The Experiences Of Women In Chess

IM Anna Rudolf, GM Judit Polgar, WGM Jennifer Shahade, WIM Ayelén Martínez, WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni, Lula Roberts, and FM Alisa Melekhina come together to sit down and talk about their time in chess and how influential stories and perspectives have shaped their way of looking at the sport they fell in love with.

0:00 - Intro
3:31 - Topics of Discussion
5:07 - What they got Right and Wrong in Queen's Gambit
18:28 - How Queen's Gambit Changed the Perception of Chess
26:11 - CONTENT WARNING: Abuse In Chess
38:02 - Anna Rudolf Talks About Her Experience With A Coach
56:27 - What Can Be Done To Protect Women In Chess
1:16:57 - Actionable Steps For Chess
1:27:32 - Mixed Tournaments In Chess
1:38:27 - Closing Thoughts
1:44:30 - Outro

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[AnnaRudolfChess]

This was a really hard (yet very important) discussion for me to have with six outstanding ladies, colleagues and friends of mine. I hope you'll hear what we need to share with you, chess community 🥺💚

[martinbootneck]

I am 70yrs old and came back into chess after a short break lol.
The reason I came back into chess was because I watched a YT vid by Anna Cramling and it hit the spot and hey presto, I'm playing chess again but, only online. So Anna Cramling thank you so much for igniting the spark again. ♥

[JenShahade]

It was an honor to be part of this panel. Thanks so much to host Anna Rudolf for your candor, bravery and kindness: an inspiration. There was an electric energy that came from this session and I hope it's evident to the viewers: it really felt like we were in a room together. It all made me hopeful, even confident, that the future of chess will include more women and gender minorities, and most importantly, that it will be a safe and fun place for them to play.

[christophsuster]

As a male... I had goosebumps, when nearly every lady in the stream told a story, where they were confronted with (sexual) misconduct because of her gender....
Thank you, for using your publicity to raise awereness, to speak out in general, and the next time I get my ass beat by a woman in a tournament I will be even more impressed, because the way she might have had to get in the position to beat be, was probably way harder than mine.

[manmoth_]

I think as a man, I will never understand the mental strains so many women feel every single day. I've thought a lot about this recently. Thanks for a very illuminating conversation that just makes me even more angry at regimes and corporations that systematically (or just on autopilot) disempower and repress 50% of their population and workforce.

You talked at the end about how we are hopefully on a path to a better future. I can think of no one better than the seven brilliant women gathered in this panel to help pave that path. It's now up to us to become more aware and to hold bigots and abusers accountable for their actions and behaviour.

[kirstyj]

A fascinating yet also heartbreaking video. Thank you all for your honesty, courage and righteous anger.

[lindap.]

As a mom of a little girl, who recently joined a chess club I am thankful in at least two ways: first, because I am not blindsided anymore and I will be a protective mother(and yes, maybe even annoying, if I have to) and second because I do
believe, that things will change when brave women point out these issues.
The president of the chess club told me at the first meeting, he is sure, that the male domination in chess must be a genetic thing.. it is a long way to go..

[darkacademiavanessa]

this is really nice to watch as a woman in chess who isn't super involved with other women. i don't see this stuff publicly talked about and the conversations i've had with women of prominence in chess are so minimal.

[WilliamKiely]

Wonderful conversation, thank you to all the panelists for being so open in sharing about your experiences!

[Samlaren]

How come that the most important video about chess doesn't contain even one chess move?
This was an incredible strong video. Thank you!

This is extraordinary. Thanks to everyone for their remarks, bravery & expertise.

[samuelbowles]

I didn't think that I would watch all 1hr 45min of that when I started. But I'm glad I did.

[sirenbrian]

This is an important discussion and I urge who hold the reins of power in the chess world to watch it and do everything they can to fix it. Thank you to everyone in the video for sharing their stories; I can't imagine how difficult it must be have for those sharing them for the first time.

[ifixfridges]

Thanks for sharing and opening this important conversation

[katis]

I haven't watched this whole video yet, I am only half through and I gotta say it is very important for you women to speak out about this topic. I remember reading things like this about the skiing teams in my home country where it obviously happened that women and even girls were molested by their trainers and such from an early age on. This is really horrible and me as a male am especially proud of guys like Fabiano Caruana who spoke out about this on his podcast. Good luck to you ladies and please stay in chess because chess needs wonderful people (and of course players) like you ;) Kind regards, Bernd

[siddharthkapoor]

This is so sad to here...hope all these women get justice and have a good environement

[lerrie]

I had to close the video and come back. This Discussion is such a HUGE and important step for the feministic chess movement ❤

[mushroomgirlie]

So glad to see an argentinian WIM here!! ❤Grande Ayelén

[gabrielelsheakh]

Thank you to the speakers for your insight, I’m sure it wasn’t easy to discuss these traumatic memories. Chess is for everyone and the community, ESPECIALLY MEN, needs to ensure that it’s safe and equitable for everyone of all genders <3

[madmalkav]

Will this get subtitles in other languages? 🤞