Controversial chess grandmaster Nigel Short is standing by his claim men are better chess players than women.

The international chess grandmaster is vocal about his belief that men are better chess players than women - saying it's due to biology.

The international chess grandmaster took on twenty female opponents in Auckland's Aotea square, in an event pitched as 'beauty versus the beast' and won all twenty games.

Mr Short acknowledges chess isn't a game traditionally pitched to women, which could help explain why there are so few female grandmasters.

"I believe the social factor is by far the most important, but I really do believe there is an irreducible gap which is probably down to biology. I cannot prove that but that is my hunch."

Despite today's wins, Nigel Short was beaten by female Chinese chess grandmaster Wenjun Ju at the New Zealand Chess Championships last week.

Mr Stone was lost for words when questioned about how he was beaten by a female player.

Mr Stone isn't sure what made the Chinese chess grandmaster different to her female counterparts.

"What makes her different? I don't um.. what makes her different? She plays better, I don't know exactly what her background is exactly."