The Queen’s Gambit Challenge is a new global initiative led by FIDE and the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess, designed to empower female players and support national federations in building strong women’s chess teams. Running from April 2025 to April 2026, the program focuses on federations with limited female participation, offering a structured curriculum tailored for beginner and intermediate-level players.
The initiative officially launched on Sunday, March 30th, with a vibrant online Opening Ceremony. With over 480 women from 50 countries taking part, the Challenge has already sparked impressive international engagement and enthusiasm.
The event also welcomed distinguished guests, including Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board; Anastasia Sorokina, Chair of the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess; Sonja Johnson, Chair of the FIDE Planning and Development Commission (PDC) for the Americas; and Tris-Ann Richards, the project leader behind this initiative.
The program is structured in three progressive stages:
- Stage One (April–May 2025) targets beginner players and focuses on building foundational skills.
- Stage Two will guide intermediate players as they strengthen their understanding of the game.
- Stage Three is dedicated to helping national women’s teams prepare for their first Olympiad appearance.
Each participant has been grouped by skill level and assigned to one of nine expert coaches:
IM Jomo Pitterson, WIM Denise Bouah, WIM Khadidja Laterche Steel, IM Leonid Sandler, WIM Natalija Popova, FT Russel Porter, FT Ryan Blackwood, FT Sadiqah Razark, and WIM Deborah Richards-Porter.
Over seven weeks, players will follow a structured training program, concluding with a tournament to assess and celebrate their progress.
We are confident this marks the beginning of an exciting chess journey for these 480 women. With the support of such passionate and experienced coaches, they will not only learn to play—but grow to love—the game.
