One of the most meaningful prizes of the 2026 Queens’ Online Chess Festival was recently brought to life, as top finishers of the Queens’ and Princesses’ sections took part in exclusive online training sessions with former Women’s World Champion GM Antoaneta Stefanova.
The 2026 edition of the festival was a remarkable success, setting a new participation record with 991 players from around the world and once again highlighting the growing global strength of women’s chess. Organized by the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess as part of the Chess Women’s Day celebrations, the festival continues to create not only competitive opportunities, but also memorable educational experiences for girls and women in chess.
As a special reward for outstanding performances, participants joined 45-minute training sessions led by Antoaneta Stefanova, one of the most respected figures in women’s chess and an inspiring role model for the next generation.
Around 30 participants attended the sessions, where Stefanova shared games from her own career, discussed important practical and psychological aspects of improvement, and actively involved the players through questions and discussion. The participants also had the opportunity to ask the former Women’s World Champion about her chess journey, training methods, rating improvement, and the path toward becoming a titled player.
The sessions became much more than simply chess lessons. They offered young players a rare chance to interact directly with a world-class champion whose career and achievements continue to inspire women and girls across the chess world.
The FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess extends sincere gratitude to GM Antoaneta Stefanova for dedicating her time, knowledge, and energy to support and encourage the next generation of female players. Creating such opportunities remains an important part of the Queens’ Online Chess Festival mission – connecting talented girls and women with leading figures in chess and helping inspire future champions.
With each edition, the festival continues to strengthen its role as a global celebration of women’s chess, combining competition, education, mentorship, and community in a truly unique way.
We thank FIDE, all the participants, our new partner, Lichess, and of course our whole Team for this special edition and we can’t wait for the next one!
