Canadian chess ranks in the world.
25 years ago, Canada was one of the leading countries chess-wise. Today the CFC (our national federation) is an empty shell, having being forced to sell its assets in recent years because of mis-management and worse. Just 2 years ago every member of the CFC received the national chess magazine: today, after incompetent and rushed restructuring, little more than half of its membership receives the magazine. Most of the national championships in Canada have been degraded or simply don’t happen at all. This year’s Canadian Junior Championship has participants from only 1 province in Canada. There will be no Canadian Championship this year…the list of ”accomplishments” goes on and on!
Worse still, the CFC leadership boasts of their recent achievements and of the progress being made!
Chess in Canada today can no longer be compared to that in other first world nations. And most 3rd world nations have thriving chess communities that put Canada to shame. What happened? Difficult to say, no single person is responsible, but clearly it is a leadershp issue .The high levels of corruption in Canadian chess, the Trillium Foundation scandal being just the tip of the iceberg, show that since no one is being held responsible for this disgrace…the CFC–and Canadian chess– can be expected to continue its downward spiral for years to come. I believe that only once all of the assets will have disappeared will things turn around…
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EGYPT
Population (2010) 77 million
Average rating of top 10 players: 2475
Total (inactive inclusive): 468
Total active : 303
Below statistics is valid for active players only:
• Grand Master : 3
• Woman Grand Master : 1
• International Master : 16
• Woman International Master : 1
• FIDE Master : 7
• Woman FIDE Master number : 0
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CANADA
Population 34 million
Average rating of top 10 players: 2472
Total (inactive inclusive): 527
Total active : 236
Below statistics is valid for active players only:
• Grand Master : 3
• Woman Grand Master : 0
• International Master : 17
• Woman International Master : 3
• FIDE Master : 28
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PERU
Population 29 million
Average rating of top 10 players: 2493
Total (inactive inclusive): 609
Total active : 408
Below statistics is valid for active players only:
• Grand Master : 3
• Woman Grand Master : 0
• International Master : 5
• Woman International Master : 3
• FIDE Master : 17
• Woman FIDE Master number : 5
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VIETNAM
Population 85 million
Average rating of top 10 players: 2518
Total (inactive inclusive): 212
Total active: 165
Below statistics is valid for active players only:
• Grand Master : 7
• Woman Grand Master : 3
• International Master : 7
• Woman International Master : 11
• FIDE Master : 12
• Woman FIDE Master number : 12
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MEXICO
Population 111 million
Average rating of top 10 players : 2457
Total (inactive inclusive): 721
Total active: 356
Below statistics is valid for active players only:
• Grand Master : 4
• Woman Grand Master : 0
• International Master : 18
• Woman International Master : 4
• FIDE Master : 28
• Woman FIDE Master number : 2
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ITALY
Population 60 million
Average rating of top 10 players: 2507
Total (inactive inclusive): 3657
Total active : 2621
Below statistics is valid for active players only:
• Grand Master : 7
• Woman Grand Master : 0
• International Master : 31
• Woman International Master : 1
• FIDE Master : 82
• Woman FIDE Master number : 3
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BRAZIL
Population 192 million
Average rating of top 10 players: 2550
Total (inactive inclusive): 1415
Total active: 764
Below statistics is valid for active players only:
• Grand Master : 7
• Woman Grand Master : 0
• International Master : 16
• Woman International Master : 3
• FIDE Master : 47
• Woman FIDE Master number : 6
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GREECE
Population 11milliom
Average rating of top 10: 2549
Total (inactive inclusive): 1852
Total active : 1478
Below statistics is valid for active players only:
• Grand Master : 10
• Woman Grand Master : 3
• International Master : 20• Woman International Master : 5
• FIDE Master : 32
• Woman Fide masters: 3
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
