Gender equity representation an ongoing challenge

By Mackenzie Currier

“There’s a wide range of people who come from a wide range of ages, genders, and backgrounds in all sorts of ways. But, I guess everyone likes to chat, (and) everyone’s into chess, and so it creates a common denominator,” shares one player at Pub Chess Toronto. 

Every Wednesday, at 7:45 p.m., Pub Chess Toronto hosts a Blitz chess tournament at the Madison Avenue Pub at 14 Madison Ave. Contestants play five (3+2) games against similarly ranked players and are paired with opponents with the same number of losses after each round. For a $15 entry fee, contestants get a drink/food token, potential bragging rights/medal, and a sense of community.

Liza Orlova and Geordie Derraugh founded Pub Chess Toronto 10 years ago with the aim of creating a more casual vibe and growing the chess community. What started with a collection of friends developed into a weekly ritual for 20-30 people, before exploding to over 100 people after COVID. The chess club became renowned, with Grandmasters Magnus Carlsen and Hikaru Nakamura attending. “I don’t really help out anymore, but I’m really happy to just come and play. I come almost every week and just see what it’s grown into,” shared Derraugh.

Chess nights and games happen almost every day of the week in Toronto. For some, the draw of the Madison Avenue event is the drink/food ticket. Some discovered it online or through word of mouth. People come from all over the city, with one guest commuting from North York for the chance to play in person. Neil Goel, the current club organizer, explained that, of the clubs in the city, their group is on an “intermediate scale,” but anyone who knows the pieces more is welcome to join in. They are encouraging beginners and players of all different skill levels to be a part of the club. 

Goel has worked hard to create a fun, organic space where people can bond over their shared love of chess. Though he originally joined the club to improve his craft, Goel now focuses more on the club’s social aspect than on the chess side. Though most contestants are kind, Goel reveals that he has had to remove players with ill intent. 

Chess is an extremely male-dominated sport, with only 11 per cent of FIDE-rated players being female in 2020. A 2025 study by Li, Glickman, and Chabris found that female underrepresentation can be explained by the greater number of boys who enter chess at the lowest levels. A 2023 study by Arnold et al. shows that bias among parents and mentors of young female players, who believe they are less capable than their male counterparts, also contributes to this divide. This bias is ingrained in the community, with many women experiencing sexism, harassment, and being underestimated.

“In my experience, hostile. I can see why other girls might not want to come,” shares first-time Pub Chess goer Courtney about her experience with the chess community. Being the only girl in her Sudbury chess club, she hoped that Pub Chess Toronto might have a more even split of men and women, but she found there was still an underrepresentation of female players. Goel has worked hard to be someone women can open up to about issues they are experiencing and has tried to encourage more women to join the club with events such as “women play free.” 

“You deserve to enjoy your hobby regardless of your skill level. And you deserve to do so safely in a space that feels welcoming to you” shared Goel.

This chess night is a popular choice for newcomers, with the universal language of chess serving as a connector. 

For newcomer Elena Kucherenko, chess is more than a weeknight hobby. Her father fostered a passion for the sport, teaching her and enrolling her in a chess club at age 5. The sport is extremely popular in her home country of Ukraine, with the government supporting clubs and education programs. 

Eventually, she earned the title of Woman Candidate Master and later became a chess coach.  Kucherenko was running a chess club for children in Ukraine before evacuating to Canada during the war. “I was very upset because of the political situation in my country, and that’s why I started to visit the chess club, to be distracted from political views, to enjoy chess.” She now works as a chess coach and enjoys spending time with the friends she’s made at these events.

“It’s putting people who are smart, educated, friendly, and willing to develop themselves for all their lives together. So that’s why I enjoy this community. I support it.” shared Kucherenko.

For those interested, you can learn more through their social media: pubchesstoronto.

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