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Female chess players in the modern era generally compete in a mix of open and women's tournaments. With women representing a low fraction of all chess players throughout history, it has been uncommon for women to win open tournaments where women and men are mixed together, particularly at the higher levels. Championship tournaments, both at adult and youth levels, are even rarer for women to win in part because women and men are typically divided into different sections at these events, heavily reducing the number of female players competing against male players.
María Teresa Mora was among the first notable instances of a woman winning an open tournament, becoming Cuban national champion in 1922. Mora was the only student of José Raúl Capablanca, the World Champion at the time. Vera Menchik's 1926 victory at the Hastings Major Reserve, a tier below the highest master level, is regarded as the first high-level tournament victory by a woman. Nona Gaprindashvili is credited with the first elite tournament victory by a woman, winning the Lone Pine International more than 50 years later in 1977. It was this victory that led her to become the first woman to earn the Grandmaster (GM) title a year later. The next Women's World Champion, Maia Chiburdanidze, was the first woman to win an elite round-robin tournament, winning two in the mid-1980s. Her second such victory, in Banja Luka, was mostly against other GMs.
Judit Polgár, widely acknowledged as the greatest female chess player in history, has won the most high-level open tournaments among women by far. Some of her strongest victories in classical came in the four-player double round-robin Crown division in Hoogeveen, where she won four times and regularly faced competition averaging near or above 2700-level. The strongest ten-player elite round-robin tournaments (known as super-tournaments) won by women were the 1994 Madrid Torneo Magistral and 2000 Japfa Classic in Bali by Judit Polgár, and the 2018 Biel Grandmaster Tournament by Hou Yifan. All of these tournaments featured opposition above 2600-level on average. The biggest and strongest Swiss tournament victory by a woman was the 2016 London Rapid Superplay in which Valentina Gunina claimed the title in a field of 475 players, facing an opposition rated over 2500 on average. In classical Swiss events, Gaprindashvili's 1977 success at Lone Pine and Sofia Polgar's 1989 "Sack of Rome", in which she scored 8½/9 against mostly GMs at age 14, are the strongest and most notable victories.
The only two world championships won by women were both by Judit Polgár, who was the 1988 U-12 World Youth Champion and the 1990 U-14 World Youth Champion. Humpy Koneru was the U-12 Asian Youth Champion in 1999. At adult levels, the highest-level national championships won by women were the 1991 Hungarian national championship by Judit Polgár, the 2000 Lithuanian national championship by Viktorija Čmilytė, and the 2006 Austrian national championship by Eva Moser. Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant, the oldest woman to earn the GM title, has won the Scottish national championship three times.
Header | Explanation |
---|---|
Player | Winner's name |
Rtg | Winner's FIDE rating for the event. Cases with no applicable FIDE rating are italicized and classical ratings are substituted. |
Tournament | Tournament name |
G | Game time control (C = classical, R = rapid, B = blitz, O = online) |
Date | Month that the tournament finished |
Prize | Prize received by the winner |
Fmt | Tournament format (RR = round-robin, D-RR = double RR, Sch = Scheveningen team, KO = knock-out) |
Ch | Is the event a championship at national, continental, or world level? (Y = yes at adult level, U = yes at youth level, N = no) |
Pts | Winner's score |
Rds | Rounds in tournament (played by the winner) |
Opp | Average rating of the opponents |
# | Number of players in the tournament |
= | Was first place shared? (Y = shared[lower-alpha 1], N = either sole first, or a tie for first was broken with tiebreaks or play-off) |
Ref | Main reference |
Only notable instances are listed.
Player | Rtg | Tournament | G | Date | Prize | Fmt | Ch | Pts | Rds | Opp | # | = | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | N/A | Cuban Championship | C | 1922 | ? | ? | Y | ? | ? | N/A | ? | ? | [1] |
![]() | N/A | Hastings Major Reserve | C | Dec 1926 | ? | RR | N | 6½ | 9 | N/A | 10 | Y | [2] |
![]() | N/A | British CF Major Open | C | Aug 1931 | ? | RR | N | 9 | 11 | N/A | 12 | N | [2] |
![]() | 2430 | Lone Pine International | C | Mar 1977 | $5750 | Swiss | N | 6½ | 9 | 2450 | 48 | Y | [3] |
![]() | 2385 | New Delhi Bhilwara IGM | C | Feb 1984 | ? | RR | N | 7½ | 11 | 2409 | 12 | N | [4] |
![]() | 2400 | Banja Luka International | C | Apr 1985 | ? | RR | N | 8½ | 13 | 2459 | 14 | N | [5] |
![]() | 2365 | World Youth CC U-12 | C | Jul 1988 | N/A | Swiss | U | 9 | 11 | N/A | 37 | N | [6] |
![]() | 2365 | London Duncan Lawrie Mixed | C | Oct 1988 | ? | RR | N | 7 | 9 | 2339 | 10 | N | [7] |
![]() | 2295 | Magistrale di Roma | C | Feb 1989 | ? | Swiss | N | 8½ | 9 | 2436 | ? | N | [8] |
![]() | 2510 | León Torneo Magistral | C | Jun 1989 | ? | RR | N | 8 | 11 | 2429 | 12 | Y | [9] |
![]() | 2540 | World Youth CC U-14 | C | Jul 1990 | N/A | Swiss | U | 9 | 11 | N/A | 42 | N | [10] |
![]() | 2550 | Hungarian Championship | C | Dec 1991 | ? | RR | Y | 6 | 9 | 2507 | 10 | N | [11] |
![]() | 2575 | Hastings Congress | C | Dec 1992 | ? | D-RR | N | 9 | 14 | 2564 | 8 | Y | [12] |
![]() | 2510 | Women–Veterans Vienna | C | Jun 1993 | ? | Sch | N | 9 | 12 | 2488 | 12 | N | [13] |
![]() | 2630 | Madrid Torneo Magistral | C | May 1994 | ? | RR | N | 7 | 9 | 2625 | 10 | N | [14] |
![]() | 2635 | Women–Veterans Prague | C | Jul 1995 | ? | Sch | N | 6½ | 10 | 2586 | 10 | Y | [13] |
![]() | 2510 | Women–Veterans Prague | C | Jul 1995 | ? | Sch | N | 6½ | 10 | 2586 | 10 | Y | [13] |
![]() | 2630 | Isle of Lewis Festival | R | Jul 1995 | ? | D-RR | N | 5 | 6 | 2578 | 4 | Y | [15] |
![]() | 2455 | Women–Veterans London | C | Aug 1996 | ? | Sch | N | 6½ | 10 | 2536 | 10 | Y | [13] |
![]() | 2525 | Lippstadt Grandmaster | C | Jul 1997 | ? | RR | N | 8½ | 11 | 2456 | 12 | N | [16] |
![]() | 2390 | Georgian Championship | C | 1998 | ? | Swiss | Y | ? | ? | ? | ? | N | |
![]() | 2665 | US Open Championship | C | Aug 1998 | $3750 | Swiss | N | 8 | 9 | 2330 | 155 | Y | [17] |
![]() | 2665 | Hoogeveen Essent Crown | C | Oct 1998 | ? | D-RR | N | 5 | 6 | 2563 | 4 | N | [18] |
![]() | 2453 | First Saturday | C | Dec 1999 | ? | RR | N | 9 | 13 | 2418 | 14 | N | [19] |
![]() | 2229 | Asian Youth CC U-12 | C | Dec 1999 | N/A | Swiss | U | ? | ? | N/A | ? | N | [20] |
![]() | 2193 | French Youth CC U-14 | C | 2000 | N/A | ? | U | ? | ? | N/A | ? | N | [21] |
![]() | 2329 | Lithuanian Championship | C | Mar 2000 | ? | Swiss | Y | 6½ | 9 | 2421 | 54 | N | [22] |
![]() | 2658 | Bali Japfa Classic | C | Apr 2000 | $20000 | RR | N | 6½ | 9 | 2624 | 10 | N | [14] |
![]() | 2658 | Malmo Sigeman & Co | C | May 2000 | ? | D-RR | N | 4 | 6 | 2609 | 4 | Y | [23] |
![]() | 2433 | Wijk aan Zee Corus Reserve | C | Jan 2001 | ? | Swiss | N | 7 | 9 | 2396 | 42 | N | [24] |
![]() | 2686 | Hoogeveen Essent Crown | C | Oct 2001 | ? | D-RR | N | 3½ | 6 | 2639 | 4 | Y | [25] |
![]() | 2497 | Surabaya Wismilak International | C | Jul 2002 | $2000 | RR | N | 9½ | 11 | 2441 | 12 | N | [26] |
![]() | 2430 | Alushta Title Tournament | C | Oct 2002 | ? | D-RR | N | 9½ | 12 | 2407 | 7 | Y | [27] |
![]() | 2685 | Benidorm Hotel Bali Stars | R | Nov 2002 | ? | RR | N | 8 | 11 | 2554 | 12 | N | [28] |
![]() | 2413 | Scottish Championship | C | Apr 2003 | £375 | Swiss | Y | 7 | 9 | 2292 | 18 | Y | [29] |
![]() | 2565 | US Open Blitz Championship | B | Aug 2003 | ? | Swiss | N | 11 | 12 | ? | ? | N | [30] |
![]() | 2439 | Ukraine Title Tournament | C | Aug 2003 | ? | D-RR | N | 9½ | 14 | 2490 | 8 | N | [31] |
![]() | 2722 | Hoogeveen Essent Crown | C | Oct 2003 | ? | D-RR | N | 4 | 6 | 2679 | 4 | N | [32] |
![]() | 2364 | Moldova Championship | C | Feb 2005 | ? | RR | Y | 10 | 13 | 2307 | 14 | N | |
![]() | 2459 | Lithuanian Championship | C | May 2005 | ? | RR | Y | 8 | 11 | 2387 | 12 | N | [33] |
![]() | N/A | Finnish Youth CC U-10 | C | Jun 2005 | N/A | Swiss | U | 6 | 7 | N/A | 16 | N | [34] |
![]() | 2318 | Haarlem BDO Master | C | Aug 2005 | ? | RR | N | 6½ | 9 | 2344 | 10 | N | [35] |
![]() | 2421 | First Saturday | C | Feb 2006 | ? | RR | N | 8½ | 12 | 2423 | 13 | N | [36] |
![]() | 2395 | Austrian Championship | C | Sep 2006 | ? | RR | Y | 6 | 9 | 2402 | 10 | N | |
![]() | 2710 | Hoogeveen Essent Crown | C | Oct 2006 | ? | D-RR | N | 4½ | 6 | 2737 | 4 | Y | [37] |
![]() | 2425 | Leonardo di Bona Memorial | C | Apr 2007 | ? | Swiss | N | 6½ | 9 | 2459 | 23 | N | [38] |
![]() | 2575 | HSG Open | C | Jun 2007 | ? | Swiss | N | 7½ | 9 | 2440 | 74 | N | [39] |
![]() | 2572 | Kaupthing Open | C | Jul 2007 | €3000 | Swiss | N | 7 | 9 | 2455 | 88 | N | [40] |
![]() | 1984 | German Youth CC U-12 | C | May 2008 | N/A | Swiss | U | ? | ? | N/A | ? | N | [41] |
![]() | 2397 | Jena Schwarzer Bär Cup | C | Feb 2009 | ? | Swiss | N | 7 | 7 | 2222 | 54 | N | [42] |
![]() | 2414 | Open Las Palmas | C | Apr 2009 | ? | Swiss | N | 8½ | 9 | 2150 | 57 | N | [43] |
![]() | 2603 | Czech Coal Match | C | Nov 2009 | ? | Sch | N | 5½ | 8 | 2564 | 8 | N | [44] |
![]() | 2570 | Kuala Lumpur Open | C | Apr 2010 | ? | Swiss | N | 7½ | 9 | 2457 | 111 | N | [45] |
![]() | 2686 | Ajedrez UNAM Quadrangular | R | Nov 2010 | ? | KO | N | 6 | 8 | 2775 | 4 | N | [46] |
![]() | 2600 | Czech Coal Match | C | Nov 2010 | ? | Sch | N | 6 | 8 | 2464 | 8 | N | [47] |
![]() | 2464 | Scottish Championship | C | Jul 2011 | £1200 | Swiss | Y | 7 | 9 | 2147 | 37 | N | [48] |
![]() | 2422 | First Saturday | C | Apr 2012 | ? | RR | N | 7 | 9 | 2396 | 10 | N | [49] |
![]() | 2400 | Czech Coal Match | C | Dec 2012 | ? | Sch | N | 6 | 8 | 2431 | 8 | N | [50] |
![]() | 2489 | Swiss Championship | C | Jul 2013 | ? | Swiss | Y | 6½ | 9 | 2277 | 70 | N | [51] |
![]() | 2673 | Corsican Circuit | R | Oct 2014 | ? | KO | N | 10 | 14 | 2546 | 16 | N | [52] |
![]() | 2303 | Novi Sad Miljo Vujovic Memorial | C | Jul 2015 | ? | RR | N | 7 | 9 | 2405 | 10 | N | [53] |
![]() | 2430 | Milan Edoardo Crespi Memorial | C | Dec 2015 | ? | Swiss | N | 7½ | 9 | 2302 | 29 | N | [54] |
![]() | 2378 | Prague Open | C | Jan 2016 | $600 | Swiss | N | 8 | 9 | 2310 | 171 | N | [55] |
![]() | 2468 | Novi Sad Hotel Sajam | C | Feb 2016 | ? | RR | N | 7 | 9 | 2440 | 10 | N | [56] |
![]() | 2368 | Scottish Championship | C | Jul 2016 | ? | Swiss | Y | 7 | 9 | 2240 | 34 | N | [57] |
![]() | 2491 | London Rapid Superplay | R | Dec 2016 | £5000 | Swiss | N | 9 | 10 | 2504 | 475 | N | [58] |
![]() | 2531 | Sevilla Open | C | Jan 2018 | ? | Swiss | N | 8 | 9 | 2279 | 310 | N | [59] |
![]() | 2666 | Biel GMT | C | Jul 2018 | ? | RR | N | 6½ | 9 | 2644 | 10 | N | [60] |
![]() | 2321 | Pan-American Junior Champ. | C | Aug 2019 | N/A | Swiss | U | 7 | 9 | 2248 | 51 | N | [61] |
![]() | 2304 | Spanish Youth CC U-18 | C | Jul 2021 | N/A | Swiss | U | 7½ | 9 | 2110 | 189 | N | [62] |
![]() | 2173 | Brugse Meesters | C | Aug 2021 | ? | Swiss | N | 7½ | 9 | 2178 | 138 | N | [63] |
![]() | 2365 | Untergrombach Open | C | Jan 2022 | €1000 | Swiss | N | 6½ | 7 | 2172 | 135 | N | [64] |
![]() | 2411 | Heraklion Fischer Memorial | C | May 2022 | ? | RR | N | 7 | 9 | 2376 | 10 | N | [65] |
![]() | 2369 | Dutch Youth CC U-18 | C | May 2022 | N/A | Swiss | U | 6 | 7 | 2078 | 15 | N | [66] |
![]() | 2398 | Agria Festival | C | Jul 2022 | ? | Swiss | N | 5 | 7 | 2277 | 57 | N | [67] |
![]() | 2363 | Perpignan Classique U2400 | C | Oct 2022 | ? | Swiss | N | 7 | 7 | 2155 | 58 | N | [68] |
![]() | 2523 | Espot B-Cup | O | Jun 2023 | ? | KO | N | N/A | N/A | 2525 | 8 | N | [69] |
![]() | 2447 | Sportland NRW Cup | C | Jun 2023 | ? | RR | N | 7 | 9 | 2418 | 10 | N | [70] |
![]() | 2506 | IM SCC | O | Oct 2023 | $5450 | RR/KO | N | N/A | N/A | 2386 | 16 | N | [71] |
![]() | 2399 | North American Junior Champ. | C | Dec 2023 | N/A | Swiss | U | 8 | 9 | 2012 | 104 | N | [72] |
![]() | 2440 | Sharjah Challengers | C | May 2024 | $2000 | Swiss | N | 7 | 9 | 2364 | 98 | N | [73] |
![]() | 2417 | Rhodes Summer Cup | C | Jun 2024 | €2500 | Swiss | N | 7 | 9 | 2241 | 45 | N | [74] |
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