Kiera G is an amateur player, community builder, and creator of "Hot Girls Play Chess." In this interview, she shares how she’s leveraging TikTok to inspire more women to pick up the game, challenge stereotypes, and create supportive spaces for everyone. Kiera's journey from casual player inspired by "The Queen’s Gambit" to a content creator advocating for gender equity offers a powerful insight into how media, community, and small actions can drive change.

To improve chess, Kiera recommends making clubs and tournaments feel more welcoming to newcomers, increasing accountability for inappropriate behavior, and creating more opportunities for women to connect and support one another.


Links:

Hot Girls Play Chess: https://www.tiktok.com/@hotgirlsplaychess

Women In Chess Foundation, Advocacy Initiative: https://www.womeninchess.com/programs/advocacy-initiative/

ClubChess, https://www.clubchess.co/

Andrea Botez Coach ad (WITH KIERA’s HAND!): https://www.tiktok.com/@coach/video/7447184933774282014

Sara Herman YT: https://www.youtube.com/@zefcatt

I couldn't find one exact reference for the idea that we should lose our first 100 games as quickly as possible. It turns out it is a common saying, like adapted from the game Go. I may have heard it from Noel Studer but can't be sure. Here's a link to his channel anyway: https://www.youtube.com/@GMnoelstuder

Dr. Jose De Sousa, a FIDE Master and renowned labor economist, discusses how a simple but profound rule change in the French chess league sparked tangible progress. In this episode, Jose shares the surprising results from over 35 years of data on gender quotas in French chess. The mandate of one woman per team increased female participation both at top levels and across the community. It also dramatically improved women’s performance and closed approximately 2/3 of the gender gap between 1990 and 2018. His research, conducted with Stanford’s Muriel Niederle, highlights that quotas can motivate clubs to train and retain women, creating a ripple effect across the community.

This episode is perfect for anyone passionate about gender equity. If you believe structural change requires more than just good intentions and want to understand how targeted policies translate into real-world success, this is a must-listen.

WIM Chaudé de Silans: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chantal_Chaud%C3%A9_de_Silans

Prof. De Sousa's paper, "Trickle-Down Effects of Affirmative Action: A Case Study in France": https://chessequityproject.com/trickle-down-effects-of-affirmative-action-a-case-study-in-france

The legacy of the infamous "Vera Menchik Club" is alive and well in the psyches of modern male chess players. Dr. Maria Cubel’s research reveals that behavioral and psychological factors, likely fueled by stereotypes and social expectations, are driving women to underperform when facing men. Why do men wait longer to resign against women? And how do societal biases subtly influence every move?

In this interview, we dive into Dr. Cubel’s empirical analysis of chess data from over 58,000 games, revealing that men unconsciously play longer and with more confidence against women - again, likely motivated by deep-seated stereotypes and social pressures. These factors have been at play from the beginning of strong female players and negative attitudes have been perpetuated through the generations. Dr. Cubel discusses how changing narratives and institutional reforms can help bridge participation gaps, and why solutions must involve everyone - men, women, and the systems that shape their interactions.