Colleges are spending millions to compete in the top chess leagues writes Michael S. Rosenwald:

• Webster University spends $635,000 a year on its 15 player college chess team.
• University officials argue that the media coverage this generates is worth $2.8 million.
• Others can spend even more. One coach was looking for $1 million in funding – a quarter of which was to be her base salary.
• The rest of that money would be used for scholarships to attract top chess prodigies from around the world.
• UMBC, for example, funds five fellows who receive free tuition and $15,000 a year for food and housing.

Read more about the world of collegiate chess competitions, who the leading universities are, and more over here.

Source: The Washington Post