spelling, perhaps? :)

General_Lee "Well, theoretically, men and women are equal in intelligence and, therefore, should play chess equally well. Why should female players be famous only for their looks, and not for their OTB play?"

the matter of females being of equal smarts is actually a hot scientific debate.  We know for a FACT that the brain of a man is a bigger percentage of his body weight then a womans, and also did you know that until the 1940's men scored SIGNIFICANTLY higher on IQ tests then women and the feminists movement changed that so that for a few years in the 40's women scored better, then the test changed again so that men and women scored equally.  I've taken several IQ test and I've never understood why history or the names of specific math formulas are included.  If math is to be on an IQ test shouldn't it be more of an abstract question?  And why does history have anything to do with intelligence?  It doesn't either you learned that little piece they are looking for you didn't....

The only categories for an IQ test in my opinion should be:

Logic

Quick memory (20 seconds to memorize 20 things for example)

Pattern recignition

Spacial reasoning

TRULY absract math

hum did i miss anything?

Id do em

Can you introduce me to that other organism Jaguarphd?

     Why don't we just get a bunch of supermodels together and sit them down at a chess tournament?  We could give a 'smartest model' award to the winner.

 I think Woman are smarter than men

Chess is a very beautiful game that can be played by also very beautiful people!.

Chess is a very beautiful game that can be played by also very beautiful people. This combination can result in some very beautiful "positions"....which often lead to a very climatic mate, that is enjoyable for all. I for one support art in its many forms.

I like chess babes . we need more of them. the ways off, man needs to change.

and i think Woman are smarter than men. ie there take better care of the earth,and are more in tune with life .,,,,,,,,Besides,

Chess is the goddess, game.....

I have to say that I can see a point in many of your words.  Chess is a more worthy game than poker.  Fight fire with fire.  Let's get publicity and a better public image.  Otherwise, silly games of chance will be promoted more than an amazing game such as chess.  A beauty contest may not be the only way, but anything to attract more women, to show they are beautiful, and lethal over-the-board is going to get more publicity.  So a beauty sounds good to me now.

  Ultimately, however, I think that a game like poker is easier to lose at (aka FEELs better as a player) because you know it's due to chance, whereas losing at chess is pretty much your own fault.  That's a perception that needs to be fought as well.

         In today's society (at least in America) looks, beauty, and sex appeal have
become extremely important (way too important).
         However, if chess is to compete against poker, in which last year's WSOP
winner was televised on ESPN (which I watch every Tuesday from 8-10PM), the
game HAS to promote sex appeal.  Last year's poker winner walked away with
8 million dollars!!!  Wouldn't you like to see a male or female chess player on
national TV walk away with that money?  Poker even has an element of luck so
unknowns are beating professionals, chess is all skill.  WHY ISN'T CHESS ON ESPN(it has been rarely) and bringing in the cash?  SOCIAL PERCEPTION.  Chess
is not cool in America like in other countries.
          Now there have been many male chess players with sex appeal as well.
The ladies loved Capablanca, and many thought Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov were handsome and dashing as well.  What's wrong with that?  My
favorite bodybuilder (former Mr. Universe) Frank Zane is 65 now and still looks
incredible (go to his website, he is very intelligent and taught physics too).
So men also parade on stage to be admired and adored by their fans every year.      We have just gone
too far now because we put beautiful people on fake pedestals and worship them.
         The bottom line is chess is the greatest game of them all and should be
promoted to the fullest extent so that the players make the money other games
and sports are making.  As long as this is done tastefully I see nothing wrong with
it.

Well, theoretically, men and women are equal in intelligence and, therefore, should play chess equally well. Why should female players be famous only for their looks, and not for their OTB play?

I've always had a negative attitude over any form of beauty contest. To appreciate beauty is great but I don't enjoy the idea of having women parade down a catwalk or line them up so a bunch of drooling dogs can rate and compare them as if they were comparing cars, clothes or any form of other object that stimulate the male mind.  
It sadly enforces that this is a male world were we can be a fat, physically unattractive pig in a suit and still be fairlly successful in any line of work we take (obviouslly not physical sports). Whilst on the other hand women have to worry about looking what is perceived by the majority to be beautiful. For that reason how women look should not be a factor of chess and nor should it be used to attract women to chess because it would make a game of art and beauty complete shallow filth.

 for me its a good idea to have such a beauty contest for our lady players since we can show that they are not just with brains but also beautiful we can attract also the curiosity of the people towards chess players .We must be proud of our beautiful chess players such as judith polgar gM, pogonia, our very own agcaoili, russian beauties, also atousha of iran whom i always met before in abu dhabi,but they must be officially recognized as chess player not those who just know the basic chess moves so that who ever won  the contest is truly our queen!

Well its maybe ugly to say this way, but I really think that such kind of publicity can atract more girl to this game, because whatever they say every girl dream is to be famous. If they see that they can became famous while playing chess then chess will atract them more and more.

I also think its much better that women and man chess is NOT separeted in any age. There is just no accepteble reason for doing that, in any other sport this women and man category are separeted because of the male phisical superiority, but mentaly we have same qualities and I dont see any reason why many people doesnt like the idea of mixed competions.

I'm sympathetic to those that say chess and beauty should be kept separate but the reality is that it's difficult to make a living playing chess and sex sells.  The publicity generated by beauty contests and provocative photo shoots will eventually lead to a higher public profile.  If the increased exposure leads to more sponsors and more tournament appearance fees then it's clearly a smart business move.

Look at the impact beautiful Russian women have had on professional tennis.  Kournikova and Sharipova put women's tennis on the map and have been a huge plus for the entire sport.  There really is no such thing as bad publicity....

Just ask Danika Patrick.

i'd rather be the drunkest GM than the most attractive, or are they the same?aloha,...ppeets

I think the game of chess is beautiful enough. And most people playing chess are interested in that fact already. Anyone who seriously wants to learn about this game isn't going to get drawn in by a beauty contest. So I think it detracts from the whole point...just my thought.

Haha, thanks for posting this, Vlad!

It's hard to compare chess prizes and beauty prizes. For instance, at the North Urals Cup supertournament I have received both the "audience choice" prize (aka "most beautiful participant") & "best endgame" award. The first one is from my fans (whom I adore), the second is for my chess skills (and chess means a lot to me). What is more important?

I think it pollutes chess to tie chess and beauty contests together.  I first thought this article was about the beauty of playing a good game.  How someone looks really doesn't matter when it comes to chess.  Sure, people will focus on it because historically fewer woman have chosen to delve into the field, largely because it wasn't exactly what you'd call a hospitable environment.  I've lost to a couple girls lately and surely it was because they beat me, not because they were of the female gender, pretty or not. 

Chess promotion is important though.  Ultimately, I don't think a glamour contest gets people interested in chess, but I could be proven wrong.  Won't be the first time, or the last.  The game in and of itself is a healthy activity that should be promoted like any other sport.