The Queens’ Festival 2023 kicked off with Online Blitz Qualification tournaments for Europe and Africa.
The European event attracted 108 players from 33 countries. The title of the Queens’ Festival Continental European queen went to WFM Malak Ismayil from Azerbaijan, who managed to score 10½ points in 11 rounds. Her compatriot WFM Laman Hajiyeva finished second with 8½ points, and Arya Aydogan from Turkey with 8 points. According to the tournament regulations, all three players will receive two training sessions with Women Grandmasters.
The complete list of 25 qualifiers to advance into the semifinals of the Queens’ Festival from the European continent:
| 1 | WFM | Ismayil Malak | AZE | 10½ |
| 2 | WFM | Hajiyeva Laman | AZE | 8½ |
| 3 | Aydogan Arya | TUR | 8 | |
| 4 | WFM | Head Louise | ENG | 8 |
| 5 | WGM | Sikorova Olga | CZE | 7½ |
| 6 | Hryshchenko Kamila | ENG | 7½ | |
| 7 | Omeri Eklea | ALB | 7½ | |
| 8 | WGM | Richtrova Eliska | CZE | 7½ |
| 9 | WCM | Pert Nina | ENG | 7 |
| 10 | Piddubna Bozhena | UKR | 7 | |
| 11 | WFM | Stangl Anita Dr. | GER | 7 |
| 12 | WFM | Stefanidi Maria-Anna | GRE | 7 |
| 13 | Ghitza Elena | MLT | 7 | |
| 14 | Nevska Gerda | GCI | 7 | |
| 15 | WIM | Koskoska Gabriela | MKD | 7 |
| 16 | WIM | Kanyamarala Trisha | IRL | 6½ |
| 17 | Valcu Lavinia | SWE | 6½ | |
| 18 | Valkova Angelika | UKR | 6½ | |
| 19 | Subramanian Anusha | ENG | 6½ | |
| 20 | Muratet Carmona Julia | AND | 6½ | |
| 21 | Nadanyan Kiti | ARM | 6 | |
| 22 | Huseynli Ayan | AZE | 6 | |
| 23 | Swati Singha | ENG | 6 | |
| 24 | Bhaumik Mehr | FIN | 6 | |
| 25 | Batagan Ilinca-Petra | ROU | 6 |
One hundred twenty-eight players from 22 African countries competed in another Online Blitz Qualification tournament. WIM Chadha Meddeb from Tunisia scored 9/11, tied for first place with WIM Lina Nassr of Algeria and became the Queens’ Festival Continental Queen thanks to better tiebreaks. WIM Anika Du Plessis from South Africa was third with 8 points.
The top 25 players of the event who advanced to the semifinals are:
| 1 | WIM | Meddeb Chadha | TUN | 9 |
| 2 | WIM | Nassr Lina | ALG | 9 |
| 3 | WIM | Du Plessis Anika | RSA | 8 |
| 4 | Oke Abiodun | NGR | 8 | |
| 5 | WFM | Marape Naledi | BOT | 7½ |
| 6 | Laamim Roaa | MAR | 7 | |
| 7 | WCM | Selkirk Rebecca | RSA | 7 |
| 8 | WIM | Caxita Esperanca | ANG | 7 |
| 9 | Ruth Otisitswe | BOT | 7 | |
| 10 | Ndunakazi Nobuhle | RSA | 7 | |
| 11 | WFM | Pires Luzia | ANG | 6½ |
| 12 | Khoa Lutopu | NAM | 6½ | |
| 13 | Kayyar Sana | UGA | 6½ | |
| 14 | WCM | Allam Yara | EGY | 6 |
| 15 | Marochkina Nadezhda | SEN | 6 | |
| 16 | WFM | Francis Thapelo | BOT | 6 |
| 17 | WCM | Sharell Arona Moshoboro | BOT | 6 |
| 18 | Mugide Safinah | UGA | 6 | |
| 19 | Adzinova Salima | MAR | 6 | |
| 20 | Paulo Jemima | ANG | 6 | |
| 21 | WFM | Junior Ednasia | ANG | 6 |
| 22 | Concillia Ndegwa Awuor | KEN | 5½ | |
| 23 | Michael Bridget | NGR | 5½ | |
| 24 | Milly Takali | UGA | 5 | |
| 25 | Andhin Chethanah | MRI | 5 |
This weekend two more qualifying tournaments for players from the Americas and Asia will be played. The 25 players from each continent will advance to the semifinals scheduled for July 15th. The top eight finishers of the semifinals will compete in a round-robin tournament to determine the overall winner on July 16th.
About Queens’ Festival
The Queens’ Online Chess Festival, a series of continental women’s online blitz tournaments, has been held annually since 2021. The project organized by the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess is a unique all-inclusive event aiming at developing a strong global women’s community in chess and enhancing female participation in all aspects of chess life.
This year, the festival offers a chance to participate in two competitions:
·Queens’ Women Open Tournament. Open to all female participants with FIDE ID;
·Unrated Princesses’ tournaments. For U16 (born on 1.1.2007 or later), female players with no FIDE rating.
The winners of the Queens’ Women Open Tournament and the Princess’ Tournament will be invited to the 45th World Chess Olympiad 2024 in Budapest, Hungary. The ticket, full-board 3-day accommodation and invitations to the Opening Ceremony of the Chess Olympiad 2024 for the winner and one accompanying person will be covered.
The official Award ceremony for the Queens’ Festival 2023 will also take place during the 45th Chess Olympiad.
