She Plays To Win opens a new door at the top of club chess
A project helping girls and young women into chess has reached Britain’s top club division, and its first weekend brought a win.
The She Plays To Win Lionesses beat Sharks 2 6–2 on 11 October after a narrow opening loss to Barnet Knights. The team had climbed through successive divisions to reach the Four Nations Chess League’s highest tier.
That opportunity sits within a wider programme. She Plays To Win supports participation from primary school through university age, aiming to help girls keep playing as they grow up. It also runs online training and events.
Top-division rules require at least one player of each sex. The Lionesses recruited grandmaster Anish Giri, who won both his games; Eline Roebers also scored twice.
One weekend cannot establish lasting success, and Giri’s international commitments may limit his appearances. But the result gives a team built around girls and young women a concrete foothold at the highest level of British club competition.
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