In the past(late 1980s and early 1990s), SIXGA used to advertised in newspapers, send letters and forms to every team to make registration easy. I remembered SIXGA secretary calling all rated players to inform about the event. For the past 10 years, I don't remember myself any of my chess friends being informed of 全国赛 unless they happened to visits SIXGA before the competitions. Take this year for example, there is no advertisement on the newspaper and many of my chess friends only knew about 全国赛 when the competition is 50% through. Publicity was not done enough for the recent years, that explains the drops in number participants. If International chess association can do it so well, why can't the chinese chess association? We have more people playing chinese chess then international chess I believe.
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