Norway Chess Announces Plan for Groundbreaking Women’s Tournament in Pursuit of Gender Equality
Norway Chess, renowned for hosting the world’s strongest chess tournament, has recently unveiled an ambitious vision to organize an all-female super tournament in 2024. With the aim of achieving gender equality in the chess world, the organizers plan to provide the same level of prestige and conditions as their annual top-level competition.
In their quest to promote gender parity, Norway Chess intends to showcase the top female players, secure national live television coverage, and establish a prize fund equal to that of their flagship event. This stands in stark contrast to the customary practice of allocating approximately half the prize fund for women’s chess tournaments.
The gender gap in chess is clearly evident when examining the earnings disparity among top players. In 2022, only one female chess player, GM Tan Zhongyi, managed to exceed $100,000 in prize money, while 19 male competitors achieved this feat. Furthermore, 11 male players pocketed over $200,000 in winnings.
Norway, as a nation, has been steadily progressing towards gender equality and currently ranks second in the world, attaining a score of 87.9% in the 2023 Global Gender Gap Index. This represents a three-percentage-point improvement from the previous year. Benedicte Westre Skog, the project manager for Norway Chess, expressed confidence in realizing their vision and stated, Now, we are closer than ever before…The creation of an all-female super tournament alongside Norway Chess is within our grasp.
While significant headway has been made, a few more sponsors need to be secured before the plan can be set in motion. Once this crucial step is accomplished, Norway Chess eagerly anticipates signing the world’s most talented female chess players. This pivotal moment is met with palpable excitement by the organizers.
In response to Norway Chess’s groundbreaking initiative, the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess expressed their support, asserting that it raises the standard for chess as a whole. They emphasized the importance of acknowledging that talent and potential in chess transcend gender, and reiterated the need to foster equal opportunities for female players at every level. Norway Chess’s commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and equal representation in the sport sends a resounding message to the chess community and society at large, highlighting the importance of breaking down gender-based barriers and leveling the playing field.
The organizers of the all-female super tournament, in their call to action titled Join Us in Being a Game Changer for Women in Chess, believe that creating a tournament with identical prize fund conditions, professional services, television coverage, and playing venues as Magnus Carlsen and his competitors in Norway Chess will significantly contribute to increasing interest in professional chess among girls and young women. Although visible results may take time, the organizers emphasize the need to start somewhere and underscore the importance of offering women equal opportunities on practical terms, similar to their male counterparts.
The announcement of Norway Chess’s plan for an all-female super tournament marks a significant milestone in their pursuit of gender equality in chess. By aiming to provide equal recognition, visibility, and opportunities for female players, Norway Chess is setting a new standard for the sport overall. This endeavor not only has the potential to inspire more women to become professional chess players but also sends a powerful message to the global chess community and society as a whole. The relentless efforts to level the playing field and remove gender-based barriers are representative of the commitment to inclusivity and diversity in the 21st-century chess landscape.
