List of female chess players

This article lists female chess players who have received FIDE (International Chess Federation) titles or have other significant achievements in 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.

Zhansaya Abdumalik (Kazakhstan)
Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant (Scotland)
Nino Batsiashvili (Georgia)
Maia Chiburdanidze (Georgia)
Pia Cramling (Sweden)
Viktorija Čmilytė (Lithuania)
Elina Danielian (Armenia)
Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia)
Janelle Mae Frayna (Philippines)
Nona Gaprindashvili (Georgia)
Olga Girya (Russia)
Aleksandra Goryachkina (Russia)
Valentina Gunina (Russia)
Harika Dronavalli (India)
Hoang Thanh Trang (Hungary)
Hou Yifan (China)
Ju Wenjun (China)
Bela Khotenashvili (Georgia)
Koneru Humpy (India)
Nadezhda Kosintseva (Russia)
Tatiana Kosintseva (Russia)
Alexandra Kosteniuk (Switzerland)
Irina Krush (United States)
Kateryna Lagno (Russia)
Lei Tingjie (China)
Anna Muzychuk (Ukraine)
Mariya Muzychuk (Ukraine)
Elisabeth Pähtz (Germany)
Peng Zhaoqin (Netherlands)
Judit Polgár (Hungary)
Susan Polgár (Hungary)
Marie Sebag (France)
Monika Soćko (Poland)
Antoaneta Stefanova (Bulgaria)
Tan Zhongyi (China)
Anna Ushenina (Ukraine)
Vaishali Rameshbabu (India)
Xie Jun (China)
Xu Yuhua (China)
Zhao Xue (China)
Zhu Chen (Qatar)
Zhu Jiner (China)
Natalia Zhukova (Ukraine)

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

Badenhorst, Chloe (2007) South Africa – WFM
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

Edzgveradze, Natalia (1975) Georgia – WGM
Eidelson, Rakhil (1958) Belarus – WGM
Ereńska, Hanna (1946) Poland – WGM
Eretová, Květa (1926) Czechoslovakia – WGM

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
Frayna, Janelle Mae (1996) Philippines – WGM
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

Injac, Teodora (2000) Serbia – WGM
Ioseliani, Nana (1962) Georgia – WGM and IM

J

Jacková, Jana (1982) Czech Republic – WGM and IM
Jackson Sheila (1957) England – WGM
Jannatul, Ferdous (2005) Bangladesh – WCM
Johansson, Viktoria (1974) Sweden – WIM
Jose Campos, Maria (1999) Argentina – WIM
Ju Wenjun (1991) China – GM

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

Omonova, Umida (2006) Uzbekistan – WIM
Ortiz Verdezoto, Anahí (2001) Ecuador – WIM
Ovezdurdiyeva, Jemal (1998) Turkmenistan – WFM
Öztürk, Kübra (1991) Turkey – WGM

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

Qin Kanying (1974) China – WGM
Qiyu Zhou (2000) Canada – WGM

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

Tairova, Elena (1991–2010) Russia – WGM and IM
Tan Zhongyi (1991) China – GM
Tian Tian (1983) China – WGM
Toma, Katarzyna (1985) Poland, England – WGM
Toncheva, Nadya (2005) Bulgaria – WIM
Tonini, Alice Italy
Topel, Zehra (1987) Turkey – WIM
Tranmer, Eileen (1910–1983) England – WIM
Tuvshintugs, Batchimeg (1986) Mongolia – WGM
Tsatsalashvili, Keti (1992) Georgia – WGM

U

Ushenina, Anna (1985) Ukraine – GM 2012

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

Shahenda Wafa (1998) Egypt – WGM
Shrook Wafa (1997) Egypt – WGM
Annie Wang (2002) United States – IM
Wang Jue (1995) China – WGM
Wang Lei (1975) China – WGM
Wang Pin (1974) China – WGM
Wang Yu (1982) China – IM
Wijesuriya, Suneetha Sri Lanka
Wijesuriya, Vineetha (1970) Sri Lanka – WCM
Wolf-Kalmar, Paula (1881–1931) Austria
Wu Mingqian (1961) China – WGM

X

Xiao Yiyi (1996) China – WGM
Xie Jun (1970) China – Women's World champion, GM 1994
Xu Yuanyuan (1981) China – WGM
Xu Yuhua (1976) China – Women's World champion, GM 2007

Y

Yakovleva, Lora (1932) Russia – ICCF Women's World Champion
Yakubboeva, Nilufar (2000) Uzbekistan – WIM
Yan Tianqi (2002) China – WIM
Yao Lan (2000) England - WGM
Yıldız, Betül Cemre (1989) Turkey – WGM
Yuanling Yuan (1994) China – WIM
Yuan Ye (2000) China

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

References

^ "Second FIDE Council Meeting of 2023 took place in Baku". www.fide.com. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
^ "FIDE Players Advanced Search". ratings.fide.com.

External links

Women's top ratings on FIDE.com

[1] "Second FIDE Council Meeting of 2023 took place in Baku". www.fide.com. Retrieved 2023-12-02.

[2] "FIDE Players Advanced Search". ratings.fide.com.

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