Written By Women’s chess has received a significant boost in global recognition with the launch of the FIDE Grand Prix, a series of prestigious tournaments featuring the world’s top female chess players.
The FIDE Grand Prix, organized by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), is a series of four tournaments held annually. The top two finishers from each tournament qualify for the Women’s Candidates Tournament, which determines the challenger for the Women’s World Chess Championship.
This year’s Grand Prix features ten of the world’s top female chess players, including former Women’s World Champions Hou Yifan and Ju Wenjun of China, as well as reigning Women’s World Rapid and Blitz Champion, Anna Muzychuk of Ukraine.
The first leg of the tournament took place in Monaco in December 2019, and the second leg was held in Lausanne, Switzerland in March 2020. The third and fourth legs were scheduled to take place in Sardinia, Italy and Gibraltar, respectively, but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the disruptions caused by the pandemic, the FIDE Grand Prix has brought much-needed attention to women’s chess. Historically, women’s chess has received less attention and support than men’s chess, with fewer opportunities to compete at the highest levels.
The FIDE Grand Prix offers female chess players the chance to showcase their skills on a global stage and compete for significant prize money. The total prize fund for the Grand Prix is €80,000 ($95,000), with €15,000 ($18,000) awarded to the winner of each leg.
The tournament also offers valuable rating points for the participants, which can help boost their rankings and increase their chances of qualifying for future tournaments.
The FIDE Grand Prix has not only provided a platform for female chess players, but it has also helped to raise the profile of women’s chess more broadly. With more attention and support, female chess players can continue to develop their skills and inspire future generations of players.
However, there is still work to be done to address the gender imbalance in chess. Women make up only a small percentage of the overall chess player population, and there are still significant disparities in the opportunities and resources available to female chess players.
Organizations like FIDE and the Women’s Commission of the World Chess Federation are working to address these issues by promoting women’s chess and advocating for equal opportunities and resources for female players.
The FIDE Grand Prix is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to ensure that women’s chess receives the recognition and support it deserves. By continuing to promote and invest in women’s chess, we can help to create a more equitable and inclusive chess community.
