Women chess players must compete in open tournaments to improve, says Tania Sachdev
International Master and leading chess commentator Tania Sachdev suggested that women chess players should try to play more open tournaments to improve themselves, while also arguing that women-specific titles shouldn’t be done away with.
“I feel like young girls should play in as many open tournaments as possible. They should train and compete against men and not focus only on women-only tournaments.
But I also feel that there is no need to take away women’s titles. Because, for many players, that is an aspiration, encouraging young girls to take up the sport. [Doing that] will take away an entire generation of chess players,” said Sachdev, who is in the city on commentary duty at the Chennai Grand Masters 2025.
Sachdev believes a slower transition would be the key for women chess players to assimilate.
“I feel girls participating in open tournaments is great and through that getting these titles can be sort of a middle ground because I see value in both. I feel that young girls playing only women’s tournaments will limit their potential a little bit,” says Sachdev.
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The 38-year-old also applauded Indian players’ performance at the recent FIDE Women’s World Cup, where Divya Deshmukh beat Koneru Humpy in the final.
“I think the girls are also proving that they’re not going to be left behind in this golden generation of chess. I think that the performance of having the two Indians, from different generations, in the finals is just so inspirational for young girls to watch that and to take up the sport,” added Sachdev.
Sachdev was last seen in her playing role during India’s gold medal-winning run at the Chess Olympiad last year. The two-time national champion has been a prominent presence in the broadcast scene and sees herself continuing in that capacity in the future.
“I don’t think I want to balance [between playing and commentary]. I love commentating. I still want to play a little bit. I think I still have some game left in me. So, I will play maybe one or two tournaments a year. But I’m shifting pretty much full-time towards commentary,” added Sachdev.