The Global Women’s Online Chess Challenge “The Queens’ Festival”, a series of continental and global women’s online chess tournaments and educative side events, starts on June 11, 2021. Female players from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas will first be able to participate in the Continental Online Blitz Qualification Tournaments and those who qualify will advance to the Queens’ Online Individual and Team Finals. Organized by FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess in cooperation with FIDE Events Commission and with the support of the International Olympic Committee, the festival welcomes all women chess players from around the world of all ages and all rating groups, including unrated chess fans. 

Players will compete in four rating categories:

• Category A: > 2100

• Category B: 1800-2099

• Category C: 1500-1799

• Category D: < 1500, unrated

Each country can register four female players (one in each category) free of charge.

The registration deadline for Qualification Tournaments in Africa and Asia is extended until next Wednesday, June 9, 2021.

The registration deadline for Qualification Tournaments in Europe and America is extended until Wednesday, June 16, 2021.

For those interested in various chess-related topics, organizers have prepared seminars and networking events with special guests including Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Dinara Saduakassova, Jennifer Shahade, Susan Namangale, Regina Pokorna, Sarkhan Gashimov, Dr. Gnounewou Fopa Seraphin and others.

Registrations form, tournament regulations, seminars schedule and more information about the event can found at queensfestival.fide.com