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CCC Discusses Chess – Posts of Interest – Is the Cost of Chess Too High?
Some chess players maintain chess is too expensive. Others say it’s cheap compared to lots of other hobbies. In Canada, equipment ( chess pieces, board and clock ) and chess tournaments are certainly a lot cheaper than, for example, hockey equipment and elite junior hockey tournaments!.
What about the price for weekend chess tournaments and longer ones? Here is a sampling from Canada ( prices are adult on site – there are usually early entry discounts ): July 2012 Canadian Open ( 9 rounds )- $ 215; 2012 Toronto International ( 7 rounds ) - $ 200; 2013 Canadian Youth Chess Championships ( 6 rounds ) - $ 250; 2013 Canadian Open ( 9 rounds ) - $ 275; 2013 Hart House Winter Open ( 5 rounds ) - $ 90; 2013 British Colu...mbia Seniors Championship ( 5 rounds ) - $ 50; 2013 Guelph Winter Pro-Am ( 5 rounds ) - $ 50; 2013 British Columbia Open ( 5 rounds ) - $ 90; 2013 Carnival Open ( Quebec ) ( 5 rounds ) - $ 70; 2013 Ottawa Spring Open ( 5 rounds ) - $ 70.
So for longer tournaments, we are looking at about $ 30/round. A large venue must be rented; all equipment is often supplied; opponents are provided, with a pairing/results computer system; there are cash prizes. For shorter tournaments we are looking at $ 15 per round. So there is a dramatic difference based on length of tournament. If we say a round takes 5 hours, then in shorter tournaments, we pay about $ 3 per hour for shorter tournaments. We can’t go to a movie for that amount, and it lasts half the time! What do you think about these costs?
What about membership costs? The combination of CFC and Ontario Chess Association memberships costs $ 48. You get unlimited right to play in tournaments for a year – the cost of a restaurant meal for two ( modest ). The annual adult membership in a local chess club varies. In Toronto, the fee at the Scarborough Chess Club ( SCC ) is $ 140 ( for 10 months ); at the Annex CC - $ 190 ( 12 months ). Mississauga CC ( city next to Toronto ) - $ 35. At SCC, we play 45 games per year or about $3/night. In Canada, a coffee at Starbucks almost costs that! And all is provided, for 3 ½ hrs. I don’t consider that expensive.
I think the result is that, in Canada anyway, chess is a most reasonable hobby from the cost point of view. How do the costs shape up in your country??
Bob Armstrong, CCC Member ( Canada )
CCC Discusses Chess – Posts of Interest – Is the Cost of Chess Too High?
Some chess players maintain chess is too expensive. Others say it’s cheap compared to lots of other hobbies. In Canada, equipment ( chess pieces, board and clock ) and chess tournaments are certainly a lot cheaper than, for example, hockey equipment and elite junior hockey tournaments!.
What about the price for weekend chess tournaments and longer ones? Here is a sampling from Canada ( prices are adult on site – there are usually early entry discounts ): July 2012 Canadian Open ( 9 rounds )- $ 215; 2012 Toronto International ( 7 rounds ) - $ 200; 2013 Canadian Youth Chess Championships ( 6 rounds ) - $ 250; 2013 Canadian Open ( 9 rounds ) - $ 275; 2013 Hart House Winter Open ( 5 rounds ) - $ 90; 2013 British Colu...mbia Seniors Championship ( 5 rounds ) - $ 50; 2013 Guelph Winter Pro-Am ( 5 rounds ) - $ 50; 2013 British Columbia Open ( 5 rounds ) - $ 90; 2013 Carnival Open ( Quebec ) ( 5 rounds ) - $ 70; 2013 Ottawa Spring Open ( 5 rounds ) - $ 70.
So for longer tournaments, we are looking at about $ 30/round. A large venue must be rented; all equipment is often supplied; opponents are provided, with a pairing/results computer system; there are cash prizes. For shorter tournaments we are looking at $ 15 per round. So there is a dramatic difference based on length of tournament. If we say a round takes 5 hours, then in shorter tournaments, we pay about $ 3 per hour for shorter tournaments. We can’t go to a movie for that amount, and it lasts half the time! What do you think about these costs?
What about membership costs? The combination of CFC and Ontario Chess Association memberships costs $ 48. You get unlimited right to play in tournaments for a year – the cost of a restaurant meal for two ( modest ). The annual adult membership in a local chess club varies. In Toronto, the fee at the Scarborough Chess Club ( SCC ) is $ 140 ( for 10 months ); at the Annex CC - $ 190 ( 12 months ). Mississauga CC ( city next to Toronto ) - $ 35. At SCC, we play 45 games per year or about $3/night. In Canada, a coffee at Starbucks almost costs that! And all is provided, for 3 ½ hrs. I don’t consider that expensive.
I think the result is that, in Canada anyway, chess is a most reasonable hobby from the cost point of view. How do the costs shape up in your country??
Bob Armstrong, CCC Member ( Canada )
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