Knight Manoeuvres...
Baku, Azerbaijan
It there is an indication or measure of a city's culture or intellect then chess might be one of those measures. Dotted all along the promenade are these giant chess boards, complete with giant pieces. Clearly, chess is a popular game in Baku and I dare say throughout Azerbaijan as well as there were matches being played morning, noon and night.
I'd go as far to say that it's not something you would come across in any UK city, mainly because all the pieces would get nicked or smashed in the first 24 hours... the Manchester Mobikes thefts and vandalism a case in point!
It was only when I got home did I discover the popularity of chess in Azerbaijan and it's most famous son - Garry Kimovich Kasparov, World champion 1985-1993 (undisputed) and 1993-2000 (classical)
Knight Manoeuvres...
Baku, Azerbaijan
It there is an indication or measure of a city's culture or intellect then chess might be one of those measures. Dotted all along the promenade are these giant chess boards, complete with giant pieces. Clearly, chess is a popular game in Baku and I dare say throughout Azerbaijan as well as there were matches being played morning, noon and night.
I'd go as far to say that it's not something you would come across in any UK city, mainly because all the pieces would get nicked or smashed in the first 24 hours... the Manchester Mobikes thefts and vandalism a case in point!
It was only when I got home did I discover the popularity of chess in Azerbaijan and it's most famous son - Garry Kimovich Kasparov, World champion 1985-1993 (undisputed) and 1993-2000 (classical)