CNN: Chess - the national sport of Azerbaijan

CNN Video has made a report titled Chess - the national sport of Azerbaijan. CNN's Jim Boulden says “the young in Azerbaijan are obsessed with chess”. “In the country where older citizens enjoy backgammon the younger generation has focused on chess.”

Faiq Hasanov, vice president of Azerbaijan`s chess federation, told CNN there were 66 chess schools in the country, which enrolled 35,000 children. According to him, a new chess palace would be built in the country.

Nargiz Umudova, a 22-year-old member of Azerbaijan`s national women`s team, told CNN: “Playing chess is interesting, it`s wonderful.” Umudova represents Azerbaijan against the likes of Iran, Russia, Georgia and Turkey.

Grandmaster Gadir Huseynov, who is ranked fifth among male chess players in Azerbaijan, told CNN: “I started to play chess at six. When I was eight years old I became the European champion. At ten I decided to play professional chess.”

CNN's Boulden says: “The Azerbaijan men`s national team won the European championship in 2009, and is currently ranked tenth in the world. The youth team is showing a promise too. In early November its Under-16 boys finished fourth just after Iran in the world Olympiad.

Becoming the kings and queens of the chess board is a matter of pride for Azeris.”


/AzerTAc/