Weak Chess Countries
Afghanistan has 4 FIDE-titled chess players (3 FIDE masters and 1 Candidate Master). The country is ranked 140th out of 163 chess federations. Chess was banned in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2000 by the Taliban. It was the only place in the world that chess was illegal. Afghanistan first played in a Chess Olympiad in 1996, but did not participate in 2000 or 2010. In the 1996 Chess Olympiad in Yerevan, the Afghanistan team showed up after the 7th round and still played. Afghanistan joined FIDE in 1984.
Angola took last place (81st out of 81) at the 1980 Chess Olympiad. Angola played in every Chess Olympiad from 1980 to 2012. Angola has 4 players rated over 2200. Angola joined FIDE in 1980.
Aruba took 144th out of 156 in the 2012 Chess Olympiad. They took 121st in the 2010 Chess Olympiad. They took 135th out of 146 in the 2008 Chess Olympiad. They took 144th out of 147 in the 2006 Chess Olympiad. Aruba has 8 FIDE-titled chess players (one chess master). Aruba is ranked 146th out of 163 chess federations. Aruba first participated in a Chess Olympiad in 2002, and has played in each Chess Olympiad ever since. Aruba joined FIDE in 2001.
Bahamas has no titled players. They are ranked 157th out of 163 chess federations. The Bahamas has been affiliated with FIDE since 1974. Their highest rated player is rated 1850. The Bahamas participated in the 1974 Chess Olympiad (took 72nd out of 73), but did not take part from 1976 to 1984. The Bahamas played in the 1986, 1988, and 1990 Chess Olympiads, but have not participated since then. In 1988, P. Benevex of the Bahamas played 12 games in the Olympiad and lost all 12 games. The Bahamas joined FIDE in 1974.
Bahrain has 5 titled players, led by Maher Ayyad, rated 2160. They are ranked 155th out of 163 federations. Bahrain first played in a chess Olympiad in 1982. In 2010, they took 117th place out of 148. They did not participate in 2012. Bahrain joined FIDE in 1982.
Bermuda took 153rd out of 156 in the 2012 Chess Olympiad. They took 141st out of 148 in the 2010 Chess Olympiad. They took 137th out of 146 in the 2008 Chess Olympiad. They took 143rd out of 147 in the 2006 Chess Olympiad. Bermuda has 5 titled chess players, led by Richard Robinson, rated 2082. Bermuda is ranked 136th out of 163 chess federations. The Bermuda party is one of the highlights of chess Olympiads. Bermuda has been playing in the chess Olympiads since 1976 and only misses 1998. Bermuda joined FIDE in 1976.
Botswana took 90th out of 91 at the 1982 Chess Olympiad. Botswana played in every Chess Olympiad from 1982 to 2012, except for 1984. Botswana has two players rated over 2200.
British Virgin Islands (BVI) took 145th out of 147 in the 2006 Chess Olympiad. They took last place (65th out of 65) at the 1978 Chess Olympiad. They took last place (73rd out of 73) in the 1974 Chess Olympiad. BVI has no titled players. BVI first joined FIDE in 1934. The Virgin Islanders made their first appearance in a chess Olympiad in 1968. As one team, they played in the 1968, 1970, and 1972 chess Olympiad. In 1974, the islanders were represented at the chess Olympiad by two teams, the British Virgin Islands and the US Virgin Islands. For many years, player and team captain Bill Hook (1925-2010) represented BVI at the chess Olympiads. The BVI issued a chess stamp in Bill Hook’s honor. In 1980 at the Malta Chess Olympiad, John Jarecki played for the British Virgin Islands at the age of 11.
Brunei has one titled chess player, FIDE Master Yee Soon Wei, rated 2230. Brunei is ranked 133rd out of 163 chess federations. Brunei participated in the chess Olympiads in 1986, 1992, 2000, 2002, and 2006. Brunei joined FIDE in 1980.
Burundi took last place (156th out of 156) in the 2012 Chess Olympiad. As a team, they did not win a single match. They won 3 games, drew 1 game, and lost 40 games. Their highest rated player, Yves Ndikumana was rated 2088. One team player lost all 11 games that he played. Another team player lost all 10 games that he played. Burundi first appeared at the 2010 Chess Olympiad, where they took 145th out of 148.
Cameroon took 137th out of 148 at the 2010 Chess Olympiad, the only chess Olympiad it has ever played in. Cameroon has one titled chess player (Benjamin Didier Banlock, rated 2054). Cameroon is ranked 125th out of 163 chess federations.
Cyprus has 5 titled chess players. Cyprus is ranked 121st out of 163 chess federations. In 1910 the Cyprus Chess Association was founded and the first Cyprus chess championship took place. In 1962 Cyprus scored the worst score of any Chess Olympiad team, with only 3 points. It took 37th place out of 37. At Varna the team went 0 for 20 and one of their players, Ioannidis also went 0 for 20. Their team only won 2 games, drew 2 games, and lost 76 games. In 1964 at the Tel Aviv Olympiad, Ionnidis lost all his games (4) and Cyprus, again, took last place (50th out of 50), drawing 1 and losing 13. Their team won 5 games, drew 4 games, and lost 47 games. Cyprus has played in every chess Olympiad from 1962 to the present, except for 1976 and 1978. They took 118th out of 156 in the 2012 chess Olympiad in Istanbul. Cyprus joined FIDE in 1961.
Fiji took 147th out of 156 in the 2012 Chess Olympiad. They took 143rd out of 146 in the 2008 Chess Olympiad. They took 139th out of 147 in the 2006 Chess Olympiad. Fiji played in the chess Olympiads in 1986-1994, 2004-2008, and 2012. Fiji has 11 FIDE-titled chess players. They are ranked 148th out of 163 chess federations. The Fiji Chess Federation was formed in 1979 and joined FIDE in 1982.
Gabon took 142nd out of 146 in the 2008 Chess Olympiad, the only chess Olympiad they have entered. They only had three players. There are no Gabon titled chess players. Gabon joined FIDE in 2007, but is no longer a member of FIDE.
Ghana took 146th out of 156 in the 2012 Chess Olympiad. They took 140th out of 148 in the 2010 Chess Olympiad. They took 140th out of 146 in the 2008 Chess Olympiad. Ghana has 1 titled chess player. Ghana is ranked 138th out of 163 chess federations. Ghana first played in a chess Olympiad in 1986 (95th out of 108 teams). They did not play again until 2008, and participated in the 2010 and 2012 chess Olympiads. Ghana joined FIDE in 1990.
Guam has no titled players, with an average rating of 1671 for the players of that island. It is ranks 161st out of 163 chess federations. I directed the first USCF-rated tournament in Guam in 1974 when I was an Air Force Staff Sergeant assigned to Guam. The Guam Chess Federation (Guam Echecs) was formed and joined FIDE in 2010. Guam will be sending a chess team to the 2014 Chess Olympiad in Tromso, Norway. This will be the first participation of Guam in a Chess Olympiad.
Guernsey has 5 titled chess players. They are ranked 145th out of 163 chess federations. Guernsey joined Jersey and participated in the Chess Olympiads from 1982 to 1994. Guernsey played in the Chess Olympiads as its own chess federation from 1970-1976, 1980, and 1996 to 2012. In the 1982 Chess Olympiad in Lucerne, the oldest player was Ron Blow of Guernsey, age 74. Guernsey joined FIDE in 1969 and 1995.
Guyana has no FIDE-titled chess players. They are ranked 149th out of 163 chess federations. Guyana participated in the 1978 and 1980 Chess Olympiads. Guyana joined FIDE in 1975.
Haiti took 136th out of 156 in the 2012 Chess Olympiad. They took 139th out of 148 in the 2010 Chess Olympiad. Haiti participated in the Chess Olympiads in 1986-1990, 1994, 1996, 2006, 2010, and 2012. They missed the 2008 Chess Olympiad due to hurricanes that ravaged the island. There are no titled players from Haiti. Haiti joined FIDE in 1985.
Honduras took 128th out of 146 in the 2008 Chess Olympiad. Honduras has played in every Chess Olympiad since 1976, except for 1978, 1980, and 1992. Honduras has 5 players rated over 2200. Honduras joined FIDE in 1975.
Hong Kong took 132nd out of 146 in the 2008 Chess Olympiad. Hong Kong has 11 titled chess players. Hong Kong is ranked 126th out of 163 chess federations. The Hong Kong Chess Federation was founded in 1960 and joined FIDE in 1961. Hong Kong has participated in the Chess Olympiads from 1966 to the present, except for 1998. The Hong Kong team in the 1974 Students' Chess Olympiad consisted of five brothers aged 8 to 18. In 1990 the Hong Kong Olympiad team consisted of four players from four different countries.
Jersey has 5 titled chess players. Jersey is ranked 135th out of 163 chess federations. Jersey combined with Guernsey participated in the Chess Olympiads from 1982 to 1994. Jersey participated in the Chess Olympiads as a separate chess federation from 1996 to 2012.
Kenya took 139th out of 156 in the 2012 Chess Olympiad. They took 131st out of 146 in the 2008 Chess Olympiad. They took last place (108th out of 108) at the 1990 chess Olympiad. Kenya has 7 titled chess players. Kenya is ranked 120th out of 163 chess federations. Kenya played in the Chess Olympiad from 1980-1992, and from 1998-2012.
Kuwait took 143rd out of 156 in the 2012 Chess Olympiad, its first time playing in a Chess Olympiad. Kuwait has 2 titled chess players. Kuwait is ranked 143rd out of 163 chess federations.
Liechtenstein took 139th out of 146 in the 2008 Chess Olympiad. Liechtenstein has 4 titled chess players. Liechtenstein is ranked 128th out of 163 chess federations. Liechtenstein played in every Chess Olympiad from 1988 to 2012, except for 1998 and 2010.
Lesotho has no FIDE titled chess player and is the lowest rated country, with an average rating of 1562. Its highest rated player, Klaas Tokeli, is rated1622. It is ranked as the 163rd out of 163 chess federations.
Macau took 133rd out of 148 in the 2010 Chess Olympiad. They took 134th out of 146 in the 2008 Chess Olympiad. Macau has 6 FIDE-titled players. Macau has played in every chess Olympiad since 1994. They are ranked 159th out of 163 chess federations.
Madagascar played in the 2008 and 2010 Chess Olympiads. They took 135th out of 148 in the 2010 Chess Olympiad. They took 145th out of 146 in the 2008 Chess Olympiad. In 2008, one of its players lost all 10 of his games. Madagascar has one International Master and 6 titled chess players. Madagascar is ranked 127th out of 163 chess federations.
Malawi took 138th out of 146 in the 2008 Chess Olympiad. They took 140th out of 147 in the 2006 Chess Olympiad. Malawi has 3 titled chess players. They are ranked 144th out of 163 chess federations. Malawi has played in the Chess Olympiads from 2006 to 2012.
Maldives (the smallest country in Asia) has 4 FIDE titled players, with an average rating of 1658 for the players of that country. It is ranked 162nd out of 163 chess federations. It played in its first Chess Olympiad in 2012 and took 127th out of 156 teams.
Mauritania took 142nd out of 156 in the 2012 Chess Olympiad. They took 131st out of 148 in the 2010 Chess Olympiad. Mauritania played in the Chess Olympiads in 1978, 1986, 1988, 2010, and 2012.
Mauritius took 137th out of 156 in the 2012 Chess Olympiad. They took 129th out of 146 in the 2008 Chess Olympiad. They have 3 titled players. They are ranked 151st out of 163 chess federations. Mauritius played in every chess Olympiad from 1986 to 2012, except for 1998.
Malta took 141st out of 156 in the 2012 Chess Olympiad. Malta has played in the Chess Olympiads in 1960, then from 1970 to 2012, except for 1976 and 1978. The first recorded chess game in Malta was in 1880. Leone Benjacar wrote chess articles for the Daily Malta Chronicle in 1880 and created the Malta Chess Club. The Maltese Chess Association was formed in 1923. The first official chess championship occurred in Malta in 1925, won by Oscar Serracino-Inglott. Malta joined FIDE in 1959 and played in the Chess Olympiad in 1960.
Mozambique took 134th out of 148 in the 2010 Chess Olympiad. Mozambique has 6 titled chess players. Mozambique played in Chess Olympiads in 1996 and 2006-2012. Mozambique is ranked 141st out of 163 chess federations.
Namibia took 138th out of 156 in the 2012 Chess Olympiad. Namibia participated in Chess Olympiads in 1994 and 1998-2012.
Nepal has 8 titled chess players. Nepal has played in the Chess Olympiads from 2004 through 2012. Nepal is ranked 124th out of 163 chess federations.
Netherland Antilles took 136th out of 148 in the 2010 Chess Olympiad. They took last place (48th out of 48) in the 1976 Chess Olympiad. They have 6 titled players. Netherland Antilles has played in the chess Olympiads in 1974, 1976, and 1986-2012. They are ranked 152nd out of 163 chess federations.
Oman has no titled chess player. Oman only played in the 1976 Tripoli “Against Chess Olympiad,” where it took 33rd out of 34 teams. Oman is ranked 130th out of 163 chess federations. It joined FIDE in 2014.
Pakistan has two International Masters (Mahmood Lodhi and Shahzad Mirza) and 5 FIDE-titled players. It has played in the Chess Olympiads in 1974, 1980-1992, 2000, and 2004-2012. Pakistan is ranked 154th out of 163 chess federations.
Palau took 154th out of 156 in the 2012 Chess Olympiad, its first time playing in a Chess Olympiad. Its men’s team had a woman, Elizabeth Manuel, who lost all 11 of her games. Palau has one titled player. They are ranked 153rd out of 163 chess federations.
Palestine has one International Master and 5 titled players. Palestine is ranked 119th out of 163 chess federations. Palestine played in Chess Olympiads from 1984 to 2012, except for 1990 and 1996. They took last place (88th out of 88) in the 1984 Chess Olympiad.
Papua New Guinea took 143rd out of 148 in the 2010 Chess Olympiad. They took 133rd out of 146 in the 2008 Chess Olympiad. They took 141st out of 147 in the 2006 Chess Olympiad. Papua New Guinea played in Chess Olympiads in 1976, 1980-1986, 1992, and 2000-2102. Papua New Guinea has 5 titled chess players. They are ranked 137th out of 163 chess federations.
Qatar has three Grandmasters (Mohammed Al-Modiahki, Mohammed Al-Sayed, and Zhu Chen), one International Master, and 11 titled chess players. Qatar has played in Chess Olympiads from 1986 to 2012, except for 2004. Qatar is ranked 123rd out of 163 chess federations.
Rwanda took 155th out of 156 in the 2012 Chess Olympiad. They took 146th out of 148 in the 2010 Chess Olympiad. They took last place (146th out of 146) in the 2008 Chess Olympiad. They took 146th out of 147 in the 2006 Chess Olympiad. Rwanda took last place (126th out of 126) at the 2000 Chess Olympiad. Rwanda has played in the Chess Olympiads from 2000 to 2012. Rwanda has one titled player. They are ranked 150th out of 163 chess federations.
San Marino took 148th out of 156 in the 2012 Chess Olympiad. They took 144th out of 148 in the 2010 Chess Olympiad. San Marino has played in chess Olympiads from 1984 to 2012. San Marino has 6 titled chess players. San Marino is ranked 132nd out of 163 chess federations.
Sao Tome e Principe played in the last two chess Olympiads. Sao Tome e Principe took 150th out of 156 in the 2012 Chess Olympiad. They took 138th out of 148 in the 2010 Chess Olympiad. They have no title players. They are ranked 158th out of 163 chess federations.
Saudi Arabia has no titled chess players. They are ranked 142nd out of 163 chess federationsSenegal has no titled chess player. Senegal is ranked 129th out of 163 chess federations. Senegal has played in the Chess Olympiads in 1982, 1986, 1988, and 2010. Senegal has no titled players.
Seychelles took last place (148th out of 148) in the 2010 Chess Olympiad. They only won two matches with 7 wins, 5 draws, and 32 losses. Their highest rated player was Benjamin Hoareau at 2026, the only titled chess player in Seychelles. Seychelles took 144th out of 146 in the 2008 Chess Olympiad. Seychelles took last place (128th out of 128) in the 2004 Chess Olympiad. They took last place (102nd out of 102) at the 1992 Chess Olympiad. Seychelles took last place (107th out of 107) at the 1988 Chess Olympiad. Seychelles took last place (108th out of 108) in the 1986 chess Olympiad. In 1986 their players lost 12 out of 14 games, 11 out of 14 games, 13 out of 14 games, and 13 out of 14 games. They lost 49 out of 56 games, scoring only 5 points. Seychelles has played in Chess Olympiads in 1986, 1988, 1992-2000, and 2004-2010. Seychelles is ranked 134th out of 163 chess federations.
Sierra Leone played in the last two Chess Olympiads. Sierra Leone took 149th out of 156 in the 2012 Chess Olympiad. They took 142nd out of 148 in the 2010 Chess Olympiad.
Solomon Islands have no titled chess players. It is ranked 160th out of 163 chess federations. It became a member of FIDE in 2008.
Somalia took last place (34th out of 34) in the 1976 “Against Chess Olympiad” in Tripoli. Somalia played in the 2002 Chess Olympiad, where it took 128th place out of 134 chess federations. Somalia has no titled chess players.
South Korea has one Grandmaster (Alexey Kim), 1 International Master (Jose Camacho Collados), and 12 titled chess players. South Korea is ranked 118th out of 163 chess federations. They took 142nd out of 147 in the 2006 Chess Olympiad. South Korea has played in Chess Olympiads from 2006 to 2012. South Korea was admitted as a FIDE member in 1994.
Sudan has one International Master (Omar Eltigani) and 8 titled chess players. Sudan is ranked 122nd out of 163 chess federations. Sudan has played in Chess Olympiads in 1986-1990, 1994, 2006, and 2012.
Surinam took 132nd out of 148 in the 2010 Chess Olympiad. They took 130th out of 146 in the 2008 Chess Olympiad. In the 1982 chess Olympiad, 12 year-old Kien Tjing-Joe played for Surinam. Surinam has played in Chess Olympiads in 1982, 1984, 1988, and 2000-2012. Surinam has 11 titled chess players. Surinam is ranked 131st out of 163 chess federations
Taipei took 140th out of 156 in the 2012 Chess Olympiad. They took 136th out of 146 in the 2008 Chess Olympiad. Taipei has played in Chess Olympiads from 2006 to 2012. Taipei has 4 titled players. They are ranked 156th out of 163 federations. Chinese Taipei joined FIDE in 2004.
Togo took 152nd out of 156 in the 2012 Chess Olympiad, its first Chess Olympiad. Two players lost 9 out of 10 games. Togo has no titled chess player. They are ranked 147th out of 163 chess federations. Togo joined FIDE in 2012.
United Arab Emirates (UAE) took 64th out of 65 at the 1978 Chess Olympiad. The UAE has played in the Chess Olympiads from 1978 to 2101, except for 2004. The UAE Chess Federation was established in 1976. The UAE joined FIDE in 1977.
U.S. Virgin Islands took 145th out of 156 in the 2012 Chess Olympiad. They took 147th out of 148 in the 2010 Chess Olympiad. They took 141st out of 146 in the 2008 Chess Olympiad. They took last place (147th out of 147) in the 2006 Chess Olympiad. They took last place (134th out of 134) in the 2002 chess Olympiad. They took last place (110th out of 110) at the 1998 Chess Olympiad. They took last place (114th out of 114) in the 1996 Chess Olympiad. They took last place (124th out of 124) at the 1994 Chess Olympiad. The U.S. Virgin Islands have played in Chess Olympiads from 1974 to 2012, except for 1986. The U.S. Virgin Islands first joined FIDE in 1966.
Zambia took last place (91st out of 91) at the 1982 Chess Olympiad. Zambia played in the Chess Olympiads in 1982, 1986-1990, 1994, 2000, 2002, and 2006-2012. Zambia has 4 International Masters.
List of countries by rating:
http://ratings.fide.com/topfed.phtml