Given the various portrayals in pop culture, the chess boom that resulted from Netflix’s release of Queen Gambit, which featured a female protagonist, and the increase of online players because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many chess players have wondered and debated the role of gender in chess and the segregation of women’s titles.
Prominent players like Judit Polgar have publicly opposed such titles in favor of a unified system where all genders compete equally. Other figures, like Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi, have openly endorsed the title.
By examining various arguments, we will answer the question: Should women chess players have separate titles?
Historical background on Women Chess Titles
In 1950, the World Chess Federation (FIDE) introduced women’s chess titles with the goal of increasing female participation in top-level chess from the status quo of just a few women at the highest level.
Female titles such as Woman Grandmaster and Woman International Master have lower rating requirements when contrasted with their Open counterparts (i.e., titles achievable by both genders).
For example, a Grandmaster (GM) title requires a rating of 2500+ alongside other norms. A Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title, on the other hand, requires a rating of 2300+.
Arguments Against Women’s Chess Titles
Judit Polgar
Hungarian Grandmaster Judit Polgar, commonly referred to as the greatest female chess player in history, is a vocal and strong critic of women-only titles.
With a vocal stance that separate titles hold women back by lowering their ambitions and that women, if encouraged to participate more in open tournaments, will reduce the gender gap in chess.
She believed that coaches and parents shouldn’t limit the ambitions and expectations of female chess players.
Vaishali Rameshbabu
Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu, the sister of the current World Number 14 (February 2025) Grandmaster Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, made headlines in January 2025.
After the 2024 World Rapid and Blitz Championship, she remarked in an interview that she supported Judit Polgar’s stance on women’s titles.
In her words,
“…Removing these titles could inspire more women to compete directly for GM titles and test their strengths against male players.”
She added that they could demotivate female players in their quest to become grandmasters. Scraping women’s titles would inspire more women to train harder, compete against stronger players, and aim directly for open titles.
Judit learned of Vaishali’s comments and tweeted her a thumbs-up.
Irina Krush
Irina Krush said this in a 2009 interview with the New York Times about Women’s titles.
“I don’t see their benefit. Women’s titles are really a marker of lower expectations.”
She argues that women’s titles discourage female players from aiming higher. Many settle to become Woman Grandmasters instead of striving for the GM title.
Irina Krush went on to attain the Grandmaster title a few years after her statement.
Arguments For Women’s Chess Titles
Angelika Valkova—Encouraging Female Participation
Angelika Valkova, a chess coach, believes that women’s titles are an important perk for female players.
She emphasized the importance of creating a better environment for girls and women in the chess world.
Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi—Breaking Barriers in India
India’s first Woman Grandmaster (WGM), Subbaraman Vijayalakshmi, credits the title system for providing opportunities to women in a country where chess was traditionally male-dominated.
In response to GM Vaishali’s comment, she countered that while gender equality should be the goal, women’s titles still contribute to increasing female representation in professional chess.
Kevin Goh Wei Ming—Balancing Tradition and Progress
Kevin Goh Wei Ming, a Grandmaster and coach, acknowledges the concerns of Judit Polgar and Vaishali Rameshbabu but highlights the complexity of removing women’s titles altogether. In a social media post, he explained it as follows:
His perspective highlights the delicate balance between preserving opportunities for female players and ensuring they do not limit their aspirations.
He believes that while women chess titles serve as motivation, trainers and mentors must encourage young girls to aim for the highest chess titles rather than settling for gender-based distinctions.
This approach could ensure that female participation remains high while shifting towards a more integrated system.
Related Controversial Inputs
Nigel Short—A Controversial and ‘Sexist’ Perspective
Nigel Short, a British Grandmaster, made a controversial stance about gender differences in chess in his 2015 article for New in Chess, a famous chess magazine.
He mentioned in the concluding paragraph, “Men and women’s brains are hard-wired very differently, so why should they function in the same way? I don’t have the slightest problem in acknowledging that my wife possesses a much higher degree of emotional intelligence than I do.
Likewise, she doesn’t feel embarrassed in asking me to manoeuvre the car out of our narrow garage. One is not better than the other; we just have different skills.
It would be wonderful to see more girls playing chess, and at a higher level, but rather than fretting about inequality, perhaps we should just gracefully accept it as a fact.”
He has argued that men and women have different cognitive strengths, which may justify separate competitions.
However, neuroscientists have widely criticized and debunked his views, with many believing that historical and cultural barriers—not biological differences—are the main reason for gender disparity in chess.
In 2020, after being elected FIDE Vice President, he doubled down on his stance, saying he was crucified for stating the facts as they were and admitting that outliers like Judit Polgar exist.
Bobby Fischer—A Past Champion’s Views on Women’s Chess
Bobby Fischer, one of the greatest chess players in history, was known for making dismissive remarks about women in chess.
In one interview, he said, “They’re all weak, all women. They’re stupid compared to men. They shouldn’t play chess, you know. They’re like beginners.
They lose every single game against a man. There isn’t a woman player in the world I can’t give knight-odds to and still beat.”
While his views were widely criticized, they reflected the situation of the chess community during his time.
Statistical Perspective: The Impact of Women’s Titles
- Only 42 female players at the time of writing are Grandmasters, i.e., about 1% of Grandmasters are women.
- About 335 female players are Women Grandmasters.
- The highest-rated female player, Judit Polgar (2735), reached the world’s top 10.
- The highest-rated active female player, Hou Yifan (2650+), often chooses open tournaments over women-only events.
This data suggests that fewer women reach the highest levels of chess compared to their male counterparts.
Conclusion
The debate over women’s chess titles remains divisive. While some believe these titles help encourage female participation, others argue they reinforce harmful stereotypes and lower ambitions.
Players like Judit Polgar, Irina Krush, and Vaishali Rameshbabu have shown that women can compete at the highest levels without needing separate titles.
However, women’s titles remain an entry point for many aspiring female players.
As more women break barriers in chess, the necessity of titles being separated by gender may decrease.
The question remains: Should women’s chess titles be gradually phased out, or do they still serve an important purpose?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is the Highest-rated Female Chess Player?
Judit Polgar still holds the record for the highest rating ever achieved by a female player (2735). Hou Yifan, from China, is the second highest-rated female player (2686) and the current highest-rated active player.
Who is Judit Polgar?
Judit Polgar is a Hungarian chess legend who became a Grandmaster at age 15 and competed majorly in open tournaments.
How Many Chess Titles are There?
FIDE offers 12 titles— both for the open and their respective female titles
- Standard Titles (8): GM/WGM, IM/WIM, FM/WFM, CM/WCM
- Online Arena Titles (4): Arena GM, Arena IM, Arena FM, Arena CM
- Plus, other bodies (like the USCF or Lichess) award additional titles (e.g., National Master, Lichess Master).
Why do Women Compete Separately from Men in Chess?
Historically, women have had fewer opportunities to play chess competitively. Women’s titles were introduced to encourage female participation, though their relevance today is debated, as this article highlights.
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