For centuries, chess has been described as the ultimate intellectual battlefield, where strategy, foresight and creativity matter more than physical strength. Yet despite this level playing field in theory, the world of chess has long remained overwhelmingly male.
A new global report suggests that this imbalance is slowly changing. On International Women’s Day 2026, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and the University of Queensland released the second edition of the Gender Equality in Chess Index (GECI), a global study measuring women’s participation and performance in chess across 119 national federations. As per the report, women and girls are gradually gaining ground in the game, even though the gender gap remains wide.
Measuring Equality On The Chessboard
The GECI is designed as a kind of global report card for national chess federations. It evaluates countries using three indicators – ‘Participation’ or the percentage of female players, ‘Performance’ of women compared with men, and ‘Progress’ or female representation in youth championships. These factors are combined into a score out of 100.
The 2026 report shows improvement across every region of the world since the first edition of the index in 2023. Africa recorded the highest regional average score at 67.6, followed by Asia at 64.5, the Americas at 63.1, and Europe at 56.7.
At the country level, Mongolia ranked first in gender equality in chess, followed by Sri Lanka and Uganda. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates made one of the most dramatic leaps, jumping 73 places after introducing policies that required girls to be included in national youth teams.
Still Dominated By Men
Globally, only about 11 per cent of players with an official rating are women, according to the study. The imbalance becomes even sharper at the highest levels of competition. Out of more than 1,600 grandmasters in history, only around 42 have been women.
Only one woman, the legendary Hungarian player Judit Polgár, has ever broken into the top ten of the world rankings. These numbers reveal a classic pipeline problem. When girls represent a small fraction of players at the beginner stage, far fewer eventually reach the elite level.
The reasons behind the disparity are complex. Researchers and players point to multiple barriers such as fewer role models, stereotypes about intellectual ability, lack of mentorship and, in some cases, hostile environments that discourage girls from staying in competitive chess.
One of the most important insights from the GECI report is the role of youth development. Countries that perform well in the index tend to have strong programmes encouraging girls to take up chess at a young age. For example, Sri Lanka’s success is partly attributed to grassroots initiatives and passionate local champions who introduced the game to thousands of children. If girls see chess as a game for boys, many drop out early. But if schools, clubs and federations actively encourage girls to play, the talent pipeline becomes stronger.
What This Means For India
For India, the report arrives at a fascinating moment in the country’s chess history. India is experiencing an unprecedented chess boom. Yet even in a chess-loving nation, the gender imbalance persists. India ranks 25th out of 119 nations, slipping one place from its position in the 2023 index.
Despite multiple women grandmasters and international champions, girls still represent a minority of competitive players. The challenge is not dearth of talent but rather the lack of participation. For India, the key opportunity lies in ensuring that the current chess boom includes girls from all backgrounds, not just elite urban players. Encouragingly, grassroots programmes, school tournaments and digital learning platforms are making chess more accessible than ever. Online platforms allow young players to train and compete regardless of location, which could help reduce barriers for girls.
India is one of the fastest-growing chess nations in the world. The country has over 30,000 players with official ratings from the International Chess Federation (FIDE) and a rapidly expanding pool of young talent. India also has 91 Grandmasters and more than 120 International Masters, making it one of the strongest chess nations globally. However, only a small fraction of these titled players are women, reflecting the same gender imbalance seen worldwide.
The Women Who Made History
India has produced four women who hold the full Grandmaster title, the highest title in chess. Koneru Humpy was India’s first woman Grandmaster in 2002, followed by Harika Dronavalli, R Vaishali and Divya Deshmukh, who became the fourth Indian woman Grandmaster after winning the 2025 Women’s World Cup, where she defeated several top-seeded players. As of the March 2026 list from the International Chess Federation, all of these four women continue to remain in the top 20 world rankings.
A landmark moment for women’s chess in India came at the 45th Chess Olympiad in 2024, where the Indian women’s team won gold for the first time in history. This victory marked a major milestone for Indian women in chess, proving that we have world-class female talent, even though the participation pool remains relatively small. The average rating of India’s top women players is among the highest in the world, second only to China. This indicates that India’s elite female players are extremely strong, even if the base of female participation is still developing. India’s story illustrates a key insight from the Gender Equality in Chess Index, that performance and participation do not always grow at the same pace.
Why Representation Matters
At first glance, chess may seem like a niche issue compared with larger debates about gender equality. But the dynamics revealed by the GECI report echo patterns seen across many fields from technology and science to politics and finance. Chess is particularly revealing because it is a purely intellectual competition. If women are missing from the top ranks of such a domain, the explanation must lie somewhere beyond innate talent. Research suggests that stereotypes can subtly influence performance. When female players believe they are facing male opponents, they sometimes play more defensively, evidence of how expectations can shape confidence. Breaking these stereotypes is as important as improving training opportunities.
One reason the global chess community is optimistic, is the growing visibility of female champions. Their success sends a powerful message to young girls picking up the game for the first time. Popular culture has also played a role. Television series such as ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ sparked renewed interest in chess among girls worldwide, leading to surges in online participation. But representation alone is not enough. The GECI report suggests that institutional support such as scholarships, coaching programmes and inclusive policies, is essential to sustaining progress.
The Long Game
For the global chess community, the Gender Equality in Chess Index is not just a ranking but a tool for change. The new index shows that progress is possible when federations actively promote participation and track their results. As one of the researchers behind the study observed, you cannot improve what you do not measure. Chess teaches patience. Winning often requires thinking many moves ahead. Gender equality in chess may follow a similar logic.