How can we get more girls to play chess? The question keeps recurring since participation in the mind game has remained overwhelmingly male in every part of the world. True, the history of chess over some 14 centuries reveals its expansion and evolution as shaped largely by men of influence and stature, men who gave it a place in their country's culture.
But now, since the game is well established as an international sport and, as expert studies have shown, it also confers positive benefits on the thinking process particularly of young people, why is it still a male dominated activity? And why are organisations responsible for administration of chess not doing more to specifically lure more girls and women into the sport?
In this regard, the Knights Chess Club may be commended for recognising the need and doing something about it by offering a special prize for "Best Female" at both its annual open tournaments. Also DR can only hope that the Chess-in-Schools programme now being implemented in Trinidad and Tobago will respond to the need and seek a better balance between male and female players.
In the United States the disparity is also cause for some concern as three-time US women's champion Anjelina Belakovskaia said: "Many parents still believe that science, business and mathematics are for men and their daughters should not compete in these areas. It is sad, but it is true. Girls are encouraged to go into music, art, teaching...and stay away from areas currently dominated by men."
She adds: "Chess is one of the games where girls can challenge the notion of men's thinking superiority and compete at the highest intellectual level, effectively proving that there should be no barriers for women's accomplishments.
"At the same time, girls' social needs are quite different than those of boys'. While the majority of boys are naturally competitive and love to win, girls face the dilemma of hurting the losers and traumatising their friends by beating them. It takes time and a nurturing environment to build girls's self-esteem, confidence and competitiveness, so they realise there is nothing wrong with winning the game, being successful, setting high goals and achieving them, all while keeping friendships and helping others to improve."
WGM Belakovskaia, who is also leader of the US Women's Olympic Chess Team, was one of the driving forces behind the successful organisation of the first Chess and Science Festival, an effort "to help girls get on the right track, encourage and celebrate their success in chess and in life." The Festival, held last week in Tucson, Arizona, included an All-Girls Chess Tournament, simultaneous chess exhibitions, various science exhibits, museum admissions and laser shows.
Belakovskaia recalls the tough internal opposition she faced when, as chairperson of the women's committee of the US Chess Federation between 1998 and 2000, she tried to get separate girls tournaments going. "Luckily, the times have changed," she says. "All-girls tournaments are great, they boost self-esteem, confidence and help girls to prove that they are at least as smart as boys and can be successful in all areas of life, including science, mathematics, business, finance and other male dominated areas."
Of course, the cash-strapped T&TCA can hardly hope to emulate this kind of enterprise but the idea and purpose behind it is as relevant here as it is over there. More than just a sport, chess is also recognised for its social and cognitive benefits, for enhancing one's memory, the ability to think logically and the skills needed to negotiate the journey of life. And in this, there is no discrimination between the sexes.
In his 1750 essay on "The Morals of Chess," US Founding Father Benjamin Franklin put it memorably this way: "The game of chess is not merely an idle amusement. Several valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired or strengthened by it, so as to become habits, ready on all occasions. For life is a kind of chess."
Come on girls.