Koneru Humpy, a trailblazer in women’s chess, highlights the need for equal investment to bridge the gender gap in the sport. At the Women’s FIDE Grand Prix in Pune, she points out that women’s chess lags due to unequal opportunities, not a lack of talent. Humpy, a former world rapid champion, calls for better training and support to elevate female players globally.
Koneru Humpy Addresses Gender Disparity in Chess
Humpy, a top-10 women’s player for over 20 years, identifies key barriers for female chess players. “Men spend more quality time on preparation and build strong teams,” she told TOI. Women, she notes, often juggle additional responsibilities, especially after marriage. Motherhood paused her career for nearly two years, limiting her to just 18 classical games in the last 10 months. She argues that equal training and opportunities could shrink the gap between men’s and women’s chess strength. Currently, only three Indian women—Humpy, Harika Dronavalli, and Vaishali Rameshbabu—hold the Grandmaster title, compared to over 80 Indian male GMs.
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Boosting Women’s Chess with Equal Investment
Humpy advocates for strategic changes to uplift women’s chess. She emphasizes selecting the right tournaments and providing robust training over switching to open events. Coach RB Ramesh, mentor to stars like Praggnanandhaa, agrees but highlights emotional challenges. “Women are more emotional, and chess tests emotions heavily,” he told TOI. Humpy concurs, smiling, “There’s no doubt about it.”
Levon Aronian, an Armenian-American GM, suggests societal pressures limit girls’ focus on chess. “Girls welcomed to work hard can excel, just like in science or business,” he said. A 2023 FIDE report notes only 11% of rated chess players are women, underscoring the need for investment. Initiatives like FIDE’s “Queens’ Festival” aim to inspire young female players, but Humpy stresses sustained funding and mentorship are crucial.
By prioritizing equal investment, as Koneru Humpy urges, women’s chess can flourish. Her insights, drawn from decades of excellence, offer a roadmap to empower the next generation of female players.
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