[arista]

[It was a bold gambit by the
25-year-old Kenyan chess player to
disguise himself as a woman to compete
in his country's female open chess tournament.
Dressed head to toe in a burka and wearing spectacles,
Stanley Omondi had registered himself
as Millicent Awour.
But Omondi's daring move was exposed as the
organisers got suspicious by the
unknown player's success.
In his defence, he later wrote in an apologetic
letter seen by the BBC that he
had "financial needs".]


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/africa/65280560

[Oliver_W]

What? His success made them suspicious?

"This person is playing too well, she must be a man!"

The hell?

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

What? His success made them suspicious?

"This person is playing too well, she must be a man!"

The hell?

The UKNOWN PLAYER's success. The Queen's Gambit told me that the Chess world is very competitive and quite small at the upper levels and it would be very strange for a complete newbie to come out of nowhere and suddenly be beating known skilled players. It would at very least prompt people to ask where they had come from, and why they hadn't been in previous competitions.

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Soldier Boy

The UKNOWN PLAYER's success. The Queen's Gambit told me that the Chess world is very competitive and quite small at the upper levels and it would be very strange for a complete newbie to come out of nowhere and suddenly be beating known skilled players. It would at very least prompt people to ask where they had come from, and why they hadn't been in previous competitions.

But still, would this have happened if he just entered men's league as himself? Would they assume he was a Grand Master in disguise or something?

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

But still, would this have happened if he just entered men's league as himself? Would they assume he was a Grand Master in disguise or something?

He likely couldn't compete in men's chess. IIRC this, essentially, has more to do with obsession than raw ability though. Males are more likely to hyperfocus on one activity.

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Soldier Boy

He likely couldn't compete in men's chess. IIRC this, essentially, has more to do with obsession than raw ability though. Males are more likely to hyperfocus on one activity.

Fair point.

It felt like there was an undercurrent of "men are better at chess", but "men are more likely to better practised" is fine

[UserSince2005]

How can men be better than women at chess too haha

[rusticgal]

Originally Posted by Soldier Boy

Males are more likely to hyperfocus on one activity.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by rusticgal

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by UserSince2005

How can men be better than women at chess too haha

That's definitely odd considering there's no physicality to Chess.

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by UserSince2005

How can men be better than women at chess too haha

Originally Posted by Mystic Mock

That's definitely odd considering there's no physicality to Chess.

Like ToyBoy said, men are generally more likely to have devoted time in order to #GitGud at it.

[Mystic Mock]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

Like ToyBoy said, men are generally more likely to have devoted time in order to #GitGud at it.

The ****ing Incels not having a life.

Just kidding, I am impressed at how some people get so good at Chess.