• More sport A sexual harassment scandal stirs the debate on the minority of women in chess: "They undervalue them"
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When the echoes of the complaint against the teacher and coach Alejandro Ramírez in the United States, accused of sexual harassment by eight women, have not yet been extinguished, fourteen French chess players have lit another fuse. In a kind of collective "I accuse", the chess players say in an open letter published on Thursday that such practices are common in the world of the 64 boxes, by players, coaches, referees and tournament directors. According to them, this is one of the causes of the early abandonment of chess by young women.

The original signatories do not include the main stars of French chess, but it has already been signed by chess players from other countries, such as the Spanish Patricia Llaneza, the British Jovanka Houska and the American Jennifer Shahade, who uncovered the Ramírez scandal in the United States and has become a standard-bearer of the cause. The French Chess Federation itself has assured that it is "together with the victims and witnesses of sexist and sexual violence".

"It's so powerful to see so many top-tier chess players in France speak out loud and clear against misogyny and violence in our beloved game. This can no longer be minimized or silenced. Proud to add my name to her letter," Shahade wrote on Twitter.

"We have suffered sexist or sexual violence"

"We, women chess players, coaches, referees and directors, have suffered sexist or sexual violence perpetrated by chess players, coaches, referees and directors," the letter begins. "We are convinced that this harassment and assault remains one of the main reasons why women and girls, especially in adolescence, stop playing chess."

"In the face of these acts of violence, we have remained silent for too long. However, remaining silent means carrying only the burden of shame. Finding the words and courage to speak can take time, but we believe it is necessary and healing."

"Today we speak out and encourage all the players to denounce the violence they have suffered. So that fear and guilt change sides. So that perpetrators can no longer act with impunity So that players, coaches, referees, managers and supportive parents are aware of the scope of the problem and can be part of the solution. Your vigilance, support and steadfastness are essential."

MESSAGE TO VICTIMS

The document ends with a direct message to the victims: "To anyone who has suffered sexist or sexual violence, we want to say: You are not alone. We believe you. We'll be there for you."

Among the original signatories are female grandmasters (Mitra Hejazipour and Andreea Navrotescu), international masters and FIDE masters. Although at the moment the great stars of French chess have not signed the letter, the level of the signatories, among whom there are several elite players, cannot be disdained at all.

The French federation has also expressed its "full support" for the complainants, and has offered resources and help to report the case to the Ministry of Sports. "Together with the association Coloso con pies de barro and with the tools put in place by the State, the FFE promotes freedom of expression and accompanies victims and witnesses of sexual and gender violence."

Another of the most authoritative voices in world chess, Susan Polgar, also denounced when the case of Ramírez was uncovered that she herself had accused a player years ago, without any success. "Not only did they do nothing, but they severely punished me and blacklisted me," he said.

Last month, the player and referee Patricia Llaneza, one of the signatories of the French document, reeled off four keys to harassment in chess. "Yes, women are harassed at tournaments. No, not all women and not all tournaments, and (before some start screaming, not all men are bullies. Yes, it still happens even if you say it doesn't happen. And no, it's not going to end up denying it."

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