The Cacereno Chess Club began a series of interviews with top chess players to try to help stimulate women's chess. Natalia Pogonina was their #1 candidate for an interview.


Natalia Pogonina (WGM 2501 FIDE) is one of the most promising players on the international scene. Currently the world No. 14 and No. 3 in Russia.  Gold medal women's Olympic team in her country and won big tournaments such as 2 times European Champion sub18 and under 16, No. 1 in numerous international tournaments (2005 - Bykova Memorial, 2007 - Memorial Rudenko, 2009 - Moscow Open, etc. ). This year has surpassed the 2500 ELO barrier and is a serious candidate for the female world crown. She combines her brilliant career in chess with first steps as a model, and is also writing a book with her husband, Peter Zhdanov (they married on June 5), the revolutionary "Chess Kama Sutra"

1 . - A player like you has had the opportunity to see classmates and friends that started in chess but with the passage of time left chess.  It's something we see often in chess schools in our region, girls are initiated and then abandoned the game as the boys continue to play. Why do you think this happens?

Professional chess occupies a person’s mind, and takes a lot of his time. So, many people just view chess as a pastime, or an educational technology which is used during the school years, and then left behind. As to girls – many of them get distracted by other interests, lose motivation (since the earnings of women chess players are relatively small), start a family, etc.

2 .- The smaller clubs have few means to work, how we can promote women's chess without falling into the "positive discrimination"?

Let me quote myself, an article I have written for Chessbase:

Steps to take

Final question – what should we do to make chess more popular among girls?
 

Run an educational campaign aimed at parents to help them learn that chess is a great game that develops the person’s mind. Crush the stereotypes and provide enough information about the benefits of studying chess, and parents will be encouraging their daughters’ interest in chess!
 

Introducing chess in the school curriculum could also be a great step towards providing girls with opportunities of becoming good chess players.
 

Another key thing is sponsorship – women chess is very attractive and exciting, so it’s worth investing into. If prizes in women’s events increase to the same level as in men’s, then girls (and their parents) will have a good financial motivation to consider chess seriously.
 

Finally, the girls themselves should know that they are equal to men in terms of chess talents, play in men’s tournaments, study hard and believe in their powers. If most women start acting that way, then one day quantity will lead to quality, and the world chess elite will be enjoying more female players.

It’s essential to remember that the sky is the limit and all the obstacles are in our heads…

Press "Read more" to see the whole interview

I’d like to play chess as well as I can. However, one should progress step-by-step, so talking about 2700 is a bit too early for now. As to my chess dreams and goals – that’s too private, let it stay a bit of a mystery, ok? 

Honestly speaking, I’m a bit tired of debates on this subject. I guess each chess forum has a thread where people keep discussing why women are worse at chess than men. Many of the comments are either purely misogynistic, or (less frequently) feministic, which is equally inappropriate. I have summarized most of my views on this issue in the article ‘Women and men in chess – smashing the stereotypes” (quoted above).

As to beauty – that’s a great trump of women’s chess, which could be especially effective for promoting the game. Too bad most sponsors seem to be not aware of this...

The title is a bit provocative indeed. However, this is going to be an extremely exciting book on chess & sex. I get lots of e-mails and other messages at Pogonina.com, my Twitter, Youtube channel, etc. With questions “What is the book about?” “How can I buy it?”. Thousands of people are interested and intrigued, the top media (Times, NY Post, Toronto Star, etc.) have published articles on the book before its release. It’s funny that there are already some critics groundlessly claiming that “Pogonina’s writing chess porn”. However, how can one comment on a book which he hasn’t read, or even seen a cover of? It’s just short-sighted and narrow-minded behavior, isn’t it? Just wait until next year, and you will have a chance to read one of the greatest chess best-sellers of all time! And a presentation in Spain would be just great. 

Like most active grandmasters, I am planning to play my best game in the future. If you need a nice example of my chess, you may publish N. Pogonina – T. Shadrina (Russian Women Superfinal-08). It serves as a pretty good illustration of what my current chess style is like.

I’d like to read an interview with Anna Muzychuk.  Btw, who was the “mysterious stranger” who suggested my personality?

Thanks, I love Spain, and wish you the best of luck on winning the honorary title! However, even if it doesn’t happen, I’ll always be glad to visit your city. Just send me an invitation! 

	1. Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it on 14:50 02 íîÿáðÿ 2009 ã.
	Interview Thank her for her disposal and for providing us with some material from her website for this interview.     Spanish:  http://www.ateneodecaceres.es/ajedrez/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=84628&mode=&order=0&thold=0    English:  http://www.ateneodecaceres.es/ajedrez/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=84627&mode=&order=0&thold=0    Gracias por su colaboración. Ignacio García (Club Ateneo Cacereño de Ajedrez) http://www.ateneodecaceres.es/ajedrez

	2. Written by Þðèé on 04:24 12 íîÿáðÿ 2009 ã.
	Interview Âû çíàåòå ÷òî Íàòàøà Ïîãîíèíà îòâåòèëà íà èíòåðâüþ òàê õîðîøî ÷òî äîáàâèòü ê ýòîìó ïî÷òè íå÷åãî! Íî ÿ ñêàæó îäíî Æåíñêèå øàõìàòû íè íà ãðàì íå õóæå ìóæñêèõ! È âñå ñòàðûå ñòåðåîòèïû íàäî ìåíÿòü!  øàõìàòàõ íå ìîæåò áûòü ðàçëè÷èå ïî ïîëîâîìó ïðèçíàêó! Ýòî íå ïîäíÿòèå øòàíãè! Õîòÿ è øòàíãó æåíùèíû òîæå îñâàèâàþò!Ìîå ìíåíèå ïî ïîâîäó æåíñêèõ øàõìàò ÷òî íàäî ïîëíîñòüþ ïåðåññìàòðèâàòü ýòó ïðîáëåìó è ñäåëàòü íàîáîðîò íå óìåíüøåíèåì ïðèçîâ â òóðíèðàõ ãäå ó÷àñòâóþò æåíùèíû à âûäåëåíèå ñïåöèàëüíûõ ïðèçîâ òîëüêî çà ó÷àñòèå Æåíùèí â òóðíèðàõ! Ñ óâàæåíèåì Þðèé Âîëêîâ. http://www.womaninches.com

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