Dear Madam Tournament Director,
It is with great regret that I have observed a very significant decrease in the prize funds for women during the two World Cup tournaments in China. China has always organized tournaments of a very high standard, providing excellent conditions and very generous prizes. They did not strictly limit themselves to the minimum FMJD regulations (Annex 18) – and rightly so! The regulations contained therein speak only of minimum prizes:
In China, the prizes were always well above the minimum. What was also very commendable was the level of prizes for our female players. In Xintai, the prizes for women and men were IDENTICAL. In Lishui, the prize pool for men was only 50% higher than for women.
According to FMJD regulations, the minimum prizes for men are over 220% of the women’s prizes. Let me emphasize once again – the regulations define the MINIMUM. The Chinese organizers greatly exceeded them, much to the joy of our female players. Many people in Europe like to think that we are so progressive, yet it was the Chinese who always demonstrated greater respect for women draughts players.
Something has changed in 2026! The overall prize pool remained the same, but… it shifted heavily in favor of the men. The winner of the tournament in Xintai will receive over €2,000 less than in previous years! In Lishui, about €650 less. In Xintai, the total prize pool for women is a mere 62% of last year’s amount. In Lishui, it is not much better – the women’s pool is 78% of last year’s.
Since the time of the unforgettable Ada Dorgelo, tournament directors have always been men. And men… well, we know how that goes. But now, the Tournament Director is a woman. Every World Cup regulation must pass through her hands. Perhaps you (I direct these words to you, Madam TD) did not look back at previous years and, out of habit, merely verified whether the prizes met the FMJD minimum requirements. What happened to make China lower the prizes for women?!
I appeal to you to reopen talks with the organizers. It was so encouraging and motivating for many female draughts players to travel to China. This drop in prize money is substantial!
All our hope rests on you! Please utilize all your negotiation skills. And perhaps, following this momentum, it is time for a similar approach in other tournaments as well? It is high time to start this process!
This is your time to stand up for women draughts players – and the first step toward this goal should be a request to the organizers in China to return to the previous prize distribution.
