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Roberto Lavieri wrote on Sun, Feb 12, 2006 11:59 AM UTC:
I have found this contest in Internet, see the article:

“Chess desperately needs some glamour,” says Vladislav Tkachiev,
explaining why he hosts World Chess Beauty Contest, 1wcbc.com, a website
that ranks female chess players based not on their winnings, but on their
looks, reports Dylan Loeb McClain in The New York Times (11/27/05). His
website isn’t the only one objectifying women in the name of promoting
chess. The Internet Chess Club, chessclub.com, is also known to judge
female players based on their looks as well as their moves. And at least
one female player, Alexandra Kosteniuk, kosteniuk.com, “uses her website
to sell photos of herself posing in bikinis next to giant chess pieces.”

Most of this trend emanates “from Eastern Europe, whose players have long
dominated the sport and where cheesecake displays are less likely to draw
complaints.” Vladislav Tkachiev totally defends it, saying that it’s
important for people to realize that brains and beauty are not mutually
exclusive: “They think that it is only a game for those who are quite
inactive and unattractive and aged,” adding: “There are a lot of
attractive people, whether female or male. We decided to show this side of
chess.” And, in fact, some of the better-looking players are also the
better players period: Maria Manakova “is the fourth-ranked woman in
Russia … and is ranked eighth on the Beauty Contest site.” Alexandra
Kosteniuk “is ranked fifth in the world among women,” athough she’s only
525th overall.

Meanwhile, Jennifer Shahade, 'a two-time United States women’s champion
who has published a book about her experiences as a woman playing a game
dominated by men,' and declares herself a feminist, says Alexandra
Kosteniuk is 'good for chess' but acknowledges that the chess beauty
site 'isn’t very classy.' As for the guys, many of whom aren’t exactly
beefcake material themselves — some of them complain of being distracted
by the growing numbers of pretty opponents. However, Maria Manakova, for
one, denies she’s a distraction: 'I don’t need to distract my opponent or
do something. I can do it after the game if I want. During the game I just
want to play good chess.' ~ Tim Manners, editor

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