Beginner Level Swiss-Manager Course: 223 Registrations from 81 Countries!
The FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess (WOM) is delighted by the overwhelming response to its announced Beginner Level Swiss-Manager Course, which has attracted an impressive 223 registrations from 81 countries! Due to the high level of interest, the WOM Commission has decided to organise two separate courses, allowing more women arbiters to take part and […]
FIDE WOM Commission Announces Beginner Level Swiss-Manager Course
The FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess (WOM) is pleased to announce a Beginner Level Swiss-Manager Course, an online educational opportunity designed for women arbiters who would like to learn how to use the Swiss-Manager pairing program. The course will take place on 14–15 November 2026, with sessions running from 16:00 to 19:00 Central European Time […]
FIDE WOM Holds Advanced Swiss-Manager Seminar for Women
On 17–18 October 2026, the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess held an online Advanced Swiss-Manager Seminar, bringing together 30 participants from 29 countries across four continents. The seminar was led by International Arbiter Michael Joseph Pagaran, with Yilmaz Kartal providing technical support and coordinating the event. All participants received an electronic certificate of participation. The […]
Women in Chess Survey – Report
Between 3 August and 14 September 2026 the FIDE Women in Chess Commission ran its first global survey of women and girls in chess. After duplicate submissions were removed, 672 responses from 127 federations were analysed. Respondents range from junior players to Woman Grandmasters, and include arbiters, trainers, organisers and federation officials from every continent. […]
FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess Partners with the Judit Polgar Global Chess Festival
The chess world is once again coming together in Budapest for the 12th Judit Polgar Global Chess Festival, a celebration of chess, creativity, education and the many ways the game can connect people of all ages and backgrounds. The FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess is delighted to be partnering with the festival for the second […]
A Record-Breaking Olympiad has started in Samarkand!
The 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad is underway in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, with a record number of teams competing overall, including 189 teams in the Women’s section – the largest number of women’s teams ever to compete in a Chess Olympiad. From 16 to 28 September, chess players from around the world have gathered in the historic city of Samarkand for one of the biggest events in the chess calendar. India arrives as the defending champion in both […]
FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess to hold meeting during Chess Olympiad
The FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess (WOM) will hold its 2026 Commission Meeting on 22 September during the FIDE Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan. The meeting will also be open to participants online on FIDE’s official YouTube channel. Under the theme “Beyond the Board: Women, Innovation and the Business of Chess,” the three-hour meeting will bring […]
Klaudia Kulon Wins the 11th Menchik Memorial in London
IM Klaudia Kulon of Poland won the 11th Menchik Memorial, a women-only international round-robin held in London from 24 to 30 August 2026. Vera Menchik, the first Women’s World Chess Champion The tournament honours Vera Menchik, the first Women’s World Chess Champion, who won the inaugural title in 1927. Menchik remained World Champion until her […]
Women in Chess Education #1: Meet Soumia Oukid
Around the world, women are using chess not only to teach the game, but also to help young people develop confidence, creativity, critical thinking and the skills they need beyond the chessboard. As part of FIDE’s Year of Chess and Education, the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess launched the Women in Chess Education Spotlight Initiative […]
28th Internet Based International Arbiter Certification Seminar
The 28th Internet Based International Arbiter Certification Seminar was held from 15 to 23 August 2026, organised by the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess and the FIDE Arbiters’ Commission under the auspices of FIDE. The seminar was conducted in English and featured two FIDE Lecturers, IA Alex McFarlane (SCO) and IA Sabrina de San Vicente […]