Our project – the Queen’s Gambit Challenge launched on April 5, 2025, as a global initiative designed to reduce the barriers women face in learning and advancing in chess. With the slogan of empowerment and inclusivity, the project offered free, high-quality training by licensed coaches, accessible to women and girls from diverse backgrounds.
Over 480 women and girls from 50 countries registered, ranging from ages 6 to 71. Following the vetting process, 380 participants were eligible to participate in this first stage of the project, and began their journey through structured online instruction aimed at building fundamental chess skills and confidence.
Goals & Vision
The Queen’s Gambit Challenge was created to:
- Address the lack of access to quality coaching for women in Level 3-5 federations.
- Help developing federations establish National Female Teams
- Help countries that have never taken a female team to the Chess Olympiad to do so.
- Go beyond teaching the basic rules to cover full game development and
understanding - Encourage tournament participation among women who had never competed
- Build supportive, female-centered chess communities
It aimed to empower women to not only learn chess but to find joy, confidence, and
connection through it.
Program Structure
Participants were grouped by age, skill level, and language, ensuring accessible and relevant learning. The classes were delivered live via Zoom, with 2 1-hour sessions each week over the course of 7 weeks, from March 30th till June 8th.
Each participant was assigned to a cohort with one of nine highly qualified coaches, bringing a wealth of international experience and pedagogical diversity.
Final Tournament
The Challenge concluded on June 8, 2025, with a final tournament hosted on Lichess.org, segmented into:
- Under 16
- Over 16
- Intermediate
Participants had the opportunity to put their new skills to the test in a friendly yet competitive environment. The tournament was a major milestone, especially for many who had never played in an organized event before.
Winners:
🏆Under 16 – Beginners Only
1st 🥇 Alexa Mason (14, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) – Coach: Deborah Richards-Porter
2nd 🥈 Charlotte-Rose Francis (10, Antigua) – Coach: Ryan Blackwood
3rd 🥉 Kristyna Nzina Elisee Ndam Ziza (7, Gabon) – Coach: Khadidja
🏆Over 16 – Beginners Only
1st 🥇 Abigail Shillingford (37, Dominica) – Coach: Russell Porter
2nd 🥈 Kimlynn Jones (17, Saint Lucia) – Coach: Deborah Richards-Porter
3rd 🥉 Shemanna McLawrence (36, Dominica) – Coach: Russell Porter
🏆Intermediate
1st 🥇 Nkwanyane Ciniso Nolwazi (24, Eswatini) – Coach: Natalija Popova
2nd 🥈 Michelle Majid (45, Cayman Islands) – Coach: Jomo Pitterson
3rd 🥉 Yasmin Flanagan (45, Bermuda) – Coach: IM Jomo Pitterson
Closing Ceremony
The Closing Ceremony was held on June 8, 2025, via Zoom. It celebrated the achievements of all participants, with reflections from coaches, spotlights on standout learners, and the sharing of testimonials. The atmosphere was filled with gratitude, inspiration, and excitement for what lies ahead.
Impact
- Empowered hundreds of women and girls to begin or continue their chess journey
- Created a global sisterhood through chess
- Provided a safe and inclusive learning space
- Set the foundation for intermediate- and advanced-level training in future phases
- Inspired the next generation of female chess players and leaders
Conclusion
The Queen’s Gambit Challenge stands as a powerful testament to what is possible when access, mentorship, and vision come together. By connecting women across continents and generations, this initiative is not only transforming chess participation but shaping a movement.
We look forward to building on this momentum with the next stages of the project, including training for intermediate players in September and support for new national female Olympiad teams in March 2026.
We want to extend our gratitude to the leader of the project – Tris-Ann Richards and all the coaches involved: Dr. Denise Bouah, IM Jomo Pitterson, WIM Khadidja Laterche Steel, IM Leonid Sandler, WIM Natalija Popova, FI Ryan Blackwood, FT Sadiqah Razark, FI Russel Porter, WIM Deborah Richards-Porter.
We already can’t wait for the next stages of the project and see where it takes all the women involved!
