As part of the global celebrations of International Women’s Day this March and specifically our initiative Chess Women’s Day Celebration, the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess was pleased to support yet another inspiring event organized by our valued partner, the Himalayan Chess Academy. The Himalayan Queen’s Gambit – 2nd Edition, held in Nepal, formed part of a worldwide movement aimed at promoting participation, visibility, and opportunities for women and girls in chess.
Below is the report provided by the organizers:
We are pleased to report the successful completion of the Himalayan Queen’s Gambit – 2nd Edition, organized as part of the global Women’s Chess Celebration activities in March.
Chess has long been perceived in our community as a “men’s game,” often played in private or male-dominated spaces. By bringing a tournament into a public venue like Thapathali Chess Park, we aimed to challenge this stereotype and show that women and girls belong on the chessboard too.
The sight of female players of all ages competing openly inspired both participants and spectators, demonstrating that chess is truly for everyone. The venue, visited by many jogi and home to a lively troop of monkeys, created a unique and vibrant atmosphere deeply connected to the community. Here, young girls, including a curious 7-year-old newcomer, could experience chess for the first time, learn quickly, and feel welcomed—illustrating the real impact of making chess visible and accessible to all.
The tournament was conducted as a 7-round Swiss-system Blitz event and attracted 103 participants, ranging in age from 6 to 47 years from 31 different educational institutions and other organizations, demonstrating strong enthusiasm for women’s chess across multiple age groups.
The event also engaged diverse groups, including members of the Aghori community, who had participated in last year’s edition but were present in greater numbers this time, reflecting the growing community interest and support for this Queen’s Gambit initiative and chess. The Aghori community has also actively engaged with us in previous events such as Mystics vs Mind, highlighting an ongoing collaboration.
There were also participants from other groups, including lawyers, political figures, and community leaders, from organizations such as KUKL, showcasing how chess can unite different sectors of society around a shared passion.
Advocate Sadikshya Acharya emerged as the tournament champion, scoring 6.5 points out of 7 and remaining undefeated throughout the event. Sonalika Sarraf also finished with 6.5 points but placed second based on tiebreaks. Precious Adhikari secured third place with 6 points.
Category prizes were also awarded to encourage participation among younger and senior players, including winners in the U-7, U-10, U-13, U-16, and 40+ categories.
Age Category Winners:
– U-7: Ruthvi Singh, from Euro Kids
– U-10: Sangeeta Das, from Marvellous School
– U-13: Supriya Khatri, Shree Panchakanya Basic School
– U-16: Grishma Paudel, Greenland Highschool
– Above 40: Shivangi Nath, Aghori Community
In the school team category, Marvelous English Boarding School secured first place, followed by Greenland International School in second place, and Shree Panchakanya Basic School in third place, with Shree Panchakanya being a government school where we also conduct teaching-related outreach.
The prize distribution ceremony was attended by distinguished people from the chess and broader community, including:
– Monalisha Khamboo – Founder of Himalayan Chess Academy & FIDE Women’s Commission Member
– Srijana Shrestha – Vice President, Federation of Computer Association of Nepal
– Surendra Kumar Rai – President of the Koshi Province Chess Association
– Sanuraj Bajracharya – President of the Thapathali Park Chess Club
– Nabin Tandukar – 1988 National Chess Champion
The event created a vibrant and inclusive environment for women and girls to participate in chess, interact with experienced players, and celebrate the growth of women’s chess in Nepal, while strengthening community engagement.
We sincerely thank FIDE and the Women’s Commission for organizing the global Women’s Chess Celebration and for inspiring initiatives that encourage women and girls around the world to engage with chess.
The FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess warmly congratulates the organizers, and especially Monalisha Khamboo – Founder of Himalayan Chess Academy and a member of our Commission, on delivering such a meaningful and inclusive event. Initiatives like the Himalayan Queen’s Gambit play an important role in making chess more visible and accessible, while inspiring new generations of girls to take up the game.
We sincerely thank our partners in Nepal for their dedication and creativity in bringing chess into the heart of the community, time and time again. Their efforts are a wonderful example of how local initiatives can contribute to a truly global movement.
