She Plays to Win Lionesses Stun 4NCL Top Division in Opening Weekend

The She Plays to Win Lionesses, newly promoted to the top division of Britain’s Four Nations Chess League (4NCL), produced a stunning upset over the opening weekend of the 2026-27 season, emerging as the early pace-setters in a division where they were widely tipped to struggle. The all-female squad, reinforced by Dutch grandmaster Anish Giri, currently ranked 11th in the world, confounded pre-season predictions to top the table after the initial rounds.

Rapid Rise Through the Ranks

The Lionesses earned back-to-back promotions to reach the elite tier, building a reputation for cohesive team play and tactical resilience. Their ascent was achieved without male players, a point of pride for the organisation. However, 4NCL regulations for the premier division mandate that each team field at least one player of each sex, a rule introduced to encourage mixed-gender participation at the highest domestic level.

Club officials had hoped to continue in the top flight with an all-female lineup, but the league upheld the requirement. The addition of Giri, a perennial elite tournament competitor and former World Championship candidate, provided both compliance and a significant rating anchor for the side.

Opening Weekend Highlights

• She Plays to Win Lionesses lead the division after the first weekend of matches.
• Anish Giri, world No. 11, anchors the team on board one.
• The squad achieved successive promotions to reach the top tier.
• League rules require at least one male player in the premier division.

Context and Implications

The result marks a notable moment for women’s chess in Britain, demonstrating that a team developed through the female pathway can compete immediately at the highest domestic level when supplemented by a world-class male player. Observers noted the Lionesses’ preparation and team spirit as key factors in their early success.

The 4NCL’s gender-integration rule, while controversial in some quarters, has in this instance facilitated a high-profile collaboration that showcases female talent alongside a global superstar. The league’s opening weekend has thus delivered an unexpected narrative that will draw increased attention to the remaining rounds of the 2026-27 campaign.

Source

This report is based on information published by The Guardian — Chess.

Official source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/oct/16/chess-world-no-11-anish-giri-leads-she-plays-to-win-women-to-unlikely-victory