FIDE Arbiters’ Seminar for Women: Creating Opportunities and Reshaping the Chess World
We are pleased to announce the successful organization of the FIDE Arbiters’ Seminar for Women, held as part of our ongoing commitment to support women in chess and to strengthen female representation and opportunity throughout the international chess community. The seminar was organized jointly by the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess (WOM) and the Norwegian […]
A Meaningful Visit to UNHCR and the Girls Club Project
Anastasia Sorokina, Chair of the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess, recently visited the UNHCR office, where she met with Mr. Alex Novikau, Chief Data Protection and Privacy Officer. The meeting held special significance, as Mr. Novikau was among those from whom the idea behind this initiative originally emerged – a thoughtful reminder of how strong […]
Visit in a “Fairy Tale” Club Skakforeningen ØBRO in Copenhagen!
The largest chess club in Denmark, the Skakforeningen ØBRO in Copenhagen, will celebrate its 90th birthday in 2026. As befits a club from a nation whose most famous son was a writer of fairy tales, the story of the club has both humble beginnings, a Princess turned Queen, a castle (well, close enough), and a […]
The Inaugural Pia Cramling Cup Celebrates Women’s Chess During the Rilton Cup
The FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess was proud to organise the first-ever Pia Cramling Cup, held on 2 January 2026 in Stockholm, Sweden, as part of the historic Rilton Cup. Organised in collaboration with Pia Cramling and the Stockholm Chess Federation, the event brought together girls and women from across generations in a celebration of […]
DGT Board Operator Seminar Successfully Held in Stockholm During the Rilton Cup
The FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess was pleased to co-organise the DGT Board Operator Certification Seminar, which took place on 3–4 January 2026 in Stockholm, Sweden, alongside the prestigious and long-standing Rilton Cup. Hosted at the Scandic Continental Hotel, the seminar unfolded in a vibrant chess atmosphere, with participants surrounded by one of Scandinavia’s most […]
Riga Christmas Chess Festival 2025: Empowering Girls and Women Through Chess
The Riga Christmas Chess Festival 2025 successfully took place Dec 15-21, 2025 for the third consecutive year, continuing its mission to promote chess as an inclusive, educational, and inspiring platform for young players and women. Over the years, the festival has become a meaningful tradition in Latvia’s chess calendar, with a strong focus on development, […]
Chess as a Space for Courage, Choice, and Confidence: A Workshop with Women Migrant Workers in Nepal
A Workshop with Women Migrant Workers in Nepal A First Step onto the Chessboard During Migration Week, on 21 December 2025, the Himalayan Chess Academy (HCA), in collaboration with AMKAS Nepal, hosted a special chess workshop for women migrant workers and returnees. For the 23 participants who gathered that day, this was not just an […]
Equal Prize Money and Sporting Excellence at the 11th International Francophone Chess Meetings in Marrakech
The 11th Rencontres Internationales des Échecs Francophones (International Francophone Chess Meetings – RIDEF) took place in Marrakech, Morocco, bringing together more than 100 players from 14 countries for several days of high-level competition in classical, rapid and blitz chess. Organised by the International Association of Francophone Chess (AIDEF) in cooperation with the Royal Moroccan Chess […]
I am woman, I am president: Women at the helm of national federations
Out of 201 FIDE members, only 13 have women presidents. In a slow but steady shift, more women are taking executive roles in chess and business. FIDE spoke to four women who run national chess federations. Here is what they say about the role women can play in chess away from the board. In 1971 […]
“Checkmate Violence”: Himalayan Chess Academy Uses Chess to Support Survivors in Nepal
As part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the Himalayan Chess Academy (HCA) has launched an inspiring empowerment initiative titled “Checkmate Violence: Women’s Empowerment through Chess.” This week, HCA conducted a special workshop at the Shanti Foundation Drop-In Center, an organization dedicated to supporting survivors of trafficking, violence, and high-risk vulnerabilities. […]