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 […]
ChessWave Fest 2026
We are delighted to partner once again with our long-standing partner Chess2all – Assoc. sem fins lucrativos -Xadrez Social e Inclusivo for ChessWave Fest 2026, bringing chess to Matosinhos Beach on September 5–6 for two days of play, learning, inclusion and fun! As part of the festival, the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess is proud […]
Tan Zhongyi wins second Cairns Cup as elite women’s chess takes centre stage
GM Tan Zhongyi has won the 2026 Cairns Cup, becoming the first player ever to claim the prestigious title twice. The former Women’s World Champion from China finished ahead of a world-class field at the sixth edition of one of the strongest women’s round-robin events in the world. Held at the Saint Louis Chess Club, […]
International Chess Day 2026: Celebrating Chess Across Six Continents
One month ago, on 20 July, chess communities around the world came together to celebrate International Chess Day. Today, we look back at some of the wonderful celebrations shared with the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess – and what a journey it has been: from Madagascar to New Zealand, from South Africa to Costa Rica, […]
Chess at the Beach 2026 – International Chess Day in Austria
Date: 20 July 2026Venue: Strandbad Klagenfurt, Wörthersee, Austria Chess at the Beach – Celebrating International Chess Day 2026 To celebrate International Chess Day 2026, Chess at the Beach brought the game of chess to one of Carinthia’s most beautiful public spaces: Strandbad Klagenfurt on the shores of Lake Wörthersee. The event invited visitors of all […]
Women in Chess Representation, Participation and Development Survey
We are pleased to launch the Women in Chess Representation, Participation and Development Survey – a global initiative designed to better understand the experiences, participation, opportunities, and challenges of women in chess. Women contribute to the chess community in many different ways – not only as players, but also as coaches, arbiters, trainers, organizers, administrators, […]
Saint-Tropez Celebrates International Chess Day with a Festival for Everyone
As part of our International Chess Day initiative, we have been delighted to see federations, clubs, and communities around the world embrace the spirit of the game by organizing events that bring people together through chess. Among them is one of the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess’ valued partners, Les Fous de la Vieille Tour […]
Bodhana Sivanandan Becomes Youngest Girl Ever to Score an IM Norm
The FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess warmly congratulates Bodhana Sivanandan on another extraordinary achievement – becoming the youngest girl in history to score an International Master (IM) norm. At just 11 years and four months, the English prodigy surpassed a record previously held by the legendary Judit Polgár – a remarkable accomplishment considering Polgár is […]