Armenia makes chess compulsory in schools

Armenia is a big player in world chess  and a new gambit could make it even bigger: mandatory chess in school. The former Soviet nation has made the game part of the primary school curriculum along with such standards as maths and history for children between the ages of seven and nine.

Armenian authorities say teaching chess in school is about building character, not breeding chess champions.

Chess is a national obsession in this country of 3 million people.In July 2011 a six-person national squad came first at the World Team Chess Championship in Ningbo, China