Mission

She Plays To Win (SPTW) is a non-profit organisation whose aim is to encourage more girls to learn, play and benefit from chess.

Chess is an incredible thing- there’s a reason it’s been around for over 1500 years. But it’s more than just a game. Chess’ unique level playing field means it’s a game of pure strategy, and learning and playing the game gives people strategic skills and confidence that will last a lifetime and define the course of their lives. It’s no wonder that many who played chess at a young age went on to do amazing things, particularly in the worlds of science, technology, engineering and maths.

But there’s a problem. At a young age, not enough girls are learning and playing the game. It’s thought that as few as 1 in 10 young chess players are girls. And this matters, because it’s not just chess where there is a gender gap. Women account for only a quarter of the roles in the STEM workforce, industries that not only provide disproportionate security and prosperity, but are vital in helping to define what the world looks like. Getting more girls into chess cannot change this alone, but it can and will close the gap, and create more female leaders of tomorrow in these fields.

It’s time to give more girls the best possible opening move in life.

SPTW is focused on girls’ chess in:

• Primary School (Under 11) 

• Secondary School (Under 18) 

• University (Under 28) 

These aims are in line with the ECF ‘Development of Women’s Chess Progress Plan’ (June 2019) 

• Encouraging and facilitating chess as a social and competitive activity 

• Encouraging juniors to continue to play chess as they move into adulthood

• Increase female membership of the ECF

• Encouraging and developing social chess