Over the last few months, the Swiss Queens Wednesday Series has quickly become an anticipated weekly event, with top woman players from around the world battling it out online in 3+1 blitz Swiss tournaments. Each tournament has a prize fund of USD $1,000 and is open to women with FIDE or Arena titles.

FIDE is delighted to report on the series' incredible progress and excitement, particularly during weeks 6 through 13. 

Highlights by weeks

Swiss Queens Wednesday #6

The competition reached new heights as many Grandmasters took part. The games were intense, and the leaderboard started to shift as former Women's World Champion GM Alexandra Kosteniuk displayed an extraordinary performance, putting her at the forefront of the tournament for the first time. She was joined at the top by Nino Batsiashvili and Valentina Gunina, but Alexandra's better tiebreak saw her clinch the first prize.

Swiss Queens Wednesday #7

Rivalries took center stage as key matchups (and upsets!) provided exhilarating encounters, and some new names emerged, hinting at a change in the tournament dynamic. Former World Youth and World Junior Champion IM Polina Shuvalova finished first, a whole point ahead of the field! 

 Swiss Queens Wednesday #8

This week saw surprising games and upsets, which is typical for the blitz's nature. The 2023 FIDE Women's Blitz Champion, GM Valentina Gunina (a regular Swiss Wednesday competitor and previous winner), clinched first place despite losing her final game in round 11.

Swiss Queens Wednesday #9

With more aggressive gameplay and bold sacrifices, Week 9 saw players willing to take bold risks. Several new contenders made notable breakthroughs, shaking up the leaderboard and intensifying the competition. Two-time Women's World Blitz Chess Champion WGM Bibisara Assaubayeva dominated the field, taking first place with two points ahead of the runners-up Teodora Injac and Savitha Shri Baskar.

Swiss Queens Wednesday #10

This week's winner was a familiar face who recently cemented her place as a formidable fast chess opponent by winning the 2023 FIDE Women's World Rapid Championship. IM Anastasia Bodnaruk shows no sign of slowing down!

Swiss Queens Wednesday #11 - 13

Exceptional performances from underdogs brought unexpected twists, reinforcing the unpredictability and excitement of the Swiss Queens Wednesday series. However, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk, AKA Chess Queen, displayed true dominance, placing first three consecutive weeks. 

Notably, Alexandra played each weekly event from Toronto, where the FIDE Candidates Tournament was taking place. Although her capacity in Canada was as a spectator, perhaps the high-stakes atmosphere and thrilling chess games contributed to her excellent performances!

Photo: Michal Walusza

The Swiss Queens Wednesday series represents the spirit of women's chess, providing an inclusive platform for both seasoned and emerging players. FIDE expresses gratitude to all participants, organizers, and partners for fostering a competitive and supportive environment that advances the global women's chess community.

Stay tuned for further updates, and don't miss the upcoming weeks of the Swiss Queens Wednesday series! 

For more information, visit the FIDE Online Arena website.