FIDE Commission for Women's Chess

In chess, sacrifices are often the key to victory. But motherhood should never require sacrificing a chess career♟️❤️

We're proud to announce the 12 participants selected for the 2026 ChessMom Project, an initiative by the FIDE Commission for Women's Chess that helps chess mothers compete at the highest level while their young children are cared for during the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand.

This year, the project has expanded - supporting more mothers than before and extending eligibility to players with children under two years of age. Every step forward brings us closer to a chess world where women don't have to choose between their family and their ambitions🙌

Congratulations to all selected participants. We look forward to seeing you and your families in Samarkand!

🔗Read more and see the full list of participants:
https://wom.fide.com/selected-participants-announced-for-the-2026-fide-chessmom-project/

♟️ Setting a new standard for women players at the Montenegro 🇲🇪 Open!

We are proud to have sponsored the increase in the Women’s Mediterranean Championship prize fund, ensuring that the top women’s prizes are equal to those in the Open Championship!

Equal prize funds are about more than money - they are about recognition, opportunity, and showing women and girls that their achievements are valued equally. Together with the organisers, we are helping to push the boundaries of what open events can offer women chess players.

👏 Our sincere thanks to the Montenegro Chess Federation, the Mediterranean Chess Association, and all partners who embraced this vision and made it a reality.

With more than 280 players from 37 federations competing in Budva starting tomorrow, we wish everyone an exciting tournament and the very best of luck!

🔗Read our latest article to learn more about this initiative: https://wom.fide.com/fide-womens-commission-supports-equal-prize-fund-at-the-mediterranean-chess-championship/

🌍 Two new women's teams are on their way to the 46th Chess Olympiad!

The Queen's Gambit Challenge, a flagship initiative of our Commission, continues to grow and create new opportunities for women and girls around the world.

Through Stage 3 of the project, the women's national teams of Bermuda 🇧🇲 and Antigua and Barbuda 🇦🇬 have completed seven weeks of intensive training as they prepare to make history. Both countries will field a full women's team at the Chess Olympiad for the very first time!

Congratulations to the players, coaches IM Jomo Pitterson and WIM Deborah Richards-Porter, and everyone involved in this inspiring journey - especially Tris-Ann Richards, who runs the project.

We can't wait to see these teams proudly represent their countries at the Olympiad! ♟️💙

♟️ International Chess Day is just around the corner, and we'd love to see your celebrations become part of our global initiative - "Chess for Everyone"!

The FIDE Commission for Women's Chess invites federations, clubs, schools, and organizers worldwide to celebrate International Chess Day while promoting the participation and visibility of women and girls in chess.

Join us by:
✅ Organizing an event around July 20.
✅ Sharing it on social media and tagging us using and
✅ Sending us a short report and 2–3 photos after your event.

🔗Read the full information on own website:
https://wom.fide.com/international-chess-day-celebration-2026-chess-for-everyone/

Let's celebrate chess together! We can't wait to see your events 🌍♟️

The FIDE Commission for Women's Chess was delighted to support a special simultaneous exhibition by the 14th Women's World Champion, Anna Ushenina, held during the 5th Caïssa Trophy in Lyon, France.

Anna took on children, school students and adult players in an inspiring afternoon of chess, sharing her experience and passion for the game with the local community.

Initiatives like these help bring accomplished women players closer to chess communities, inspire the next generation, and highlight the important role of female role models in our sport.

A big thank you to Anna Ushenina for her time and enthusiasm, and to the organisers, especially Joel Gautier, and all the local partners for their cooperation in making this event possible.

🔗 Read more about the event: https://wom.fide.com/former-womens-world-champion-anna-ushenina-inspires-players-at-the-5th-caissa-trophy-in-lyon/

Photos: Cyril Lestage / Lyon Olympique Echecs

📢 New Educational Opportunity for Women in Chess!

As part of the FIDE Educational Year 2026, the FIDE Commission for Women's Chess is pleased to announce a new Advanced Swiss-Manager Seminar for experienced arbiters and pairing officers.

🗓 17–18 October 2026
💻 Online
💲 Free of charge
👥 Limited to 30 participants (women only)

The seminar will be led by IA Michael Joseph Pagaran (PHI) and will focus on advanced Swiss-Manager functions, practical tournament management, pairings verification, troubleshooting, and complex operational scenarios.

⚠️ Please note that this seminar is intended for advanced Swiss-Manager users only, and eligibility requirements apply.

🔗 Read the full announcement, including eligibility criteria and application details, here: https://wom.fide.com/women-in-chess-fide-educational-year-2026-advanced-swiss-manager-seminar/

Today is a World Refugee Day!

Through FIDE's Chess for Protection programme and our own Girls' Club initiative, we are proud to support refugee communities by creating opportunities to learn, connect, grow and gain confidence through chess (and beyond!)💙

We remember that behind every statistic is a person with dreams, talents and aspirations for a better future.

From Kakuma Refugee Camp to new projects in Bangladesh, we continue working with our partners to ensure that more refugees - especially women and girls - have access to safe spaces, mentorship, education and opportunities to thrive 🌿

🔗Read more on our website: https://wom.fide.com/world-refugee-day-empowering-refugees-through-chess/

♟️ International Chess Day 2026 - Join our celebration! ✨

On July 20, the world celebrates International Chess Day. The FIDE Commission for Women's Chess invites everyone: federations, clubs, schools, and organizers worldwide to join us in celebrating chess while inspiring equal participation in our chess communities🙌

Whether it's a tournament, simultaneous exhibition, workshop, lecture, school activity, or community gathering - every event counts!

How to get involved:
✅ Organize an event around International Chess Day♟️
✅ Share it on social media, tag us and use 🤝
✅ Send a short report and 2–3 photos after the event, to the project coordinator at 📧 [email protected]

Together, we can celebrate chess, inspire participation, and showcase the amazing work happening around the world. We look forward to seeing your events! 🌍♟️

✨This weekend marks an important step in bringing chess to one of the world's largest displaced communities.

Representatives of FIDE, the FIDE Commission for Women's Chess, and the Chess for Protection project are in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, where a series of activities are taking place, including chess lessons and a chess tournament for children and young people in the Kutupalong refugee camp.

As part of the visit, FIDE Commission for Women's Chess Chair and Chess for Protection Project Lead Anastasia Sorokina is working together with UNHCR, Movement in Refuge, and local partners to explore the possibility of launching the next edition of Chess for Protection in Bangladesh. Commission member Monalisha Khamboo (Nepal) is also on site, training local tutors who will be able to introduce and teach chess to children in the community.

The coming days will bring further activities, including a visit by Deputy President of the FIDE Management Board Dana Reizniece and continued discussions on how chess can create meaningful educational and social opportunities for displaced children and families.

While many steps still lie ahead, every journey begins with a first move. We are proud to be working alongside UNHCR, Movement in Refuge, and our local partners to expand access to chess and create new opportunities for learning, connection, and hope through our game.

During Norway Chess in Oslo, the FIDE Commission for Women's Chess, in cooperation with the Norwegian Chess Federation and Dronningbrigaden, organized two important initiatives to support the growth of women and girls in chess.

The Queen Gathering brought together girls and women for a weekend of training, learning, inspiration, and community, while the FIDE International Organizer Seminar helped develop future chess leaders and event organizers👏

Creating opportunities both on and off the board is essential for building a stronger, more inclusive chess community.

🤝A special thank you goes to Norway Chess and to Benedicte Westre Skog, COO of Norway Chess and a member of our Commission, for generously providing entry tickets to Norway Chess for the seminar participants.

The opportunity to experience one of the world’s premier chess events firsthand was both inspiring and educational. Participants were able to observe the organization of a top-level international tournament from behind the scenes, gaining valuable insights into event management and best practices that will support their own development as future chess organizers.

🔗Read more about these activities and their impact:
https://wom.fide.com/fide-wom-activities-in-oslo-promote-learning-leadership-and-community/