> There are much fewer female Chess players, so it is logical that there are less female GM’s
But even relative to the total number of female players, much smaller % reaches GM.
But even relative to the total number of female players, much smaller % reaches GM.
There is a variety of possible reasons this is happening, and the same effects can be seen in business (smaller ratio of female CEOs than employees) and other competitive sports historically dominated by men.
Less women also have access to top-tier coaches and the training available to their male counter-parts.
It's not just that fewer women play - it's that there are less females in the community, in the form of role models, coaches, competition, etc.
Note that the top female in chess history (and her sisters, who are both highly accomplished chess players) were heavily coached by a decent player himself from the age of 4-onward. But how many women get that similar type of opportunity?