The Rise of Women in Chess

Recently, I rewatched The Queen’s Gambit. While I watched Beth Harmon rise to the top, my mind wandered to the real-life women in chess.   

Men have dominated the game for centuries. It is a battleground where women were often sidelined. 

They are either excluded or told that they simply aren't built for strategic thinking at the highest level.

But history tells a different story. 

Women world chess players have fought through relentless barriers. The rise of female grandmasters, (including icons like Judit Polgar, Hou Yifan, and Nona Gaprindashvili), has forced the chess world to reconsider outdated notions.

How did we get here? What challenges did these women face? And where is the future of female chess players headed? 

A Timeline of Breaking Barriers

It’s easy to assume that competitive women’s chess is a modern phenomenon. But long before headlines celebrated female grandmasters, women were already making their mark — just without the recognition.

In the 19th century, women weren’t welcome at the table. They were told to focus on ‘appropriate’ pastimes. Society dismissed the idea that they could strategize, outthink, or compete with men. 

But a few pioneers refused to listen. In 1884, England hosted the first official women’s chess tournament. It wasn’t groundbreaking in terms of skill, but it was something bigger—it was a start. 

It was a message: women weren’t going to stay on the sidelines.

Then came Vera Menchik — the woman who changed everything. She became the first Women’s World Chess Champion in 1927.

But that wasn’t enough. She wanted more. 

She started playing in men’s tournaments, something unheard of at the time. Her male opponents mocked her. Some even formed a "Vera Menchik Club," where membership was reserved for any man who lost to her. That club grew fast. 

Menchik defeated Max Euwe, a future world champion, and proved she wasn’t there for participation points — she was there to win.

She was the only woman in these tournaments, but that only made her presence more powerful. Every move she played sent a message: chess was no longer a man’s world.

Her impact shaped chess history, but World War II tragically cut her life short. For years, the momentum slowed. 

Then, in the 1960s, we saw the arrival of Nona Gaprindashvili. 

Nona rejected the title of “women’s champion” and became the first woman to earn the Grandmaster title.

She played against men. She won against men. And just like Menchik, she made sure the chess world never forgot her name.

The Champions Who Changed the Game

If there’s one name that shattered every expectation of what women in chess could achieve, it’s Judit Polgar. 

She didn’t play by the rules. (Not the ones that said women should stick to their own tournaments, at least.)

From the start, she had one goal: to take on the best. Not the best women. The best players, period.

Her father, László Polgar, believed chess had nothing to do with gender. He raised Judit and her sisters, Susan and Sofia, to prove exactly that. And Judit? She didn’t just prove it — she made history.

At 15, she became the youngest grandmaster ever, stealing the record from Bobby Fischer. But she wasn’t just there to collect titles. She was there to win. 

She faced Garry Kasparov in 2002, a man who once claimed women weren’t capable of playing at the highest level. He didn’t believe she could beat him. 

She did.

Judit never played in women’s tournaments. She didn’t need to. She took on world champions, outplayed them, and left no doubt that she belonged at the top.

But she wasn’t the only one breaking barriers. Hou Yifan took a different path, but her impact was just as powerful. 

Unlike Judit, she embraced the Women’s World Championship route, but she didn’t stop there. She kept stepping into open tournaments, challenging male grandmasters, proving that she wasn’t confined to a single category. 

She had already won the Women’s World Chess Championship by 16 and became only the second woman ever to break the 2600 FIDE rating barrier.

Judit. Hou Yifan. And before them, Maia Chiburdanidze, Pia Cramling, Alexandra Kosteniuk. 

They didn’t just win games. They changed the game. And made sure that the next generation of girls wouldn’t have to wonder if they belonged in chess. They would know they did.

How Women Were (and Sometimes Still Are) Underestimated in Chess

So, now you must be wondering, "Why haven’t more women reached the top?" Trust me, I asked the same thing. And no, the answer isn’t about skill. It’s about opportunity.

It’s an old story. Women in chess have spent decades proving they belong, yet somehow, the world still doubts them.

For centuries, women in chess weren’t given the same chances as men. They had fewer resources and fewer invitations to elite tournaments. 

Not to mention a fraction of the prize money. 

No one explicitly banned women from competing, but exclusion often took less obvious forms.

Sometimes, it looks like a lack of funding. Sometimes, it looks like tournament organizers conveniently "forgetting" to invite female players. 

Other times, organizers pushed women toward separate competitions, sending the message that they could never truly compete at the highest level.

That brings us to one of the biggest debates in chess: women’s titles. 

Some believe titles like Woman Grandmaster and International Master give women much-needed recognition and help level the playing field. Others, including Judit Polgar, have argued that these titles actually do more harm than good. 

They imply that women need a separate, easier path rather than competing on equal footing. If a woman earns the GM title, she’s a grandmaster — no need to put “woman” in front of it.

And then, there’s a problem even bigger than titles — harassment. The chess world, just like so many other male-dominated spaces, has its dark corners. 

Women have spoken out about sexism, inappropriate behavior, and the exhausting reality of always having to prove themselves — not just as players, but as professionals worthy of respect.

But here’s the good news. Change is happening. More girls are playing chess than ever before. 

Federations are investing in their development. And while the road ahead is still long, one thing is certain: women are no longer just fighting for a place in the game. They’re taking it.

The Pay Gap and Funding Disparities in Women’s Chess

Success on the board is one thing. Getting paid fairly for it? That’s another battle entirely.

The Women’s World Chess Championship offers prize money, but compared to the Open World Chess Championship, it’s a fraction of the reward. 

The same goes for sponsorships. Chess brands, companies, and major organizations invest more in male players, leaving female grandmasters with fewer financial opportunities.

For years, the excuse was that "women’s chess isn’t as competitive." But let’s be real—that’s not the reason. 

The gap exists because of historical bias, not skill. Women weren’t given the same training resources, the same elite tournament invites, or the same exposure. So when prize funds and sponsorships were distributed, guess who got the bigger slice of the pie?

This isn’t just a chess problem. 

Women’s sports everywhere have battled pay inequality. But in a game where intelligence, strategy, and preparation should be the only factors that matter, the pay gap feels particularly absurd.

FIDE has made some efforts to close the divide, but it’s not enough. If the chess world truly views women as equals, prize money, sponsorship deals, and media coverage must reflect talent — not gender.

Women in Chess Beyond the Board

Women in chess aren’t just making waves on the board. They’re shaping the game from behind the scenes too—coaching, analyzing, leading. 

The fight for equality isn’t just about playing. It’s about making sure the next generation of girls doesn’t have to ask if they belong. They’ll just know.

Let's take Susan Polgar, for example. She didn’t stop at winning titles. She built champions. 

After a career that saw her become the first woman to earn the GM title by norms and rating, she shifted her focus to coaching. Her chess academies and mentorship programs have trained young girls to not just compete, but to win. 

She’s proving that talent, when nurtured, will break barriers — again and again.

But coaching isn’t the only place women are making an impact. 

The chess world has long been dominated by male commentators, but that’s changing fast. Tania Sachdev, Jennifer Shahade, Anna Rudolf — these women don’t just analyze games; they own the broadcast. 

They bring expert insights, strategy breakdowns, and a fresh perspective to the global chess audience. Their presence proves what should have been obvious all along: chess knowledge isn’t about gender. It’s about expertise.

And let’s talk about leadership. 

For years, chess governance was an all-boys club. But not anymore. FIDE has launched initiatives to bring more women into leadership roles. More national federations are appointing female directors, coaches, and organizers. 

It’s not just for show. It’s about real inclusivity. The future of chess needs both men and women making decisions, shaping policies, and ensuring that talent — not tradition — determines success.

So yes, women in chess are winning on the board. 

But they’re also changing the game in ways that go beyond moves and checkmates. 

The Queen’s Gambit Effect

Few cultural moments have done more for women in chess than The Queen’s Gambit. When the series dropped on Netflix in 2020, it wasn’t just a hit. It was a phenomenon. 

Suddenly, chess was everywhere. 

Sales of chess sets exploded. Online platforms saw a surge in players, and more girls and women were picking up the game.

Beth Harmon, the fictional prodigy at the center of it all, wasn’t just a compelling character. She was a symbol. 

Her rise mirrored the struggles of real-life female grandmasters like Judit Polgar and Hou Yifan.

The show captured more than just the thrill of competition. It exposed a reality that female players have always faced. 

For decades, female grandmasters were treated as exceptions, not competitors. The show may have been fiction, but the undercurrent of exclusion was real. 

And yet, The Queen’s Gambit changed something. It was an awakening. 

Today’s Leading Female Chess Players

Ju Wenjun has been holding onto the Women’s World Chess Championship title since 2018, and she’s made it clear. She’s not letting go without a fight. 

Her style isn’t flashy. It’s calculated, steady, and relentless. She doesn’t crack under pressure or rush into risky moves. She waits, she builds, and then she strikes.

Her latest title defense against Lei Tingjie in 2023 was another reminder of why she’s considered one of the greatest female players of all time. She has proven, match after match, that consistency is her greatest weapon. Some champions win big once and struggle to stay on top. 

Ju Wenjun wins, defends, and then does it again.

The Grandmasters Keeping the Competition Fierce

While Ju Wenjun dominates the world title scene, other female grandmasters are proving that the competition is stronger than ever. 

Aleksandra Goryachkina remains one of the most solid players in recent years, with a FIDE rating above 2550. She came close to the world title once, and many believe she’s still a top contender for the future.

Then there’s Koneru Humpy. She took a break from chess for maternity leave but returned like she never left, winning the 2019 Women’s Rapid World Championship. 

Kateryna Lagno, a four-time world champion in blitz and rapid, continues to prove that some players thrive under time pressure. 

The Rising Stars Pushing the Limits

• Bibisara Assaubayeva, at 19, already has multiple world blitz titles to her name. 
• Carissa Yip, one of the most aggressive young players in the U.S., has already beaten several grandmasters. 
• Alice Lee, just 13, is already making a name for herself with her rapid improvement and fearless gameplay.

What Lies Ahead?

So what comes next? Will we see a woman become the undisputed World Champion? Can the gender divide in chess be erased entirely? 

It’s a long road, but the signs of change are already here.

Women’s participation in open tournaments is increasing. More female chess players are receiving sponsorships and training at elite levels. 

FIDE took a step toward closing the gap by launching the "Year of Women in Chess" initiative. It's a push to bring more women into professional chess and leadership roles.

And if history has shown anything, it’s that progress in chess doesn’t happen overnight. It happens one move at a time.