Move over, Beth Harmon, and let Anna Muzychuk take over. I just discovered the story of Muzychuk’s brave protest against Saudi Arabian, right-wing misogyny back in 2017.
The Grandmaster and World Speed Chess champion at the time refused to defend her rapid and blitz titles in Riyadh, given the Saudi’s medieval treatment of women. She was told, for example, that she would not be allowed to go outside during the Riyadh tournament without an escort. Of course, this laughable rule did not apply to male competitors.
The Ukrainian decided to boycott the Saudis after being forced to wear a hijab and clothing covering her arms, legs, and entire body at a tournament in Iran earlier that year. This would have been the requirement at the Saudi event, too. Her boycott decision cost her competitive standing in the chess community and a great deal of money.
Vigorous protests against misogyny, racism, and LGBTQ hatred are essential. They mean even more, however, when the protester is willing to sacrifice so much in the process. We are inspired by Muzychuk’s leadership example, which is clearly needed in the fight against the ignorance and hatred inflicted on good people by insecure reactionaries from Iran and Saudi Arabia to Hungary, Russia, the United States, and all over the world.
Muzychuk is doing fine four years later. She’s currently eighth in FIDE world rankings for women and at the top of the list in seeing and seizing her leadership moment.
