In 1971, amidst the surging tide of the global feminist movement, Helen Reddy’s anthem, “I Am Woman,” hit the charts, declaring: “I am strong, I am invincible, I am woman.” That same year, FIDE organized the first Women`s Interzonal tournament, signaling that women were undeniably making their mark on the chessboard.
While legends like Nona Gaprindashvili and Vera Menchik cemented the competitive strength of women, the administrative halls of power remained largely untouched. Governance was a male domain. It took decades—three, in the case of the U.S. Chess Federation, to elect its first woman president, Beatriz Marinello in 2003. Today, the landscape is visibly changing, yet the journey toward parity is far from complete.
Current FIDE data reveals a stark, technical truth: out of 201 member federations globally, only 13 are currently led by women presidents. This small fraction, roughly 6.5%, might seem negligible, but each name on that list represents a significant breach in the traditional walls of sports administration.
FIDE has acknowledged this structural imbalance, pushing initiatives not only to increase participation but to foster professional development. Through commissions and development projects like the Queen’s Gambit Challenge, the focus has shifted to creating viable, non-playing career paths. The appointment of former Women’s World Champion Zhu Chen as FIDE Treasurer—overseeing the flow of global chess finances—is a powerful statement that competence knows no gender.
The Grandmaster Who Rewrote the Rules: Xie Jun (China)
Few leaders exemplify the shift from board to boardroom as perfectly as Xie Jun. A World Champion in 1991, she shattered the Eurocentric dominance of the title. What followed her playing career, however, was equally groundbreaking: she earned a doctorate in psychology before transitioning into coaching and sports administration. In 2024, she became President of the Chinese Chess Association.
For Xie Jun, this transition was a matter of necessity, framed in chess terms: “If you want to change the rules, you have to help write them.”
Her approach to balancing family and an intensely demanding career is ruthlessly practical: “I treat life like a long game with two clocks: family and career. If you work hard enough and put your heart into it, you can definitely achieve a balance.”
Xie Jun’s advice to aspiring female leaders is distilled into clear, actionable points:
- Competence Silences Prejudice: Your performance and professional skills are your best credentials.
- Build Networks: Find allies and mentors, both male and female; chess is a team sport played one board at a time.
- Stay Educated: Federations need professionals, not just former players.
- Pay It Forward: Once you reach any seat at the table, pull another up with you. “Like chess, we turn an unstoppable passed pawn into a queen.”
From Personal Passion to National Structure: Bouchra Kadiri (Morocco)
Bouchra Kadiri’s entry into chess governance was rooted in deep, personal commitment. Her Arabic name, `Bouchra,` means `good news,` chosen by her father the day he won a chess championship. Kadiri became the first woman champion of Morocco in 1984, viewing the game not just as a hobby, but as a mission to unite people.
Elected president of the Royal Moroccan Chess Federation, Kadiri focused immediately on institutional structure and formality. The results are undeniable: under her leadership, the number of registered chess clubs in Morocco soared from 12 to 39—a historic increase. This demonstrates that passion, when combined with executive focus, delivers measurable growth.
She describes balancing her executive duties, personal life, and federation work as a “strategic art,” requiring a strong support team and rigorous organizational discipline.
The Advocate for Supportive Spaces: Johanna Bjorg Johannsdottir (Iceland)
Unlike Xie Jun or Kadiri, Johanna Bjorg Johannsdottir’s path to the presidency of the Icelandic Chess Federation started not in elite competition, but in administration and advocacy. Influenced by her mother, who also served on the federation board, Johanna was captivated by questions of governance and fairness early on.
Her primary focus has been creating environments where girls and women feel genuinely supported and taken seriously. As a teenager, she organized junior tournaments; later, she set up girls-only training sessions and strengthened the national women’s team structure. She was elected vice president in 2020 and president in 2025.
Being a full-time psychologist and federation president is, frankly, exhausting. Yet, she remains grounded through simple routines, like regular family dinners. Her message is direct:
The Dentist Who Built a Community: TrisAnn Richards (Saint Lucia)
TrisAnn Richards of the Saint Lucia Chess Federation provides a crucial blueprint for those who do not come from a lineage of international masters. She learned chess late in high school and got deeply involved only in adulthood, viewing the game primarily as a tool for community building.
In a region traditionally dominated by athletics and cricket, bringing chess to prominence is a battle. However, Richards successfully leveraged initiatives like the Queen’s Gambit Challenge to elevate the sport. She manages her two careers—dentistry and sports administration—through disciplined prioritization, proving that dedication trumps traditional qualifications.
Her advice for involvement is simple but profound: Do not wait for an invitation. Step forward and act like you belong, because you do. Learn how the governing system works, build competence, and start influencing change immediately.
From Representation to Permanent Power
The stories of these leaders—the retired World Champion, the community builder, the organizational advocate, and the dedicated professional from outside the elite circles—underscore a critical, shared philosophy: their commitment to mentoring the next generation.
They are not interested in merely being symbolic representatives; they are actively shaping policy, growing clubs, demanding financial transparency, and ensuring supportive spaces. While the percentage remains small, the quality and impact of these 13 women demonstrate a trajectory away from the historical norm.
In 1972, the feminist declaration demanded to be heard. In 2025, with women now occupying administrative decision-making seats, the demand has matured. It is no longer about representation; it is about establishing these roles as a standard, ensuring that this shift is not a passing phase, but the foundation upon which the global chess governance is structured for the next fifty years.
Callum Darby 
Finley Holt