The Unfinished Game: Decoding the Gender Divide in Chess Chess, a battle of intellect on 64 squares, should be gender-blind, yet men dominate the top echelons, and separate women’s tournaments persist. This article dissects the enduring gender gap, tracing its roots to historical exclusion, low female participation (11% of FIDE-rated players), cultural biases, and psychological barriers like stereotype threat. Women’s tournaments, designed to boost participation, can inadvertently reinforce stereotypes, while economic and social hurdles limit access to resources. Biological arguments, such as cognitive variance, pale against systemic factors. Progress shines through players like Judit Polgár and Hou Yifan, who compete at elite levels, but the gap persists due to a smaller female talent pool and cultural pressures. Through expert insights, we explore causes, effects, and solutions, envisioning a chess world where gender fades, and merit reigns. The path forward demands increa...