蜜芽传媒

A row has broken out over comments by a British Grandmaster that men are better at chess than women.

Nigel Short said there is plenty of statistical evidence to back up his claims. He told 5 live, 'I'm not saying being good at chess is a necessary attribute for being a decent human being, but men are better, it's very interesting to try and establish why", he said adding "I think this should be acknowledged as a fact, rather than trying to pretend otherwise".

But his comments have been branded as sexist and ignorant by some in the game. Sabrina Chevannes, a British women's International Master, told Phil Williams that his comments were 'ludicrous'. She added, "the fact that Nigel Short is a prominent Grandmaster and figure in chess is saying this, is discouraging women from playing chess and we should be doing as much as can can to encourage the very few numbers of women left to play".

This clip was originally broadcast on Phil Williams on Monday 20th April 2015