Geography Of Chess: Unfolding Spatial Dimensions Of The Boardgame
Stepping into the Cold War era, chess emerged as a strategic playground for geopolitics. The USSR held a dominant position in Chess until Bobby Fischer, a young United States Grandmaster (GM), defeated Spassky in what has been hailed as 'The Game of the Century'. Thus, a sixty-four-squared checkered rectangle transformed into a battleground for dominance between the two Blocs. Today, the essence of geopolitical dominance is palpable, with the Indian GM Gukesh D defeating the Chinese counterpart Ding Liren for the World Chess Championship. The match underscored the 'power' that circumscribes both nations, setting the stage for the two developing superpowers to venture into a sphere of dominance in the coming years.
In the Indian context, chess exudes a distinct regional character, with the state of Tamil Nadu producing 31 out of the 85 GMs of the country. This is primarily credited to the Indian chess legend Vishwanath Anand, who clinched five World Championships in the first decade of the 21st century. His achievements set the stage for India's emergence as a global player in chess and fostered the expansion of chess culture in his home state. The fervour for chess reached its zenith in the region when the World Chess Olympiad was hosted in the city of Chennai in 2022. The cityscape was adorned with white and black, with murals at major public attractions. Chess had found its home in India once again, and the city of Chennai was hailed as 'The Mecca of Indian Chess.'
The controversy around venue selection for the World Chess Championship 2024 had once again solidified spatial attributes around the game of chess. The proposed site, New Delhi, was changed at the last moment to Singapore. This was done to neutralize the 'home advantage' ascribed to the Indian GM Gukesh D, had the match been played in the country of his origin. The incident confirms spatial politics around topophilia, a term that refers to the strong sense of place and attachment to a particular location. The paranoia about not playing in India cannot be deemed unreasonable, given the country's phenomenal acculturation of chess. India has been minting GMs more than any country in the world. The podium finish in both the open and women's categories at the World Chess Olympiad 2024 is a testament that India is a fertile ground for nurturing sporting talent that can have a reverberating impact on the global sports landscape.
Furthermore, the digital growth of chess post-COVID-19, the embodiment of chess players, and the role of Chess in place-making are several other dimensions that can be explored in this direction. Overall, a spatial interpretation of Chess can help administrators, scholars and policy makers to find the causational factors behind the variance of chess participation at the national scale. A spatial framework can contribute to the culture of Chess and other sports in India.
(Arnav Anshuman is a PhD Research Scholar at the Department of Geography, University of Delhi. He is academically engaged in sports, ethnography and everyday life. He calls himself a big-time foodie, a chess addict and an expert at starting conversations)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
34 minutes ago
- Mint
The Air India catastrophe should catalyse deep structural reform in the country
Next Story Vikas Dimble , Prachi Mishra The aviation tragedy in Ahmedabad calls for economic introspection. India needs to ponder questions of public versus private ownership, market concentration versus competition and diversified versus focused conglomerates. Our take-off for Viksit Bharat may depend on getting the answers right. The Ahmedabad tragedy should serve as more than a moment of grief, it should catalyse the deeper structural reforms necessary for India's sustainable development. Gift this article The tragic Ahmedabad air crash shook the nation, but beyond the immediate grief lies a deeper call for introspection. This isn't about assigning blame, but rather about examining structural questions. The tragic Ahmedabad air crash shook the nation, but beyond the immediate grief lies a deeper call for introspection. This isn't about assigning blame, but rather about examining structural questions. The timing is significant—this accident occurred soon after Air India transitioned from public to private ownership, highlighting three fundamental challenges on India's runway toward developed nation status: How should we balance public and private sector roles? What is the optimal level of market concentration versus competition? And should India Inc embrace specialization or continue with diversified conglomerates that span multiple industries? These questions go beyond aviation, touching the very foundation of India's economic strategy. Yet, aviation provides a perfect case study for examining these broader challenges. Let us start with the public versus public ownership. Also Read: Digital twins of aircraft: A big leap for civil aviation? India is conspicuous with a disproportionately large public sector, compared to other emerging and advanced economies. India's stock market is heavily dominated by state-owned enterprises. But our aviation sector, which has undergone complete privatization, offers a contrast. Globally, aviation ownership models vary dramatically. West Asian carriers remain fully government-owned, Chinese airlines are government-dominated and some European carriers maintain partial government stakes—25% of British Airways' parent company, for instance, is owned by Qatar Airways. Meanwhile, the US mirrors India's approach of minimal government ownership. The privatization of Air India is considered one of the Indian government's most successful divestments. As the private sector takes control, the need for robust regulation becomes critical. The question is not a binary whether or not to privatize, but how to regulate businesses effectively, especially in industries where lives are at stake. The government's role must evolve from owner-operator to an ever more vigilant regulator in both public perception and reality. Also Read: A tale of two sectors: Aviation soars while railways crawl Coming to the dilemma of competition versus concentration, India's economy has long been marked by the outsized influence of family-owned business groups. Remarkably, several of the largest groups from the 1950s still dominate, with the composition of the top 25 largely unchanged since 2010. At their peak in 2012, these groups generated revenues equivalent to 20% of India's GDP. While their dominance has declined somewhat since then, in 2020 that figure was still over 15%—higher than in 2001. The aviation sector typifies these trends. In India, the combined market share of its top two airlines is larger than in other markets globally, far exceeding the share seen in the US, UK, China or Brazil. IndiGo and Air India, both privately owned, carried over 90% of air travellers last year. The US airline industry is also privately owned but its market has much more competition. While larger firms benefit from economies of scale and greater clout, extreme concentration can also stifle innovation and harm consumer interests. Indian policymakers have been on top of this challenge. The sector has been opened to fresh competition repeatedly, but the industry has shown high business mortality, with a long list of airlines declared bankrupt or close to it; Sahara, Jet Airways, SpiceJet, Kingfisher and Go First tell a sobering tale of a harsh market. Why has competition withered in this sector? Is market size the determining factor (America's air traffic is five times that of India), or are there policy or market failures? Cost and efficiency determine survival, but consumer choices matter. Notably, both Air India and IndiGo rank low in global service standards. The transition from a state monopoly to private oligopoly outlines a delicate balance. While India needs stronger regulation in critical sectors, the broader economic imperative often calls for less onerous regulation; theEconomic Survey highlighted calls for greater deregulation and for government to get 'out of the way." Coming to the third issue of specialization versus diversification, economic theory suggests that countries should specialize in industries where they have comparative advantage. We can illustrate this through Bollywood: If Shah Rukh Khan, an economics graduate, specialized in economics, he would have been a successful economist. But even if he were to become the world's best economist, his 'opportunity cost' of missing a career as an actor would be too high, given the low wages he would earn compared to his earnings from cinema. Even with an absolute advantage in economics, his comparative advantage would lie in cinema. Specialization versus diversification represents a distinct strategic choice from concentration versus competition. Firms can maintain high market concentration while remaining either specialized or diversified. The jury is certainly out on this. Global trends reveal fascinating patterns. While emerging-market conglomerates are increasingly diversifying, those in advanced economies, particularly the US, are moving towards specialization. Emerging-market giants like the Tata Group in India (spanning salt to aviation), Samsung in South Korea and Fosun in China have expanded their sectoral reach dramatically, often doubling or tripling their presence across industries. Conversely, developed-market leaders like General Electric, Siemens and Johnson & Johnson have undergone significant consolidation or strategic splits. Most now operate as publicly traded entities with focused business models. So what is the path forward? What does it imply for India's aviation landscape—a three-way combination of private ownership, extreme concentration and the diversified nature of controlling conglomerates? This combination makes the sector distinctive globally but also potentially vulnerable. The stakes couldn't be higher. Markets often face efficiency versus equity trade-offs. Beyond that, there are efficiency and public safety trade-offs, at least in perception. Ultimately, there are no concrete recipes for success. That said, these questions are pertinent. As India marches towards Viksit Bharat, we must find appropriate answers. Our aviation sector's future—and by extension our broader economic strategy—depends on getting many balances right. The Ahmedabad tragedy should serve as more than a moment of grief. It should catalyse the deeper structural reforms necessary for India's sustainable development. Only through such introspection can we build an economy that is both dynamic and safe, competitive and responsible. The authors are, respectively, operations director, Ashoka Isaac Center for Public Policy (ICPP); and professor of economics, and director of ICPP, Ashoka University. Topics You May Be Interested In Catch all the Business News, Market News, Breaking News Events and Latest News Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
36 minutes ago
- Business Standard
India exports to US to be more competitive after duty hike on China, others
Indian exports to the US will become more competitive following imposition of higher tariffs by the Trump administration on countries, including China, Canada, and Mexico, Niti Aayog said in a report on Monday. The Aayog in its third edition of 'Trade Watch Quarterly', said there will be significant opportunities for India in the US markets both in terms of the number of products and volume of the US market. "India is expected to gain competitiveness in 22 out of the top 30 categories (HS 2 level), representing a market size of $2,285.2 billion," the Aayog said. It further explained that China, Canada, and Mexico are the leading exporters to the US in these categories, therefore higher tariffs on these countries at 30 per cent, 35 per cent, and 25 per cent, respectively, will enhance India's competitiveness. The Aayog said India's competitiveness will remain unchanged in 6 out of 30 categories, amounting for 32.8 per cent exports to the US and 26 per cent of the US total imports, amounting to $26.5 billion. While for six product categories at HS 2 level, India faces a higher average tariff(between 1-3 per cent) which can be negotiated with the US, the Aayog said, "In 78 products, accounting for 52 per cent of India's exports and 26 per cent share in total US imports, India is expected to gain competitiveness." For 17 products (accounting for 28 per cent of India's export to the US) out of the top 100 products at the HS-4 level, the Aayog said India's competitiveness remains unchanged due to no change in tariff differential. The Aayog also pointed out that "India stands to gain in sectors with high tariff gaps vs China, Canada and Mexico -- minerals and fuels, apparel, electronics, plastics, furniture, and seafoods in a $1,265-billion market". Meanwhile, an Indian commerce ministry team has reached Washington for another round of talks on the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA), which will begin on Monday. Chief negotiator of India and special secretary in the department of commerce Rajesh Agrawal will join the team on Wednesday. The four-day talks will end on Thursday. India's deputy chief negotiator for the proposed BTA has reached Washington for the talks on the first phase of the BTA, the official said. The visit assumes significance as both sides have to iron out issues in sectors like agriculture and automobiles. It is also important as the US has further postponed the imposition of additional tariffs on several countries, including India, until August 1. Earlier this month, the Indian team was in Washington for talks, with negotiations taking place from June 26 to July 2. The team has once again reached the US for negotiations. India has hardened its position on the US demand for duty concessions on agri and dairy products. New Delhi has, so far, not given any duty concessions to any of its trading partners in a free trade agreement in the dairy sector. India is seeking the removal of this additional tariff (26 per cent). It is also seeking the easing of tariffs on steel and aluminium (50 per cent) and the auto (25 per cent) sectors. Against these, India has reserved its right under the WTO (World Trade Organization) norms to impose retaliatory duties. US President Donald Trump announced heavy tariffs on a number of countries, including India, on April 2. However, it was soon postponed for 90 days until July 9 and later to August 1. From July 7, the Trump administration has issued tariff letters to a number of its trading partners, including Bangladesh, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, South Africa, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Serbia, and Tunisia. The US wants duty concessions on certain industrial goods, automobiles, especially electric vehicles, wines, petrochemical products, and agri goods, like dairy items, apples, tree nuts, and genetically modified crops. On the other hand, India is seeking duty concessions for labour-intensive sectors, such as textiles, gems and jewellery, leather goods, garments, plastics, chemicals, shrimp, oil seeds, grapes, and bananas in the proposed trade pact. The two countries are looking to conclude talks for the first tranche of the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by fall (September-October) this year. Before that, they are looking for an interim trade pact. India's merchandise exports to the US rose 21.78 per cent to $17.25 billion in April-May this fiscal year, while imports rose 25.8 per cent to $8.87 billion.
Hindustan Times
37 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Nimisha Priya death row: Kerala CM writes to PM Modi urging ‘urgent intervention'
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday reiterated his government's support for efforts to exonerate Nimisha Priya, a Kerala nurse facing the death penalty in Yemen. The state leader once again called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene urgently to save her life. Nimisha Priya, 37, from Kerela is jailed in a region of Yemen and set for execution on July 16.(File Photo) The CM took to X to share his letter seeking PM Modi's intervention after the Centre told the Supreme Court it could not 'do much' regarding the execution of the Kerala nurse. 'Wrote to Hon'ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji urging urgent intervention to secure the release of Nimisha Priya, who remains imprisoned in Yemen. The Govt of Kerala stands firmly with all those working towards her exoneration and safe return,' Pinarayi Vijayan posted. The CM also submitted a formal appeal to the Prime Minister, citing the imminent threat to Priya's life. In his letter dated Sunday, the Kerala CM wrote, 'Kindly find enclosed my letter dated March 24, 2025, to the Union Minister for External Affairs. It is learnt from the Media that the execution of Smt. Nimisha Priya Tomy Thomas has been fixed for July 16, 2025. Considering the fact that this is a case deserving sympathy, I appeal to the Hon'ble Prime Minister to take up the matter and intervene with the authorities concerned to save the life of Nimisha Priya.' According to reports, the 37-year-old Indian nurse is currently on death row for the murder of a Yemeni national. Her conviction by a Yemeni trial court was upheld by the country's Supreme Judicial Council in November 2023. Supreme Court hears plea on government intervention The Supreme Court of India on Monday heard a plea seeking directions to the Centre for diplomatic intervention in Priya's case. During the hearing, her counsel informed the bench that the only possible way to save her now is through a 'blood money' arrangement — a financial settlement permissible under Yemeni law — subject to the consent of the victim's family. The Attorney General of India (AGI), appearing on behalf of the government, told the court that 'every possible effort' is being made to help Priya. He said that discussions are ongoing with Yemeni authorities, including the public prosecutor, to delay the execution and explore a negotiated resolution. However, the AGI acknowledged that the government's role is constrained. 'This is a very complex issue,' he said. Justice Sandeep Mehta, who presided over the hearing, expressed serious concern over the situation, observing that 'it would be very unfortunate if Priya were to lose her life.' The Court has scheduled the next hearing in the matter for Friday, July 18.
