Anna Muzychuk is a Ukrainian chess grandmaster (GM). She is the fourth woman in chess history to attain a FIDE rating of at least 2600. She has been ranked as high as No. 197 in the world, and No. 2 among women. Muzychuk is a three-time world champion in fast chess, having won the Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship once in 2014 and the Women’s World Blitz Chess Championship twice in 2014 and 2016. In classical chess, she was the 2017 Women’s World Championship runner-up.
“Grandmaster chess player Anna Muzychuk refused to compete in Saudi Arabia back in 2017. As a result, the Ukranian missed out on the opportunity to win the World Fast Chess and Blitz Championships.
The 31-year-old gave a very honest response when explaining her reasons for choosing not to go to the Middle East and compete. “In a few days, I will lose two world titles, back to back,” Muzychuk wrote on Facebook. “Because I decided not to go to Saudi Arabia.
“I refuse to play by special rules, to wear abaya, to be accompanied by a man so I can leave the hotel, so I don’t feel like a second-class person. I will follow my principles and not compete in the World Fast Chess and Blitz Championship where in just 5 days I could have won more money than dozens of other tournaments combined.
“This is all very nasty but the sad part is no one seems to care. Bitter feelings but can’t go back.” Muzychuk decided not to play in Saudi Arabia due to their stance on women’s rights.” (Chess grandmaster refuses to play in Saudi Arabia and will lose two world titles)
