Women in focus
3/8/2018 – Last Sunday in Moscow the contest "blondes against brunettes" was held for the eighth time. Alexandra Kosteniuk led the "brunettes" to a clear victory. In India, IM Tania Sachdev launches a "Powerless Queen" project, and in Belgrade, there's a 50th International Women's tournament ongoing | Pictured: Elmira Mirzoeva | Photo: Russian Chess Federation
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International Women's Day 2018
March 8th is Women's Day, celebrated throughout the world. In Belgrade it even has its own tournament, this year celebrating its 50th edition, which runs through March 13th.
The first Women's International Tournament was organised between March 8th and 24th, 1965. Since then it has become an annual tradition in the Serbian capital, with the exception of 1980 (cancelled due to lack of funding) and 1984 (when only local players participated so it wasn't "international").
Twelve players from Serbia, Russia, Romania, Bulgaria, France and Bosnia and Hercegovina are participating this year. After five rounds, Jovana Rapport (wife of Richard) is in clear first with 5.0 / 6.
The women of the 50th International Tournament | Photo: Courtesy the city of Belgrade
The live games transmission has been spotty, but when games are broadcast we'll have them on live.chessbase.com.
Blonds vs brunettes
In anticipation of Women's Day in Moscow, the "most beautiful chess tournament in the city" was played last Sunday, and "Blondes vs. Brunettes", as it's known, has also become a traditional competition, albeit one with a bit more flair. Organiser WGM Maria Forminykh instigated the event for the eighth time, which was played in the famous Central Chess Club on Gogolevsky Boulevard.
Strengthen your chess foundation
IM Nisha Mohota shows guidelines to steer you through the opening, shows basic endgames, helps you to understand fundamental pawn structures, and explains principles and patterns of attack and defense
Blonds vs. Brunettes | Photo: Vladimir Barsky
Among the participants were two former world champions: Alexandra Kosteniuk and Anna Ushenina. Also in the mix were Valentina Gunina, Olga Giryaa, Natalia Zhukova, Daria Charochkina, Daria Voit, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Karina Ambartsumova, Alexandra Goryachkina, Marina Nechaeva, Elmira Mirzoeva, Dina Drozdova, Irina Sudakova, Alina Bivol and last, but not least, Maria Fominykh herself.
Daria Charochkina, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Karina Ambartsumova | Photo: Vladimir Barsky
The two teams played a match using the Scheveningen system. Each blond played a blitz game against each brunette at a rate of 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move. All players were decked out in with dresses by designer Olga Grinyuk.
At the end of the day, the brunettes left with the edge, the final score, 37 : 27. Alexandra Kosteniuk was the best performer with 7 out of 8. Anna Ushenina was close behind, with 6½ out of 8.
Learn to master the right exchange! Let the German WGM Elisabeth Pähtz show you how to gain a strategic winning position by exchanging pieces of equal value or to safely convert material advantage into a win.
Alexandra Kosteniuk | Photo: Vladimir Barsky
Anna Ushenina | Photo: Vladimir Barsky
Here's a brief video highlight:
Dina Drozdova vs Alexandra Kosteniuk
How to play the Sicilian Defence!
The continuous stream of new ideas in the Sicilian makes 1..c5 the most popular answer to 1.e4. On this DVD I do give an introduction to the most important Sicilian systems.
All games
Improve your chess with Tania Sachdev
On this DVD, well-known Indian WGM Tania Sachdev shows you how to evaluate certain positions and then find the right concepts and plans on the basis of her own games.
Improve your chess with Tania Sachdev
On this DVD, well-known Indian WGM Tania Sachdev shows you how to evaluate certain positions and then find the right concepts and plans on the basis of her own games.
Powerless Queen Challenge
"What if the queen, the symbol of strength is rendered powerless?"
So asks the new social activism site from Project Nanhi Kali, which "works with parents and communities to counsel them of the importance of sending their girls to school."
The initiative gets a boost from IM Tania Sachdev, who posted this promotional video:
Something for all of us to think about. To take action. And to change. Just as in chess one can't win if the queen is powerless, how can a nation succeed if half of its population is powerless. Take up the challenge on https://t.co/AfGF93l7Vx @NanhiKali #powerlessqueen pic.twitter.com/z6cW2nFDHi
— Tania Sachdev (@TaniaSachdev) March 7, 2018
The challenge itself is simply a 30-second chess game against the computer, but with a twist, you'll quickly discover if you give it a go. It's a bit of a gimmick, but one which makes a profound point about fairness.
Andre Schulz contributed to this story
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Discussion and Feedback
Join the public discussion or submit your feedback to the editors
@ lute: >>"The silent majority of us"
Do speak for everybody. Where are the feminists now?
Do speak for everybody. Where are the feminists now?
Call me a sexist if you wish, but I've been delighted to discover Ms. Mirzoeva and Ms. Nechaeva ^^
@fons3: for men it should probably be more like "hairy vs. bald" (and I would surely not be ashamed to play in the latter group!) but I doubt such an event would grab any sort of media attention... :P
Kudos to organizer Maria Forminykh for her efforts in continuing this traditional chess competition. Embrace what makes this chess event unique. Please ignore the hateful criticism from the overly sensitive crybabies. The silent majority of us respect what you are doing and are fully supportive of your efforts.
Why are there no men's tournaments blonds against brunets?
Nah just kidding, I agree that this is a bit tacky, but hey, if the women like it...
Nah just kidding, I agree that this is a bit tacky, but hey, if the women like it...
Former World Champ Alexandra Kosteniuk continues to have a long effect career. While watching the video of her Blitz game, I am struck by the need for better chess pieces. Just looking at the board, it is often impossible to identify the type of piece on a square relatively far from the video camera. This is especially true for the so-called "black" pieces when they are quite dark in color (like a dark brown). Tournament after tournament perpetuates this flaw. That the chess piece type could be made much more perceivable is not in doubt, but neither do Tournament Organizers ever do anything about it. Yet the T.O.'s always talk about wanting more media coverage and public interest. The talk is not being matched by action.
Nice an fun. You can see good games and beautiful women.
"Blondes vs. brunettes"? Seriously? And who plays chess for hours on end dressed in a short skirt and high heels? Surely that is not for the benefit of the players.
Is that really where we're at in 2018? I know it's Russia, but still..
Is that really where we're at in 2018? I know it's Russia, but still..
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