Will chess soon become a millions dollar business?

[Javier]

Will chess soon become a millions dollar business like boxing or soccer? Dutch media tycoon Bessel Kok, 65, is chairman of the Amsterdam based company “Global Chess BV”. The aim of this enterprise, which reportedly commands an initial start-up capital of 4.5 million Euros, is the marketing of major FIDE events, with special attention to World Championships. German journalist Dr. René Gralla conducted an interview with Bessel Kok who, after having been the Vice-President of Český Telecom, now lives in Prague, from where he runs “Global Chess BV”.

 

Dr. René Gralla: You are the chairman of “Global Chess BV”. The aim of that company, as far as we understand, is to professionalise of the marketing of chess. So big chess events, like the world championship, will be marketed in the near future like a world championships in soccer or boxing?

 

Bessel Kok: We need to make chess more interesting to follow, both from the sponsorship perspective as well as the public perspective. The marketing strategy to promote chess is not like that of boxing, of course, since we represent a different product and concept. However we will have to rebrand FIDE and the game of chess as a sport which can be supported with benefits to all stakeholders.

 

View the full article at HERE (chessbase)