Government bodies treat the ancient pursuit of chess with "contempt" and have no intention of recognising it as a sport, the game's supremo in England has said.

Dominic Lawson, the eminent journalist and author, said the battle to get chess on an equal footing with other sports faces widespread opposition from officials with "no understanding" of the game.

He added that rival sporting bodies are trying to scupper attempts to have chess recognised because they don't want to share funding with it.