The Asian Youth Championships have always had a dominating Indian contingent (at least to the best of my recollection). But it seems like lately at world events and at the most recent Asian Youth Championship the Indian contingent is beating out the competition through sheer numbers.

I think this can be attributed to the attention Anand has gotten since his regaining the World Chess Championship. Media coverage in India was huge and Indian fans have come out of thin air it seems. Anand has lit a spark inn his home country just as Fischer did (perhaps not on such a grand scale as Fischer ... but arguably a more publicly likeable figure at the center).

I can't help but wonder if in 30 years or less the top players will be primarily Indian. As a red blooded American I have to tell my fellow countrymen to step it up. As a chessplayer I definitely applaud Anand for bringing more players to the chessboard.