Chess is far less popular than Chinese chess in China. But the prevalence of the latter can positively push the development of the former in China, in that rules and strategies of both games have a lot in common or can be mutually referred. When some excellent Chinese chess players start to play chess, their skills improve fast and they can make use of the unique strategies of Chinese chess in chess, thus forming a special style. Since 1956, chess was carried out as a sport in China. In the same year, the 1st Chess Exhibition Game was held in Beijing, where only 6 player from 4 provinces participated. But at the National Chess Tournament held one year later, 22 players from approximate 10 provinces and cities were attending. From 1957 to 1966, national competition was almost held once a year and the number of players kept growing. National board games were recovered in 1974. After 1978, national chess competition are held twice a year – one is team competition and the other is individual; men and women items were separated. Moreover, there are traditional competitions such as the Challenge Cup, where excellent chess players and teenagers can communicate with each other and improve their skills. The 1986 National Team Chess Competition set a new record in the history. With 150 men and women players from 18 provinces, cities or autonomous regions participating, it became the largest national chess game ever on the scale.
In early 1960s, chess classes were set at Children's Palaces or Amateur Sports Schools in key chess cities such as Shanghai, Beijing, Wenzhou and Hangzhou. From the mid 1970s, junior chess classes have also been established consecutively in Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanxi and Tianjin, where professional chess coaches were hired or arranged to deliver trainings. This has greatly facilitated the growth of the young players. Many big names had been trained at those chess classes when they were young, such as female grandmaster Liu Shilan and Wu Minqian; female master An Yanfeng; male master Qi Jingxuan, Li Zunian, Liang Jinrong, Yang Xian, Lin Ta, Ma Hongding and Wang Li.
Since China joined FIDE in 1975, the international communication on chess has increased year by year and Chinese players have done better and better, which arouses extensive attention of the chess circles worldwide.
China Team won the second place when taking part in Asia Team Chess Competition for the first time in November, 1977. After that, China Team won the Asian championship for consecutive 2 years. In 1983, Chinese players defeat the Philippines Team, titleholder of all previous Asian Chess Competitions, winning the trophy of Asian Champion. Since then, Chinese players have broken Asian records and set sights on world level. In the end of 1978, Chinese players participated in the 23rd Chess Olympiad held in Buenos Aires, Argentina for the first time. They won over or drew some of the strong teams and finally ranked 18th. In December, 1980, three Chinese teenager girls made their debut on the international games. They drew the world champion, USSR Team in the Chess Olympiad and tied for 5th place. In the later Chess Olympiad held every two years, China Team continued to make progress. At the 27th Chess Olympiad held in Dubai, UAE, they tied for 3rd place. Chinese grandmaster, Liu Shilan, who played on the first board ranked third of that board, was granted the Best Player. China Women's Team surprisingly won over several tough games with teams such as former World Runner-up, Bulgaria and former World Bronze Medalist, Romania. And they lost the game with USSR Team only by 1 to 2. China Men's Team also got prominent results in the past two cessions of Chess Olympiad. The team tied for 8th place in the 26 Chess Olympiad in 1984. In the 27th Chess Olympiad held in 1986, where 108 teams participated, they drew the former World Champion, Yugoslavia Team and tied for 5th place with Bulgaria and Iceland by 9 victories, 1 draw and 4 losses. This was the highest place ever achieved by Asian Men's Team in Olympiad. The best result in the past was 11th place achieved by Philippines. The performance of Xu Jun, top player of China Team, was especially remarkable.
Chinese players also made outstanding improvement in Individual Chess Competitions. Liu Shilan won 1st place in Asia by sweeping the board in 14 games, entered World Champion Candidate Competition, namely the quarterfinal, and was entitled grandmaster. In 1985, An Yanfeng, Wu Minqian and Zhao Lan swept the first 3 places in Asian Area Competition. Wu Minqian later was admitted to the quarterfinal and won the title of grandmaster as well. Other women players got excellent results in international competitions. An Yanfeng, Zhao Lan and Wu Xiaoying were entitled masters. Ning Chunhong won 2nd place in Asia. He Tianjian, Xie Jun and Peng Zhaoqin were invited to visit USSR. Many Chinese men players have beat world famous grandmasters in international competitions. In the Asian Area Qualifying Trial held in Laoag, Philippines, Chinese players Qi Jingxuan, Li Zunian and Ye Jiangchuan swept the top 3 prizes.
Entering 1990s, Chinese women chess players gradually reached the summit of the world and men's team also achieved world class level. In 1991, when Xie Jun conquered the former Women World Champion, Chiburdanidze from the USSR at the final of Women World Championship, she made a historical breakthrough for the non-European players in this field. Afterwards, she ruled the roost for three times in 1993, 1998 and 2001. China Women's Team won 1st place in 1998 Olympiad for the first time. At the same time, men players like Ye Jiangchuan, Zhang Zhong and Ni Hua also gradually gained excellent achievements in various competitions.
By early 21st century, we saw a historical high tide for chess in China. In December of last year, 2008 Pearl Spring Chess Tournament Nanjing, China was held near the Pearl Spring of Pukou District, China. This tournament was of the highest level ever in China. 6 grandmasters including Veselin Topalov, who ranked first in the world at that time were invited to the event.
On early morning of February 1st, 2009 (Beijing Time), we Chinese were fulfilled with joy despite of the chilliness of Northern Europe. Nanjing Pearl Spring Chess Tournament beat competitors: Seattle, USA and St. Louis, Argentina and was successfully admitted to the Grand Slam Association by a unanimous vote, at the annual conference of the association held in Holland. So in the following 5 years, chess grandmasters from all over the world will gather in Nanjing every autumn to compete. Nanjing has become the only city in China that hosts Grand Slam competition in China and China has become the first country in Asia that owns the top-rank chess tournament.
