8 new female teams participated in the Chess Olympiad for the very first time thanks to the National Female Team Initiative «Empowering Queens of the Chessboard: 2024 Chess Olympiad and Beyond»
We are truly happy with the results of this project. We also want to emphasize outstanding chess performance that the new teams showed (note that some of the participants have only been introduced to chess thanks to the initiative a few months prior to the Olympiad!), which resulted in a silver medal in Group E for the Cayman Islands and 9 international titles for individual players!
Historic Olympiad for Women’s Chess
The 45th Chess Olympiad in Budapest marked a historic moment for women’s chess, with 8 countries sending female teams to compete for the very first time. This unprecedented participation is a direct result of targeted efforts by FIDE and the FIDE Women’s Commission to promote and support chess among women and girls globally.
In fact, this year’s Olympiad set a new record, with the highest number of women’s teams ever participating, further highlighting the growing reach and impact of these initiatives.
The arrival of these new teams opens up exciting opportunities, not just in terms of competition, but also for inspiring more girls in those countries to take up chess. Seeing their national teams play on the international stage can spark interest and help grow the game, leading to more support and development of women’s chess in these regions. This is an important step toward a more inclusive future for the sport.
It has successfully fostered the development of female teams from eight countries: Liechtenstein, Guernsey, Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, the US Virgin Islands, St. Lucia and the Cayman Islands.
Results of the Initiative
The results of the Initiative have exceeded our expectations. From effects it had on the numbers of the Olympiad itself to the effects in every separate nation that has sent new teams, it is a really powerful step forward for women’s chess. From the chess perspective, the fantastic performance by Cayman Islands which resulted in a silver medal in a Group E and also 9 international titles won by individual players, shows that great chess potential is waiting to be uncovered in every corner of the globe.
The following players received the titles:
Cayman Islands: Sucio Melinda WCM, Majid Zara WCM, Swaminathan Lia WCM
St. Lucia: Chelsea Wahid WCM, Tris-Ann Richards WFM
Liechtenstein: Sele Timea WCM
Guernsey: Nevska Gerda WCM, Strade Arita WFM
US Virgin Islands: Eve Williams WCM
Moreover, the oldest and youngest participants in the Olympiad came from these newly-formed teams, highlighting the broad impact of their inclusion.
Arianna Balcombe from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tauriel A.B. Frank from Grenada were among the youngest participants at only 9-years-old, meanwhile Pauline Marian Woodward from Guernsey was the most experienced participant in the whole Olympiad, at 84-years-old!
This diversity in age shows just how important it is to welcome new teams into the Olympiad, as it enriches the entire chess community and creates opportunities for players of all generations.
Meet the Teams
1. Liechtenstein
- Sele, Timea
- Heron, Doris
- Gillet Infante, Macarena
- Martinez Hengevoss, Thelma
- Steck, Justine Xinyuan
- Coach: WIM Natalija Popova
2. Guernsey
- Strade, Arita
- Nevska, Gerda
- Denning, Julie L
- Marie, De Carteret
- Woodward, Pauline Marian
- Coach: WFM Anu Bayer
3. Grenada
- Bernel, A.Chitan
- Achazia, N.A.Lewis
- Rockisha, Flanders
- Naziyah, S.A.James
- Tauriel, A.B. Frank
- Coach: WIM Denise Bouah
4. St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Robinson, Orisia K.
- Ashton, Molissa Francita
- Balcombe, Arianna
- Durham-Balcombe, Ronnia R
- Izuchukwu, Rebecca Precious
- Coach: FI Russel Porter
5. St. Kitts and Nevis
- Myers, Joalyn
- Rawlins, Uniqua
- Sahely, Halla
- Sahely, Mia
- Coach: WIM Deborah Richards Porter
Halla and Mia Sahely were one of the mother-daughter duos at the Olympiad!
6. the US Virgin Islands
- Eve, Williams
- Cana, Jessica
- Leah, Williams
- Lois, Williams
- Marisa, Allen
- Coach: WIM Knarik Mouradian
Eve, Leah and Lois Williams are all sisters! Eve, who played on the first board had a great event, winning a WCM title.
7. St. Lucia
- Liu, Mila
- Wahid, Chelsea
- James, Vernesa
- Leonce, Shekinah
- Richards, Trisann
- Coach: IM Leonid Sandler
8. the Cayman Islands
- Swaminathan, Laia
- Suico, Melinda
- Majid, Zara
- Patil, Anvita Niranjan
- McClenaghan, Abbie
- Coach: FI Ryan Blackhood
Team behind the success
The initiative, spearheaded by WOM Chair Anastasia Sorokina and WOM Councilor Tris-Ann Richards, along with team members Yilmaz Kartal, Paris Klerides, Akua Kosife Esse, and Monalisha Khamboo, began in August 2023.
The training program, running from March 15, 2024, to June 16, 2024, featured an impressive lineup of coaches, including IM Leonid Sandler, FM Ricko Depaune, WFM Anu Bayer, FI Ryan Blackwood, WIM Denise Bouah, IM Jomo Pitterson, WIM Natalija Popova, WIM Deborah Richards Porter, WIM Knarik Mouradian, and FI Russel Porter. Their expertise and guidance have been instrumental in preparing these teams for their international debut.
We would like to thank FIDE for making this project possible and everyone who has been involved in it – National Federations, FIDE Trainer’s Commission and all the coaches and of course all our team, especially leader of the project Tris-Ann Richards.
