Lack of Girls in Chess

Over the past 8 years that I have been playing chess, I am fortunate to have played against and formed friendships with some of the best players in the state. However, upon analyzing the countless friendships I have made through chess, I unfortunately cannot recall many (if any) girls whom I have met. In fact, out of a school with over 4000 students, I continue to be the only female chess player on the school’s team. Furthermore, out of 275 schools registered as part of the Arizona Interscholastic Association and 197 women registered in Arizona by USCF, I barely see any girls competing. Fortunately, I am pleased by organizational efforts to increase participation of girls in chess such as the Women in Chess Initiative by USCF. I hope that by sharing my irreplaceable experiences as a female chess player on this platform, I can empower girls to participate in the competitive chess community!