The Hindustantimes has been one of the numerous newspapers that has published an article on Vladislav Tkachiev's forfeit after being heavily drunk and falling asleep at a chess board. A truly grandmaster-level PR move! It's too bad that Toiletgate, drunk GMs & their fights over a pretty female chess player seem to be the only way for chess to make the news.
However, our topic today is different: beauty contests among women chess players. In the screenshot above you can see a mention of one of them, here's another story. Opinions on this subject differ: some people believe that such contests are an excellent way of promoting chess and chess players. Others point out that women should prove their strength and earn popularity over the board, not by posing for glamorous photo shoots. Natalia Pogonina doesn't pay too much attention to such events. She finds them fun, somewhat provocative, but not that important.
And what's your opinion? Does it make sense to hold chess beauty contests? Please leave your comments here, vote in a poll (see left panel), or even ask what your friends think (using the button below).
Comments (11)
1. Written by jenya on 23:45 08 сентября 2009 г.
Отчего же не провести. Если кто на это даст деньги, покажет всю тусовку по телевизору, а потом девушки там же сыграют блицтурнир (швейцарка, 7 туров) с живыми комментариями Шипова и Макарычева - я только за. Заодно посмотрим есть ли кореляция между результатами на конкурсе красоты и в блице
2. Written by Иван Брюханов on 07:41 09 сентября 2009 г.
chess
Конкурс красоты,- довольно мрачная игра. Основная проблема шахмат - то что они отлучены от телевидения, и так было всегда , и видемо так все и останется.
3. Written by Vladimir on 15:28 09 сентября 2009 г.
chess
It is a pity that Tkachiev discredits the reputation of Russians.
4. Written by Peter on 18:13 09 сентября 2009 г.
to Vladimir
Well, Tkachiev is now playing for France, he's the reigning champion...
5. Written by phisey on 18:24 09 сентября 2009 г.
to Vladimir
Конечно надо проводить конкурсы красоты! Особенно женские. А телевидение не будет существовать вечно, интернет его поглотит
6. Written by
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
on 22:31 10 сентября 2009 г.
to Vladimir
I say have your contest.
What harm could it cause?
7. Written by Kabir on 18:46 11 сентября 2009 г.
to Vladimir
Firstly, I am not fond of beauty contests of any kind. So I am quite indifferent to the idea of beauty contests for chess players.
Such contests may give female players more media-coverage and a larger following among men but that does not mean that more people will start playing chess. I am sure there are more effective ways of promoting the game.
I am not against chess beauty contests. All I am saying is that we should not expect that they will help to promote chess.
And if chess beauty pageants are indeed held then I hope that the contestants are not asked any silly questions like in the Miss Universe and Miss World pageants.
8. Written by Vladimir on 10:51 12 сентября 2009 г.
to Vladimir
> What harm could it cause?
The people who achieved high results in business, culture, science or sport form the standards of human behavior. He forms bad standards.
9. Written by Paul on 17:43 13 сентября 2009 г.
to Vladimir
Who cares about Beauty contests? I can't believe this has got anything to do with Chess. Beauty goes over my head. I don't get off on Beauty one bit.
10. Written by Vladimir on 10:39 14 сентября 2009 г.
