Over 800 female players from 124 countries participated in the third edition of the Queens' Online Chess Festival, a series of continental women's online blitz tournaments that took place from July 2-16. The ambitious global project aiming at connecting women chess players from around the world was organized by FIDE Commission for Women's Chess.

The festival program included two competitions: Queens' Women Open Tournament (all female participants with FIDE ID) and Unrated Princesses' tournament (for girls without FIDE ID competing in U9 and U16 categories). 

The Queens' Women Open Tournament saw the triumph of IM Deysi Cori from Peru, with WIM Nguyen Hong Anh and WGM Hoang Thi Bao Tram (both of Vietnam) finishing second and third, respectively.

In the Unrated Princesses' tournament, Melissa Wong from Malaysia scored 5 points and emerged as the winner in the U9 age category. Rajakaruna R M Sayuni Suhansa, with 4½ points and Lyayan Batyrova with 4 points, took second and third places, respectively.

Medals in the older category – U16 girls – were won by Divya Bhavani Chembrolu from India (1st place, 7 points), Dariya Aukenova (2nd place, 5½ points) and Chetana Gopalakrishnan (3rd place, 4½ points).

It is worth mentioning that refugee girls from FIDE's "Chess for protection" project also took part in the Unrated Princesses' tournament. Fifteen female students from Kenya, representing Angelina Jolie Primary School, Morneau Shepell Secondary School and Bhar-El-Naam Primary School, were competing in U9 and U16 categories.

The main prize for the winners was really impressive! The winners of both events are invited to the 45th World Chess Olympiad 2024 in Budapest, Hungary. The ticket, full-board accommodation for 3 days and invitations to the Opening Ceremony of the Chess Olympiad 2024 for the winner and one accompanying person will be covered. In addition, the medal-winners and the top finishers in continental qualifications received training sessions with female grandmasters.

"We believe that more chess tournaments for female players can bring lasting results to boost female participation in all aspects of chess life. Therefore we offer our winners training sessions with leading chess trainers as well as the chance to see the flagship FIDE event – the Chess Olympiad," said the Chair of the FIDE WOM Commission, Anastasia Sorokina.

The finals of the Queens' Women Open Tournament and the Unrated Princesses' tournaments were streamed live on the FIDE Youtube channel with expert commentary by WGM Anastasiya Karlovich and WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni.

Link to the broadcast: youtu.be/72vbPHkL1A0