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In the lead-up to the World Chess Championship, U.S. players are struggling to compete.

The world’s best chess players are set to meet in London this month for the World Chess Championship, but American players are not in a position to challenge for the title. This is largely due to a lack of funding and a lack of interest from American schools and universities, which has resulted in very few elite chess players emerging from the country.

What is America’s current standing in chess?

America currently ranks 11th in the world when it comes to participation in chess, with over half a million people playing regularly. However, when it comes to competitive play, the country ranks 26th with only six grandmasters and no female grandmasters. There have been some great chess players from America throughout history, including Bobby Fischer and Paul Morphy. However, none of these have been born since 1990.

Why does America struggle at chess?

Chess has long been seen as an intellectual pursuit that is better suited for European countries than for those across the Atlantic Ocean. In Europe there are many more competitions available for young people who want to learn how to play competitively or just have fun playing against their friends. In contrast, there is very little opportunity for Americans to get involved with competitive chess at school or university level unless they move overseas.