Debate over Abolishing Women Titles in Chess: FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky’s Contrasting Opinion

Vaishali Rameshbabu Sparks Debate on Women Titles in Chess

In a recent interview, chess Grandmaster Vaishali Rameshbabu stirred up controversy by advocating for the abolition of women titles in chess. Citing the views of legendary GM Judit Polgar, who stopped participating in women-only events during her career due to a lack of competition, Vaishali argued that removing women titles like WGM and WIM could inspire more women to compete directly for GM titles.

However, FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky offered a contrasting opinion, emphasizing the importance of women-only events for competition and improvement. He pointed out that the Elo rating for the highest-ranked female players has been decreasing over the years, making women-only events crucial for nurturing talent.

Sutovsky stressed the need to rely on real data rather than personal opinions when making decisions about women’s participation in chess. He highlighted the gap in top female players’ ratings compared to previous years, suggesting that women-only events provide valuable opportunities for female players to excel.

While Vaishali has achieved the title of GM and will be competing in the upcoming Norway Chess tournament, her stance on women titles has sparked a heated debate within the chess community. As players like Koneru Humpy gear up to compete alongside her, the discussion around women’s participation in chess is sure to continue.