Is Chess Dead?

Back in the old days of Hollywood, Humphrey Bogart was an avid chess player (see inset) and would lend his support to chess.

These days, with the likes of masses being consumed by the countless Hollywood gossip (do we really need to know if Paris Hilton's dog was named Fifi or Ginger?), it's no wonder the children of today are so dumbed down. How many people from Hollywood today would gladly put their names to the pursuit of any intellectual activity?

Chess these days seems destined to belong to the backwaters. More awareness needs to be raised about chess. In Australia, not much is being done to educate the teenagers about the benefits of playing chess. It's a shame, really.