Recently we introduced you to the world’s best male draughts players, so it’s high time for the women! After all, what would this world be without them? Get familiar with how the world’s best female players have performed.

No. 1 gmif Natalia Sadowska

Rating: 2273 — International Grandmaster Female (gmif)

A Polish draughts player, born in 1991. At the 2018 Polish championships, Sadowska became the first woman ever to win the National Open championship — she defended the title a year later.

  • 2-time Women’s World Champion (2016, 2018)
  • Women’s European Champion (2022)
  • Women’s World Champion Rapid (2021)
  • 10-time winner of the World Cup tournaments

No. 2 gmif Olga Fedorovich

Rating: 2239 — International Grandmaster Female (gmif)

A draughts player, born in 1992, and a multiple women’s national champion. The peak of her career came in 2017, when she came very close to winning the women’s world championship but ultimately had to settle for silver.

  • European Champion U27 (2018)
  • Women’s World vice-champion (2017)
  • Winner of the 2nd World Mind Sports Games (2012)

No. 3 gmif Olga Kamychleeva

Rating: 2239 — International Grandmaster Female (gmif)

A Dutch draughts player, born in 1973. Olga returned to draughts after a long break in 2015, immediately winning bronze at the Women’s World Championship. A year later she played a world title match against Sadowska, which she lost.

  • Women’s World Champion (2003)
  • 3-time Women’s World Championship medalist (1993, 1997, 2015)
  • World Team Champion (2022)

No. 4 gmif Viktoriya Motrichko

Rating: 2230 — International Grandmaster Female (gmif)

A Ukrainian draughts player, born in 1989, and the most successful player from Ukraine. Early in her career she played mainly Brazilian draughts. The high point of her career was winning the Women’s World Championship in 2008.

  • 2-time bronze medalist of the Women’s World Championship (2011, 2021)
  • Bronze medalist of the Women’s European Championship (2022)
  • 3-time Women’s European Champion Rapid (2014, 2019, 2021)
  • Women’s World Champion Blitz (2022)

No. 5 gmif Matrena Nogovitsyna

Rating: 2224 — International Grandmaster Female (gmif)

A draughts player, born in 1991. Matrena was just 13 when she took 3rd place at the European Women’s Championship, a remarkable feat at such a young age.

  • Women’s World Champion (2021)
  • Women’s European Champion (2018)
  • 3-time Women’s World Champion Rapid

No. 6 cmff Viktoriya Nikalayeva

Rating: 2213 — Candidate for FMJD Master Women (cmff)

A draughts player, born in 2005. From an early age she has won plenty of international youth tournaments in her age category.

  • European Team Champion (2021)
  • 2nd place in the World Youth Championship G16 (2019)
  • 1st place in the World Youth Championship G13 (2018)
  • 2nd place in the Women’s National Championship (2021)

No. 7 mff Tunaara Fedorova

Rating: 2208 — Master of Federation Female (mff)

A draughts player, born in 2005, with a long list of important achievements already to her name.

  • World Cup winner (2021)
  • 3-time Youth World Champion (2015, 2019, 2021)
  • Youth European Champion (2018)
  • 3rd place in the Women’s Russian Championship (2021)

No. 8 Anneli Veski

Rating: 2198

An Estonian draughts player, born in 1973. In 2021 she returned to active play after nearly 20 years, and her former high ranking immediately placed her in the Top 10. She previously ranked #7 on the world list in 2001.

  • 13th place in the Women’s World Championship (1995)
  • 2-time Estonian Women’s Champion (1992, 1993)

No. 9 gmif Darya Tkachenko

Rating: 2190 — International Grandmaster Female (gmif)

A draughts player, born in 1983, who first became Women’s World Champion in 2005. Darya is especially strong in rapid and blitz formats.

  • 4-time World Champion Women (2005, 2006, 2008, 2011)
  • European Champion Women (2006)
  • 2-time silver medalist of the World Championship Women (2007, 2013)

No. 10 gmif Darya Fedorovich

Rating: 2189 — International Grandmaster Female (gmif)

A draughts player, born in 1992, and a multiple-time Women’s National Champion. Darya is a Women’s International Grandmaster in both draughts-64 and international draughts.

  • 3rd place in the Women’s World Championship (2019)
  • 2-time medalist of the Women’s World Championship in Russian draughts (2017, 2019)
  • 3-time medalist of the Women’s European Championship in Russian draughts (2008, 2014, 2016)

Curious how the top men compare? Read The Top 10 Draughts Players in the World.