The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has clarified that it has no intention of abolishing women's chess titles, such as the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title. This follows a recent call by renowned Hungarian chess player Judit Polgar to eliminate such titles.
Sports News: The International Chess Federation (FIDE) has made it clear that it will not remove women's chess titles (such as Woman Grandmaster). Recently, Judit Polgar, a legendary Hungarian chess player, advocated for the abolishment of these titles, a view supported by Indian Grandmaster R. Vaishali. However, FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky rejected this proposal, stating that doing so would be akin to depriving women players of their rights and would be unjust.
Why Did FIDE Reject the Demand?
FIDE CEO Sutovsky explained that the ratings of top female chess players have declined in recent years, and separate events for women are necessary for their improvement. He also pointed out that while prize money in women's chess has increased, it still lags behind men's by about 15 years.
He cited examples, noting that previously, female players with a rating of 2500 could be found at ages 15-17, but now, only two players with a rating of 2400 are found at ages 17-18. Therefore, removing women's titles would be unfair to female talent and hinder their development.
Polgar's Demand and Vaishali's Support
Judit Polgar has long championed the idea of abolishing women's chess titles, believing it would encourage women to compete directly with men and be more motivated to achieve the Grandmaster (GM) title. Indian Grandmaster R. Vaishali also supported this demand, stating that "removing women's titles would give women more motivation to become GMs." Vaishali herself is close to achieving the men's Grandmaster title, making her opinion a subject of much discussion.
Would Removing Women's Titles Be Harmful?
Indian Grandmaster Praveen Thipsay disagrees with this viewpoint. He argues that removing women's titles could lead to the complete demise of women's chess. Using Judit Polgar and her sister Susan Polgar as examples, he said, "Judit played against men, but her sister Susan continued playing among women. A significant portion of Vaishali's awards are due to women's chess titles."
