Queens’ Online Chess Festival 2025: A Grand Celebration of Women in Chess
The Queens’ Online Chess Festival 2025 brought together female chess players from around the world in a thrilling competition. This annual event, featuring online blitz tournaments, provided a platform for women and girls to showcase their skills in an inclusive and supportive environment.
Global Participation and Exciting Competitions
With 121 countries represented, the festival continues to grow each year. The 2025 edition featured two key events:
- Queens’ Women Open Tournament – For all female players with a FIDE ID.
- Unrated Princesses’ Tournament – For female players without a FIDE rating.
Queens’ Women Open Tournament
This tournament featured continental qualifying rounds (March 1-9), followed by the semi-finals (March 16) and the Grand Final (March 29). A total of 100 players advanced from the qualifiers to the semi-finals.
Continental Qualifier Winners:
- Africa: 1st: Ndunakazi Nobuhle (RSA), 2nd: Rjeb Nadine (TUN), 3rd: Dube Robafadzo (ZIM)
- America: 1st: Kelly Boor (USA), 2nd: Melissa Rodriguez Dominguez (CUBA), 3rd: Omya Vidyarthi (USA)
- Asia: 1st: Shubenkova Veronika (FIDE), 2nd: Dakshita Kumawat (IND), 3rd: Ivana Maria Treopolsa Lasama (INA)
- Europe: 1st: Machlik Monika (NOR), 2nd: Hayrapetyan Nvard (ARM), 3rd: IM Buksa Nataliya (UKR)
Semi-Finals Top 3 Winners:
- Veronika Shubenkova (FID)
- Tianyu Jiang (CHN)
- Maria Teresa Jimenez Salas (PER)
Prize Fund and Rewards
The tournament has a total prize pool of €1,000:
- 1st place: €500
- 2nd place: €300
- 3rd place: €200
- Continental winners receive a trophy and the title of Queens’ Festival Continental Queen.
- The Princess Festival winner also receives a trophy.
- Top 10 players from each qualifier (60 players) receive two 45-minute training sessions with Women Grandmasters.
Princesses’ Tournament: A Stage for Rising Stars
The Unrated Princesses’ Tournament allowed young female talents to shine. It had two qualification zones:
- Eastern Zone: 102 players
- Western Zone: 47 players
Princess Tournament Winners:
Princess Western overall winners:
1st: Anqi Yang (ENG)
2nd: Prajna Bhugwandeen (RSA)
3rd: Natalie Hull (USA)
Princess Eastern overall Winners:
1st: Isra Aara Ibrahim Shafeeu (FID)
2nd: Aishwarya Nedunoori (FID)
3rd: Zinneerah Annour Zaidani (MAS)
Inspiring Story: Refugee Girls Compete on a Global Stage
A special highlight of the festival was the participation of 15 girls from Kakuma Refugee Camp. These young players, supported by UNHCR and FIDE, competed with players worldwide, proving that chess can bring hope, education, and empowerment.
Growing Popularity and Future Improvements
With nearly 1,000 registrations, the festival saw record participation. However, many players could not compete due to limited slots. Organizers are now working on making future editions more accessible.
As the Grand Final on March 29 approaches, excitement is at its peak. Who will claim the crown and be the ultimate Queen of Chess? The world is watching!
Photos: FIDE_chess
Source: FIDE CHESS NEWS
