If only we'd known

Years of war, tens of thousands dead and injured, and now it turns out that something as simple as chess could plant the seeds of capitalism in Vietnam.

Competitors in the 2007 World Chess Championship qualifiers (zone 3.3) on the southern Phu Quoc Island have been given an added incentive to do well – US$10,000 in prize money.

The Viet Nam Chess Federation (VCF)’s general secretary, Dang Tat Thang, said Dragon Capital from England, the tournament’s main sponsor, is providing the money. It will be the first time a chess tournament in Viet Nam has carried a cash prize.

US dollars, no less!

Take it to the bank

Hope at Humor Hangout has put together the pieces of the puzzle and concluded that there must be money to be made in chess. For example, consider chess equipment:

...if there are shops that cater to people who are willing to buy chess pieces made from pewter or brass or marble (those all sound very pretty and weighty and handsome) and chess boards made of high gloss polyurethane (that sounds really elegant), there must be a lot of money in this activity.

And, why don't you hear much about women chessplayers?

...because women are so good at chess that they are able to retire on their winnings early in their careers and thereafter leave the field to the men.

Finally, we all know why chessplayers are smart:

...because they have figured out a way to make a lot of money while sitting down most of the time.