Sabrina Chevannes, a women’s international chess master, has come forward with a disturbing account of rape at a chess tournament. The 36-year-old, who left professional chess in January 2017, revealed that the incident occurred when she was a teenager and under the influence of alcohol.
Describing the ordeal, Chevannes said, “I woke up in the hotel’s linen room on a table, in excruciating pain. I was confused and didn’t fully comprehend what had happened.” To make matters worse, she mentioned that her assailant and his friends celebrated the horrifying act while she struggled to continue playing the game. This revelation sheds light on the prevalence of sexual harassment, assault, and discrimination against women in the chess community.
Chevannes, who has won ten British chess titles, also shared her experiences of racism within the chess world. She revealed that whenever she performed well in tournaments, people would often accuse her of cheating, solely based on her race.
One incident she recalled involved a well-known chess master who groped her when she was just 11 years old. She had approached him for a photo, but he took advantage by placing his hand on her backside and then winked at her. Years later, at another chess event, he made inappropriate comments, insinuating that she had developed physically.
Another notable incident involved a different chess player who offered her a place to sleep in his hotel room due to her exhaustion. However, she woke up to find him touching her inappropriately. Disturbingly, he repeated this behavior on another occasion when they were both in the presence of others from the chess community.
While Chevannes understandably avoided tournaments where these individuals were present, she divulged that one of them had even sexually propositioned her in recent years, inviting her to his hotel room.
Despite these experiences, Chevannes did not initially report the incidents to the police due to warnings that she wouldn’t be believed. However, after sharing her stories on social media, the police have taken notice and are investigating her claims.
Sadly, Chevannes is not alone in facing such mistreatment. Female chess players from around the world have recently come forward, sharing similar stories of sexual assault, violence, and harassment by male players. In fact, 14 of France’s top female players united to write an open letter denouncing the sexist and sexual violence they have endured within the chess community. The letter has garnered support from over 100 women in chess within a mere five days.
Chevannes describes the chess community as an insular world with a rigid hierarchy, where individuals are judged solely based on their chess abilities. Unfortunately, women are consistently belittled and perceived as inferior. She adds, “Men genuinely believe they are superior to women in every aspect, including intellect. If a woman beats a man, it is often described as ‘raping’ him.”
The revelations made by Sabrina Chevannes expose the dark underbelly of the chess community, highlighting the urgent need for change and the eradication of misogyny and mistreatment within the sport.
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