The world of chess is witnessing a growing disparity between men and women players, particularly at the elite level. Despite China’s Hou Yifan, the former world champion and currently ranked world number one, being almost inactive, her Elo rating of 2633 makes her the 107th strongest player globally, if gender is disregarded. This disparity extends to the ongoing Chess Olympiad, where China is missing its top four female players, including reigning world number two Wen Jun, number three Tang Zhongyi, and number four Lie Tingjie. The absence of Russian teams and the withdrawal of Ukrainian sisters Muzychuk, due to the war, have further weakened the field. The situation is so stark that 200 men currently competing in Hungary, the country of legendary Judit Polgar, are rated higher than the top woman participant, Nana Dzagnidze of Georgia.
Former Indian national champion Praveen Thipsay, whose wife Bhagyashree Thipsay was the women’s Asian champion, attributes this gap to the differing time commitments between male and female players. “I know male players spend more than 12 hours a day on chess,” Thipsay said, “but I don’t know any woman who spends more than seven hours a day on the game.” Koneru Humpy, India’s world number six, who has opted out of the Olympiad for family reasons, echoes this sentiment: “Generally speaking, you can reach your best level during your teenage time. Then it depends on knowledge, ability to work hard, and opportunities. You need a lot of time and focus to continuously work on your game. It’s practically difficult for women after a certain age. Women get less time to work on chess because they invariably do the house management. Plus, there are other responsibilities and priorities.” In other words, chess often becomes a secondary focus for women as they navigate other life commitments.
This reality, coupled with the increasingly demanding nature of modern chess, has led to a critical discussion within the chess community. Judit Polgar, the world’s most successful female chess player, has been vocal about her belief that women themselves hinder their progress by staying within the women’s section. “Women are the greatest enemies of women,” she famously said. Humpy, who will participate in the Global Chess League’s Mumba Masters starting in London on October 3rd, acknowledges the consequences of her decision to primarily compete in the women’s section: “The women’s Grand Prix started in 2009. I decreased my participation in the Open section around that time. I regret that a lot. But it doesn’t make much of a difference now. I play the game for enjoyment, to stay in touch with the sport. I am not as competitive as I was in my teenage years.”
Examining the age of top players further highlights the differences. The top ten female players were born between 1987 and 1994, while the top ten male players were born between 1987 and 2006, indicating a younger generation of male players reaching the top. Thipsay points to the impact of artificial intelligence on this trend: “It’s easy for elite-level women players to maintain their consistency. They can sustain their class because they have improved in the human style of the sport. The teenage boys’ improvement is by way of Artificial Intelligence (faster progress largely aided by computer preparation).”
The situation isn’t without hope, however. Alexandra Kosteniuk, a former world champion in both classical and rapid chess, has secured a spot in the Chess Olympiad by representing Switzerland, despite the FIDE ban on Russian teams. Kosteniuk, who holds dual citizenship, has navigated the complexities of national representation and personal life, ultimately showcasing the potential for women to compete at the highest level. The widening gap between men and women in chess is a complex issue with deep-rooted societal factors at play. While acknowledging the challenges, the chess community continues to strive for a more equitable playing field, one where both men and women can reach their full potential.
