New FIDE Undertakings to Promote Women's Chess

I just saw this at GM Alexandra Kosteniuk's blog. She is co-chairperson of the FIDE Women's Commission along with GM Susan Polgar. Two proposals submitted by GM Kosteniuk have been approved by the FIDE Presidential Board: KOSTENIUK CAISSA AWARD PROPOSAL From the Co-Chair of the Fide Commission For Women's Chess Grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk: FIDE CAISSA AWARD The CAISSA AWARD will be awarded annually, every year in the Spring to the best female player of the preceding year. The voting will consist of 2 stages. The first phase: Any women chess player, rated above 2300 ELO, who played more than 10 rated games in the previous year (for example 2009), can apply to get this award, by sending her application to alexandra@kosteniuk.com with cc to: "WOM Fierro Martha" before February 10 of the voting year (for example 2010). She should indicate her best results of the previous year (for example 2009) and number of rated games and exact results of each tournament played. The second phase: Out of the valid received applications, candidates shall be proposed by the members of the FIDE women’s commission based on a voting system (each member of the women's commission can suggest up to three candidates, with the 1st place getting 5 points, 2nd place getting 3 points and the third place getting 1 point, by email to alexandra@kosteniuk.com with cc to: "WOM Fierro Martha" ) . The winner will be the player who gets the greatest number of points. The co-chairmen will count the number of points for each candidate and will propose the winner to the PB before the 1st quarter Presidential Board of each year. The PB shall review the results, decide in case of a tie, and after the result is known, the winner of the Caissa award is to be notified and announced officially by FIDE. The decision of the PB will be final. The winner is awarded with the FIDE CAISSA AWARD (for example 2010) and thus named the best female player of the year (for example 2009). Prizes: Grand Prize: 1,000 euros and a statuette. (The prize comes out of the FIDE Commission on Women's Chess) Winners may receive additional prizes if sponsors come forward. Winners must sign an affidavit and license and will be responsible for paying any taxes they may owe on the prize. KOSTENIUK GOLDEN ORGANIZER PROPOSAL From the Co-Chair of the Fide Commission For Women's Chess Grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk: PROPOSAL FOR NEW YEARLY FIDE GOLDEN WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT ORGANIZER AWARD. The organizers of tournaments with any time control and any system (except the official FIDE tournaments such as the World Championships, Chess Olympiads and so on) that have been held at least 3 times before the voting year with 10 or more female chess players took part in the tournament of the voting year can apply to get this award. In order to receive this award the organizers should send an application with the following information: 1. Name, place, dates and rules of the tournament. 2. Number of female participants that took part in the event. 3. Number and quantity of prizes for the female participants and other financial conditions. RULES FOR FIDE GOLDEN WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT ORGANIZER AWARD 2010. Submission should be sent to alexandra@kosteniuk.com with cc to:"WOM Fierro Martha" starting from January 1, 2010 until February 20, 2010, about qualifying tournaments that took place in 2009. By submitting an entry, each contestant agrees to the rules of the contest. Who may enter: The organizers of the tournaments with any time control and system (except the official FIDE tournaments such as the World Championships, Chess Olympiads, etc.) that have been held at least 3 times before and including 2009 with 10 or more female chess players took part in the tournament can apply to get this award. Entry deadline: All entries must be received by February 20, 2010. Judging: The winner shall be proposed by the members of the FIDE women’s commission to the FIDE Presidential Board based on a voting majority system. The name of the winner shall be announced by PB of FIDE on the 1st quarter Presidential Board of each year. The decision of the PB will be final. The winner will be notified and awarded with the FIDE GOLDEN WOMEN’S TOURNAMENT ORGANIZER AWARD 2010. The organizer of this event will receive a prize of 1,000 euros (from the budget of the FIDE comission on women's chess) which he/she should use for increasing the prize fund for women chess players in his/her next tournaments.

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As I understand it, players who meet the requirements can submit applications for 2009 events for the Caissa Award and 2009 organized events that meet the requirements will be eligible for the Golden Women's Tournament Organizer Award to be awarded in 2010. Please read the entire post for further information at GM Alexandra Kosteniuk's blog.

I wonder if Susan Polgar's tournaments for girls (open and invitational) might qualify? Not sure about the US Women's national CC as that may fall under the FIDE exception. Also not sure about the Kasparov event for girls held every year. Would state qualification championships for girls qualify? What about the U.S. Women's Open?

I hope the end result will be that more organizers put together tournaments for female players.