Enter Your Reply The Comment You're Replying To Roberto Lavieri wrote on Sun, Feb 12, 2006 11:59 AM UTC:I have found this contest in Internet, see the article: “Chess desperately needs some glamour,” says Vladislav Tkachiev, explaining why he hosts World Chess Beauty Contest, 1wcbc.com, a website that ranks female chess players based not on their winnings, but on their looks, reports Dylan Loeb McClain in The New York Times (11/27/05). His website isn’t the only one objectifying women in the name of promoting chess. The Internet Chess Club, chessclub.com, is also known to judge female players based on their looks as well as their moves. And at least one female player, Alexandra Kosteniuk, kosteniuk.com, “uses her website to sell photos of herself posing in bikinis next to giant chess pieces.” Most of this trend emanates “from Eastern Europe, whose players have long dominated the sport and where cheesecake displays are less likely to draw complaints.” Vladislav Tkachiev totally defends it, saying that it’s important for people to realize that brains and beauty are not mutually exclusive: “They think that it is only a game for those who are quite inactive and unattractive and aged,” adding: “There are a lot of attractive people, whether female or male. We decided to show this side of chess.” And, in fact, some of the better-looking players are also the better players period: Maria Manakova “is the fourth-ranked woman in Russia … and is ranked eighth on the Beauty Contest site.” Alexandra Kosteniuk “is ranked fifth in the world among women,” athough she’s only 525th overall. Meanwhile, Jennifer Shahade, 'a two-time United States women’s champion who has published a book about her experiences as a woman playing a game dominated by men,' and declares herself a feminist, says Alexandra Kosteniuk is 'good for chess' but acknowledges that the chess beauty site 'isn’t very classy.' As for the guys, many of whom aren’t exactly beefcake material themselves — some of them complain of being distracted by the growing numbers of pretty opponents. However, Maria Manakova, for one, denies she’s a distraction: 'I don’t need to distract my opponent or do something. I can do it after the game if I want. During the game I just want to play good chess.' ~ Tim Manners, editor Edit Form You may not post a new comment, because ItemID Chess Beauties does not match any item.