Chess.com Celebrates International Women’s Day with Roundtable Discussion and Blitz Arena Event

The Chess.com community came together to celebrate International Women’s Day in a grand way this year. The day started with a roundtable discussion featuring prominent female voices in chess, including the Women in Chess Foundation President Emilia Castelao, IA Judit Sztaray, and content creator Tallulah Roberts. The discussion, led by Chess.com’s Director of International Growth Nigarhan Gurpinar and GM Pepe Cuenca, focused on the development of female participation, diversity, challenges, and careers in chess.

Following the insightful discussion, over 1900 users joined a two-hour blitz arena event, which was won by Mexico’s NM Emilio Hernandez. The top-scoring woman in the event was WIM Maria Florencia Fernandez, who displayed an impressive performance with a score of 21.5/23.

The event highlighted the importance of inclusivity and diversity in chess, with discussions on creating a safer and more inclusive environment for women at chess tournaments. The Women in Chess Foundation, led by Emilia Castelao, aims to promote gender equality in the chess world.

The celebration also shed light on upcoming initiatives in the chess world, such as the Norway Chess Women’s Tournament, which will feature equal prize funds for both the open and women’s super tournaments. The event aims to provide equal opportunities for female chess players to showcase their skills on a global platform.

Overall, the International Women’s Day celebrations in the chess community served as a reminder of the progress made in promoting inclusivity and diversity in the game. With more women and girls showing interest in chess, the future looks bright for female players aspiring to contest the world champion title. The event was a testament to the growing popularity of chess, especially among female players, and the importance of creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all chess enthusiasts.