Pia Cramling facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pia Cramling
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Pia Cramling in 2023
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| Born |
Pia Ann Rosa-Della Cramling
23 April 1963 Stockholm, Sweden
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| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | Anna Cramling Bellón |
| Chess career | |
| Country | Sweden |
| Title | Grandmaster (1992) |
| FIDE rating | 2464 (June 2025) |
| Peak rating | 2550 (October 2008) |
| Peak ranking | No. 1 woman (January 1984) No. 178 (July 1992) |
Pia Cramling (born April 23, 1963) is a famous Swedish chess grandmaster. Since the 1980s, she has been one of the strongest female chess players in the world. She was even ranked as the number one woman player in the world three times!
In 1992, Pia Cramling made history. She became only the fifth woman ever to earn the top chess title of Grandmaster (GM) from FIDE, the world chess organization.
Contents
Chess Achievements
Pia Cramling is special because she earned the Grandmaster title without ever winning the Women's World Chess Championship. She came very close to winning it four times! For example, in 2008 and 2015, she reached the semifinals of the World Championship.
European Success
Pia has had great success in European chess. She won the Women's European Individual Chess Championship twice. She took home the gold medal in 2003 and again in 2010. In 2006, she also won the Accentus Ladies Tournament in Biel.
Team Play
Pia Cramling has proudly represented Sweden in many team chess events. She played in the Chess Olympiad and the European Team Chess Championship. In the Women's Chess Olympiad, she won individual gold medals three times. These were for being the best player on the top board in 1984, 1988, and 2022.
She also played for the team Cercle d'Echecs Monte Carlo in the European Club Cup for Women. With this team, she won the gold medal six times! These wins were in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2016.
Earning Her Titles
Pia Cramling first earned the International Master (IM) title in 1983. She then achieved the highest title, Grandmaster (GM), in 1992. To become a GM, players need to achieve certain high-level results called "norms." Pia earned her three GM norms in Italy (1989), Las Palmas (1990), and Bern (1992).
Family Life
Pia Cramling is married to Juan Manuel Bellón López, who is also a chess grandmaster from Spain. They met in 1984 and got married four years later. When Pia became a grandmaster in 1992, they became the first married couple where both partners held the highest title in chess!
A Chess Family
Pia and Juan Manuel have a daughter named Anna Cramling Bellón. Anna is also a talented chess player. She holds the title of Woman FIDE Master. Anna is also very popular online as a chess YouTuber and Twitch streamer.
At the 42nd and 44th Chess Olympiads, both Pia and Anna played for Sweden. Pia was the team captain on the top board, and Anna played on other boards. It's a true chess family!
