List of female chess players explained
This article lists female chess players who have received FIDE (International Chess Federation) titles or have other significant achievements in chess.
Grandmasters
See main article: List of female chess grandmasters.
There are 42 female players who have been awarded the title of Grandmaster,[1] the highest lifetime title in chess, all of whom are living as of December 2023.
International Masters
As of December 2023, FIDE lists 134 women who hold the International Master title. Seven IMs are no longer living.[2] (Deceased players noted by † symbol.)
Alphabetical list
This list of female chess players includes people who are primarily known as chess players and have an article on the English Wikipedia. It includes the preceding lists of Grandmasters and International Masters.
FIDE title abbreviations:
- GM – grandmaster
- IM – International Master
- FM – FIDE Master
- WGM – Woman Grandmaster
- WIM – Woman International Master
- WFM – Woman FIDE Master
- WCM – Woman Candidate Master
A
- Abdumalik, Zhansaya (2000) Kazakhstan – GM
- Afonasieva, Anna (2001) Russia – WIM
- Aginian, Nelly (1981) Armenia – WGM
- Agrawal, Vantika (2002) India – IM
- Yamama Asif Abdula Al Fayyadh (2001) Iraq – WCM
- Allahverdiyeva, Ayan (2005) Azerbaijan – WFM
- Akhsharumova, Anna (1957) Russia, USA – WGM
- Julia Alboredo (1997) Brazil – WIM
- Alekhine, Grace (1876–1956) USA, United Kingdom, France
- Alexandria, Nana (1949) Georgia – WGM
- An Yangfeng (1963) China – WIM
- Andriasian, Siranush (1986) Armenia – WIM
- Arakhamia, Ketevan (1968) Georgia, Scotland – GM
- Assaubayeva, Bibisara (2004) Kazakhstan – IM
- Atalik, Ekaterina (1982) Russia, Turkey – WGM and IM
B
- Bain, Mary (1904–1972) USA – WIM
- Balajayeva, Khanim (2001) Azerbaijan – IM
- Belakovskaia, Anjelina (1969) Ukraine, USA – WGM
- Belavenets, Liudmila (1940) Russia – ICCF Women's World Champion, WIM
- Belenkaya, Dina (1993) Russia – WGM
- Bellin, Jana (1947) Czech, England – WGM
- Benedict, Clare (1871–1961) USA, Switzerland
- Benini, Clarice (1905–1976) Italy – WIM
- Benmesbah, Natacha (1989) France – WIM
- Benschop, Anne Marie (1969) Netherlands – WIM
- Berend, Elvira (1965) Kazakhstan/Luxembourg – WGM
- Berezina, Irina (1965) Australia – IM
- Beskow, Katarina (1867–1939) Sweden
- Bhakti Kulkarni (1992) India – WGM
- Bijoux, Caroline (1976) South Africa
- Bivol, Alina (1996) Russia – IM
- Borisova, Borislava (1951) Sweden/Bulgaria – WIM
- Bos-Swiecik, Iwona (1958) Netherlands – WIM
- Botez, Alexandra (1995) Canada – WFM
- Botsari, Anna-Maria (1972) Greece – WGM
- Bruinenberg, Carla (1944) Netherlands – WFM
- Brustman, Agnieszka (1962) Poland – WGM
- Burtman, Sharon Ellen (1968) USA – WIM
- Bykova, Elisabeth (1913–1989) Russia – Women's World Champion, WGM
C
- Çaku, Kler (2010) Albania
- Caoili, Arianne (1986–2020) Australia – WIM
- Cardoso, Ruth (1934–2000) Brazil – WIM
- Carrasco, Berna (1914–2013) Chile – WIM
- Carvalho, Lígia Maria de Abreu (1957–1993) Brazil
- Chaudé de Silans, Chantal (1919–2004) France – WIM
- Chaves, Joara (1962) Brazil – WIM
- Chaves, Jussara (1959) Brazil – WIM
- Chelushkina, Irina (1961) Serbia – WGM
- Chiburdanidze, Maia (1961) Georgia – Women's World Champion, GM 1984
- Čiukšytė, Dagnė Č (1977) Lithuania, England – WGM and IM
- Çınar Çorlulu, Nilüfer (1962) Turkey – WIM
- Corke, Anya (1990) Hong Kong, England – WGM
- Čmilytė, Viktorija (1983) Lithuania – GM
- Cramling Bellon, Anna (2002) Sweden – WFM
- Cramling, Pia (1963) Sweden – GM 1992
D
- Dekic, Biljana (1950) Australia – WIM
- Dembo, Yelena (1983) Russia, Israel, Hungary, Greece – WGM and IM
- Deshmukh, Divya (2005) India – WGM
- Ding Yixin (1991) China – WGM
- Donaldson, Elena (1957–2012) Russia, Georgia, USA – WGM
- Drastik, Penelope (1997) Australia
- Drewes, Mariëtte (1967) Netherlands – WFM
- Dzagnidze, Nana (1987) Georgia – GM 2008
E
F
- Fagan, Louisa Matilda (1850–1931) Italy, UK
- Miss Fatima India, United Kingdom
- February, Jesse (1997) South Africa – WIM
- Feliciano, Vanessa (1990) Brazil – WIM
- Fierro, Martha (1977) Ecuador – WGM and IM
- Fischdick, Gisela (1955) Germany – WGM
- Fisher, Michelle (1997) South Africa – WFM
- Flear, Christine (1967) France – WIM
- Francisco, Candela (2006) Argentina – WFM
- Forbes, Cathy (1968) England – WIM
- Cristina Adela Foișor (1967–2017) Romania – WGM and IM
- Frick, Denise (1980) South Africa – WIM
G
- Galliamova, Alisa (1972) Russia – WGM and IM
- Gaprindashvili, Nona (1941) Georgia – Women's World Champion, GM 1978
- Gajcin, Marina (2001) Serbia – WGM
- Gara, Anita (1983) Hungary – WGM and IM
- Gara, Ticia (1984) Hungary – WGM
- Leya Garifullina (2004) Russia – WGM and IM
- Gerlecka, Regina (1913–1983) Poland
- Gilbert, Ellen (1837–1900) USA
- Gilchrist, Mary (c.1882–1947) Scotland
- Girya, Olga (1991) Russia – GM
- Golubenko, Valentina (1990) Estonia, Croatia – WGM
- Javiera Belén Gómez Barrera (2002) Chile – WIM
- Gong Qianyun (1985) China – WGM
- Goryachkina, Aleksandra (1998) Russia – GM
- Graf, Sonja (1908–1965) Germany, Argentina, USA – WIM
- Greeff, Melissa (1994) South Africa – WGM
- Gresser, Gisela (1906–2000) USA – WIM
- Guggenberger, Ilse (1942) Colombia – WIM
- Gunina, Valentina (1989) Russia – GM 2013
- Guo, Emma (1995) Australia – WIM
- Guo Qi (1995) China – IM
- Guramishvili, Sopiko (1991) Georgia – WGM and IM
H
- Hamid, Rani (1944) Bangladesh – WIM
- Harika, Dronavalli (1991) India – GM
- Harmsen, Jessica (1966) Netherlands – WIM
- Harum, Gisela (1903–1995) Austria
- Heemskerk, Fenny (1919–2007) The Netherlands – WGM
- Herman, Róża (1902–1995) Poland – WIM
- Hoang, Thanh Trang (1980) Vietnam, Hungary – GM 2007
- Holloway, Edith (1868–1956) England – WIM
- Hołuj-Radzikowska, Krystyna (1931–2006) Poland – WGM
- Hou Yifan (1994) China – GM 2008
- Houska, Jovanka (1980) England – WGM and IM
- Huang Qian (1986) China – WGM
- Hunt, Harriet (1978) England – WGM and IM
I
J
K
- Kairbekova, Amina (2006) Kazakhstan – WIM
- Karavade, Eesha (1987) India – WGM and IM
- Karff, Mona (1914–1998) Bessarabia (Moldova), Palestine, USA – WIM
- Kazarian, Anna-Maja (2000) Netherlands – WIM and FM
- Keller-Herrmann, Edith (1921–2010) Germany – WGM
- Khoudgarian, Natalia (1975) Russia, Canada – WIM
- Khurtsidze, Nino (1975–2018) Georgia – WGM and IM
- Kiołbasa, Oliwia (2000) Poland – WIM
- Kļaviņa, Ilga (1941) Latvia
- Klovāne, Astra (1944) Latvia
- Konarkowska-Sokolov, Henrijeta (1938) Poland, Serbia – WGM
- Koneru, Humpy (1987) India – GM 2002
- Korbut, Ekaterina (1985) Russia – WGM and IM
- Kosintseva, Nadezhda (1985) Russia – WGM and IM
- Kosintseva, Tatiana (1986) Russia – WGM and IM
- Kosteniuk, Alexandra (1984) Russia – Women's World Champion, GM 2004
- Kouwenhoven, Marisca (1976) Netherlands – WFM
- Kostiuk, Tatiana (1982) Ukraine – WGM
- Kozlovskaya, Valentina (1938) Russia – WGM
- Kristol, Ljuba (1944) Russia, Israel – ICCF Women's World Champion
- Krush, Irina (1983) Ukraine, USA – GM (2013)
- Kubicka, Anna (1999) Poland – WIM
- Kursova, Maria (1986) Armenia – WGM
- Kushnir, Alla (1941–2013) Russia, Israel – WGM
L
- Lahno, Kateryna (1989) Ukraine, Russia – GM 2007
- Latreche, Sabrina (1993) Algeria – WIM
- Lane, Lisa (1933–2024) USA – WIM
- L'Ami, Alina (1985) Romania – IM
- Larsen, Ingrid (1909–1990) Denmark – WIM
- Lauberte, Milda (1918–2009) Latvia – WIM
- Lazarević, Milunka (1932–2018) Serbia – WGM
- Lei Tingjie (1997) China – GM
- Leite, Catarina(1983) Portugal – WIM
- Levitina, Irina (1954) Russia, USA – WGM
- Li Ruofan (1997) China – IM
- Limbach, Renate (1971–2006) Netherlands – WIM
- Lin Ye (1974) China – WFM
- Litinskaya-Shul, Marta (1949) Ukraine – WGM
- Liu Shilan (1962) China – WGM
- Lu Xiaosha (1973) China – WIM
- Librelato, Kathiê (1998) Brazil – WIM
M
- Macalda di Scaletta (c. 1240–c. 1310) Kingdom of Sicily
- Mádl, Ildikó (1969) Hungary – WGM and IM
- Majdan, Joanna (1988) Poland – WGM
- Maltsevskaya, Aleksandra (2002) Russia – WGM and IM
- Marić, Alisa (1970) USA, Serbia – WGM and IM
- Marić, Mirjana (1970) Serbia – WGM
- Marinello, Beatriz (1964) Chile – WIM
- Matveeva, Svetlana (1969) Russia – WGM and IM
- Menchik, Olga (1908–1944) Czechoslovakia, England
- Menchik, Vera (1906–1944) Czechoslovakia, England – Women's World Champion
- Meyer, Marany (1984) South Africa/New Zealand – WIM
- Michell, Edith (1872–1951) England
- Milliet, Sophie (1983) France – WGM and IM
- Mišanović, Vesna (1964) Bosnia and Herzegovina – WGM
- Mkrtchian, Lilit (1982) Armenia – WGM and IM
- Mora, María Teresa (1902–1980) Cuba – WIM
- Muminova, Nafisa (1990) Uzbekistan – WGM
- Puteri Munajjah Az-Zahraa Azhar (2001) Malaysia – WIM
- Mungunzul, Bat-Erdene (2005) Mongolia – WCM
- Mutesi, Phiona (1993) Uganda – WCM
- Muzychuk, Anna (1990) Ukraine, Slovenia – WGM and IM
N
- Nagrocka, Ewa (1949-2015) Poland, Germany – WFM
- Nakhbayeva, Guliskhan (1991) Kazakhstan – IM
- Nakhimovskaya, Zara (1931) Israel
- Nandhidhaa, Pallathur Venkatachalam (1996) India - WGM
- Nassr, Lina (2003) Algeria – WIM
- Narva, Mai (1999) Estonia – IM
- Nebolsina, Vera (1989) Russia – WGM
- Ning Chunhong (1968) China – WGM
- Nurmanova, Alua (2007) Kazakhstan – WIM
- Nyberg, Christina (1962) Sweden
O
P
- Pähtz, Elisabeth (1985) Germany – WGM and GM
- Paridar, Shadi (1986) Iran – WGM
- Peng, Zhaoqin (1968) China, Netherlands – GM 2004
- Pertlová, Soňa (1988–2011) Czech Republic – WIM
- Piatigorsky, Jacqueline (1911–2012) France, USA
- Pogonina, Natalia (1985) Russia – WGM and IM
- Pokorná, Regina (1982) Austria – WGM
- Polgár, Judit (1976) Hungary – GM 1991
- Polgár, Sófia (1974) Hungary, Israel – WGM and IM
- Polgar, Susan (1969) Hungary, USA – Women's World champion, GM 1991
- Polihroniade, Elisabeta (1935–2016) Romania – WGM
- Pourkashiyan, Atousa (1988) Iran – WGM
- Price, Edith Charlotte (1872–1956) England
- Ptáčníková, Lenka (1976) Czech Republic, Iceland – WGM
- Pujari, Rucha (1994) India – WIM
Q
R
- Radeva, Viktoria (2001) Bulgaria – WGM
- Rajlich, Iweta (1981) Poland – WGM and IM
- Ranasinghe, Sachini (1994) Sri Lanka – WIM
- Ratcu, Tatiana (1979) Brazil – WIM
- Regan, Natasha (1971) England – WIM
- Reischer, Salome (1899–1980) Austria – WIM
- Reizniece-Ozola, Dana (1981) Latvia – WGM
- Ribeiro, Regina Lúcia (1961) Brazil – WIM
- Richards, Heather (1983) England, Australia – WIM
- Riegler, Alessandra (1961) Italy – ICCF Women's World Champion
- Rinder, Friedl (1905–2001) Germany – WIM
- Rogule, Laura (1988) Latvia – WGM
- Roodzant, Catharina (1896–1999) The Netherlands
- Roos, Nancy (1905–1957) United States
- Rootare, Salme (1913–1987) Estonia – WIM
- Ross, Laura (1988) United States – WFM
- Ruan Lufei (1987) China – WGM
- Rubene, Ilze (1958–2002) – WIM
- Rubtsova, Olga (1909–1992) Russia – Women's World Champion and IFCC Women's World Champion, WGM
- Rudenko, Lyudmila (1904–1986) Ukraine, Russia – Women's World Champion, WGM and IM, first woman awarded the International Master title
- Rudge, Mary (1842–1919) England
- Rudolf, Anna (1987) Hungary – WGM and IM
S
- Sabure, Taduetso (1982) Botswana – WGM
- Sachdev, Tania (1986) India – IM and WGM
- Šafranska, Anda (1960) Latvia, France – WGM
- Salimova, Nurgyul (2003) Bulgaria – WGM and IM
- Sargsyan, Anna M. (2001) (Armenia) – IM
- Schwartzmann, Paulette (1910–19??) Latvia, France, Argentina
- Schneider, Jana (2002) Germany – FM
- Schneider, Veronika (1987) Hungary – WGM
- Schut, Lisa (1994) Netherlands – WIM
- Sebag, Marie (1986) France – GM 2008
- Selkirk, Rebecca (1993) South Africa – WCM
- Irina Semenova (1990) Uzbekistan- WIM
- Semenova, Lidia (1951) Ukraine – WGM
- Shahade, Jennifer (1980) USA – WGM
- Sheldon, Ruth (1980) England – WIM
- Shen Yang (1989) China – IM
- Shuvalova, Polina (2001) Russia – IM and WGM
- Sieber, Fiona (2000) Germany – WIM
- Skripchenko, Almira (1976) Moldova, France – WGM and IM
- Slavotinek, Anne (1963) Australia – WIM
- Soćko, Monika (1978) Poland – GM 2008
- Solomons, Anzel (1978) South Africa – WIM
- Srebrnič, Ana (1984) Slovenia – WGM
- Starr, Nava (1949) Latvia, Canada – WIM
- Stefanova, Antoaneta (1979) Bulgaria – Women's World Champion, GM 2003
- Stevenson, Agnes (1873–1935) England
- Stock, Lara (1992) Germany, Croatia WGM
- Styazhkina, Anna (1997) Russia – WIM
- Sukhareva, Olga (1984) Russia – ICCF Women's World Champion
- Sultana Shirin, Sharmin (1989) Bangladesh – WIM
- Sun Fanghui (1993) China – WIM
T
U
V
- Vaishali Rameshbabu (2001) India – IM
- Vajda, Szidonia (1979) Romania, Hungary – WGM and IM
- Van Arkel-de Greef, Heleen Netherlands (1965) – WIM
- van der Merwe, Cecile (1987) South Africa – WIM
- van Parreren, Hanneke Netherlands (1953) – WFM
- van Zyl, Charlize (1999) South Africa – WIM
- Varela La Madrid, Tilsia Carolina (1994) Venezuela – WIM
- Vargas, Gabriela (1988) Paraguay – WIM
- Verőci, Zsuzsa (1949) Hungary – WGM
- Volpert, Larissa (1926–2017) Russia – WGM
- Vozovic, Oksana (1985) Ukraine – WGM
W
X
Y
Z
- Zatonskih, Anna (1978) Ukraine, USA – WGM and IM
- Zatulovskaya, Tatiana (1935) Azerbaijan, Russia, Israel – WGM
- Zawadzka, Beata (1986) Poland – WGM
- Zhai Mo (1966) China – WGM
- Zhang Xiaowen (1989) China – WGM
- Zhao Lan (1963) China – WIM
- Zhao Xue (1985) China – GM 2008
- Zhu Chen (1976) China, Qatar – Women's World champion, GM 2001
- Zhu Jin'er (2002) China – WIM
- Zhukova, Natalia (1979) Ukraine – GM 2010
- Zvorykina, Kira (1919–2014) Ukraine, Belarus, Bulgaria – WGM
See also
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Second FIDE Council Meeting of 2023 took place in Baku . 2023-12-02 . www.fide.com . en.
- Web site: FIDE Players Advanced Search. ratings.fide.com.