Chess Queens Festival 2026 – Celebrating Girls in Chess

On Saturday 14 March, we proudly hosted the Chess Queens Festival in Discovery Bay. March is a month dedicated to celebrating women and girls in chess, and with FIDE encouraging clubs worldwide to organize events during this time, we were delighted to contribute to this global initiative.

We began the Festival at North Plaza Beach, where we gathered for a picnic. Laughter, games and creativity were the main focus. We had a giant chess board to play some games, while everyone was crafting their own chess-themed bracelets and necklaces.

After lunch, we headed to our Discovery Bay Centre for the tournament. The players were divided into two group: an open rapid section and a MFM-style B-group. The open section played five rapid games while the youngest played ten rounds of mini-games - giving them a first taste of competitive play focusing on fun. A break with another visit to the beach had to be part of this!

The B-group was closely contested, with the winner undecided until the very last round. In the end, Chava Li emerged victorious with seven points, followed by Willow Huang and Arina Lai, who both scored six and a half.

In the Open Rapid, Zanna Zee had to fulfil the role of favorite, she had won the previous girls tournaments. Her first round against Sophia Stankovic was a tough battle, but she managed to secure the win and continued her streak, ultimately winning all her games to claim the championship. Adrianne Wan surprised herself by finishing second after a decisive last-round victory against Lolly Chen, who completed the podium in third place. Sin Ming Zhang, who is still under ten, won the best U12 prize, while Chloe Qin Sun took home the best U10 award. Chava Li, already the B-group champion, added the best U8 prize to her achievements.

The Chess Queens Festival was more than just a tournament—it was a celebration of growth, creativity, and community. From beachside crafts to competitive play, every girl had the chance to shine, learn, and enjoy chess in a supportive environment. Congratulations to all our participants for making this festival truly special.

To finish: a couple of atmosphere pictures and the prize giving: