As part of FIDE’s 2025 Year of Social Chess, each month highlights a key theme where chess contributes to a better, more inclusive society. This August, we turn our focus to Women in Chess — celebrating the passion, strength, and contributions of women and girls in our chess communities around the world.
The FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess (WOM) is proud to lead this month’s global initiative: the Women’s Chess Marathon – a worldwide movement aimed at empowering women and girls through chess. With the support of our commission, eight flagship events are taking place across the globe in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe, each helping to inspire the next generation of women in chess.
These main events will take place in:
– Africa: South Africa & Zambia
– Americas: Puerto Rico & Venezuela
– Asia & Oceania: Nepal & Australia
– Europe: Portugal & Italy
These core events form the heart of the Women’s Chess Marathon, but the movement goes far beyond them. We warmly invite organizers worldwide to join the celebration by hosting tournaments, lectures, simuls, or chess gatherings dedicated to women in chess. If you’re planning something this August, tag us on social media and get in touch — let’s build this movement together.
🇳🇵 Spotlight on Nepal: Queen’s Gambit Kathmandu
One of the eight flagship events of the Women’s Chess Marathon will take place on August 17, 2025, in Thapathali, Kathmandu, hosted by the Himalayan Chess Academy in association with FIDE WOM.
Led by Monalisha Khamboo, a dedicated member of our commission and a passionate advocate for gender equity in chess, this special event – Queen’s Gambit – is devoted to unrated women and girls, offering them a welcoming space to play, learn, and connect through chess.
Format: Rapid
Prizes: Across general and age categories
Open to: Individuals and schools
Venue: Thapathali, Kathmandu
Start Time: 10:30 AM sharp
More than just a tournament, this event is a celebration of inclusion, visibility, and opportunity – a platform to help more women and girls find their voice and confidence through the game of chess.
We thank the Himalayan Chess Academy for taking the lead in Nepal and for being part of this global movement toward a more inclusive chess community.
Find more about the Himalayan Chess Academy on their facebook page.
