The Queens’ Online Chess Festival 2025 once again brought together female chess players from all corners of the globe in a thrilling showcase of talent, competition, and empowerment. This annual festival, a series of continental online blitz tournaments, provided a platform for women and girls to compete at a high level while creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.
With a whooping 121 countries represented in this edition only, the Festival continues to grow, attracting female players of all levels. The 2025 event comprised two primary competitions: the Queens’ Women Open Tournament and the Unrated Princesses’ Tournament.
Queens’ Women Open Tournament
The Queens’ Women Open Tournament, open to all female players with a FIDE ID, saw intense continental qualifying rounds from March 1st to 9th. The top players advanced to the semi-final on March 16th, culminating in the grand final on March 28th. In total, 100 participants from the Continental Qualifiers earned a place in the semi-finals. The winners of each continental qualifier were:
Africa:
🏆 1st: Ndunakazi Nobuhle (RSA)
🏅 2nd: Rjeb Nadine (TUN)
🥉 3rd: Dube Robafadzo (ZIM)
America:
🏆 1st: Kelly Boor (USA)
🏅 2nd: Melissa Rodriguez Dominguez (CUBA)
🥉 3rd: Omya Vidyarthi (USA)
Asia:
🏆 1st: Shubenkova Veronika (FIDE)
🏅 2nd: Dakshita Kumawat (IND)
🥉 3rd: Ivana Maria Treopolsa Lasama (INA)
Europe:
🏆 1st: Machlik Monika (NOR)
🏅 2nd: Hayrapetyan Nvard (ARM)
🥉 3rd: IM Buksa Nataliya (UKR)
Queen Semi-Finals Winners
The semi-finals, played on March 16th, saw intense battles among the top 100 qualifiers. The eight best players moved on to the grand final on March 28th. The winners were:
🏆 1st place: Veronika Shubenkova (FID)
🏅 2nd place: Tianyu Jiang (CHN)
🥉 3rd place: Maria Teresa Jimenez Salas (PER)
Prize Fund of the Festival
The Queens’ Festival Chess Tournament offers a total prize fund of 1000 euros. The first-place winner will receive 500 euros, the second-place winner 300 euros, and the third-place winner 200 euros. Additionally, the winner of each continental qualifier (Americas, Asia, Africa, and Europe) will receive a physical trophy and the title of Queens’ Festival Continental Queen. The winner of the Princess Festival will also receive a physical trophy. All participants will receive an electronic certificate of participation.
Furthermore, the top 10 players in each qualification tournament (60 players in total) will be entitled to two 45-minute training sessions with Women Grandmasters.
Princesses’ Tournament: A Platform for Rising Stars
Designed for female players without FIDE ratings, the Unrated Princesses’ Tournament provided young talents with a chance to shine. The tournament featured two qualification stages, East and West, attracting 102 players in the Eastern zone and 47 players in the Western zone. Hundreds of spectators followed the games live, watching these young stars showcase their skills.
The winners of the Princesses’ Tournament qualifiers were:
Princess Western Overall Winners:
🏆 1st: Anqi Yang (ENG)
🏅 2nd: Prajna Bhugwandeen (RSA)
🥉 3rd: Natalie Hull (USA)
Princess Eastern Overall Winners:
🏆 1st: Isra Aara Ibrahim Shafeeu (FID)
🏅 2nd: Aishwarya Nedunoori (FID)
🥉 3rd: Zinneerah Annour Zaidani (MAS)
Princesses will play their final on March 29th.
A Special Highlight: Refugee Girls from Kakuma Compete on the Global Stage
One of the most inspiring moments of the 2025 Festival was the participation of 15 girls from the Girls Club in Kakuma Refugee Camp. These young players, part of an essential initiative empowering refugee girls through chess, had the unique opportunity to compete against peers from across the world. Their involvement highlighted the transformative power of chess in providing hope, education, and a sense of belonging.
We are deeply grateful to our partners UNHCR and FIDE for making this project possible and for ensuring girls can have this special opportunity.
A Festival of Talent and Inclusion
The Queens’ Online Chess Festival 2025 reaffirmed its position as a premier global event for women in chess. By bringing together established masters and aspiring young players, the festival continues to break barriers and inspire the next generation of female chess champions.
As the finals approach, the anticipation builds. Who will emerge as the ultimate Queen of the Festival?
This year, the Festival saw an unprecedented number of registrations, with nearly 1000 players signing up. However, many were unable to participate, highlighting the need for a reevaluation of the competition structure to ensure better accessibility in future editions. Organizers are committed to finding the best solutions to accommodate this growing enthusiasm and engagement.
