2025 FEMchess All-Girls Scholastic Chess Championship Continues to Bridge Gender Gap

Earlier this month, on January 11, nearly 90 girls came together in Fremont, California to participate in the 2025 FEMchess All-Girls Chess Championship, an event that continues to empower young women to thrive in a traditionally male-dominated space. 29 players competed in the unrated section, marking an important milestone in their chess journeys.

Photo courtesy of FEMchess

Established in 2020 as a youth-led nonprofit run by nationally ranked and titled chess players, FEMchess’s mission is to help bridge the chess gender gap, one tournament or lesson at a time. One of our initiatives involves partnering with school districts to provide free chess lessons to unhoused girls in Fremont Unified School District, offering these students an opportunity to thrive despite challenging circumstances. Through chess, we hope to instill confidence and a sense of belonging in an encouraging environment.

Highlights of the Event

As FEMchess celebrates its fourth semi-annual all-girls tournament, the impact of these events is reflected in players’ individual stories. One parent shared that her daughter has played in every FEMchess tournament thus far, and she looks forward to it every time. This event wouldn’t be possible without our amazing TD team: FIDE National Arbiter WCM Allyson Wong, WCM Kally Wen, WCM Ashley Pang, WCM Aksithi Eswaran, Jolene Liu, and WCM Anika Rajaram. Coach WCM Yesun Lee reviewed players’ games, helping them learn from every move.

FEMchess TDs and Coach (top right to bottom left) TDs: FIDE National Arbiter WCM Allyson Wong, WCM Aksithi Eswaran, WCM Kally Wen, Jolene Liu, WCM Ashley Pang, WCM Anika Rajaram Coach: WCM Yesun Lee

We were also thrilled to welcome Lauren Goodkind, who came to cheer on her students. Shout-out to IA Abel Talamantez who drove six hours to bring the Hamilton Chess Club team to compete, exemplifying the community spirit of these events. Talamantez shared, “Girls events like these are not just about chess, it's also about building community.

Hamilton (Photo courtesy of FEMchess)

At Hamilton, a major driving force in the participation of girls is having other girls and friends engage socially while playing and learning. These events create new positive experiences for girls, strengthen community, and lead to increased participation. The girls at Hamilton very much look forward to this event in particular.”

Building a Future of Opportunity

Reflecting on the gender gap in chess, FEMchess is proud to be part of the growing movement to increase opportunities for young women in the game. Since its inception, FEMchess has hosted four all-girls tournaments in California, offering our latest tournaments free of charge to ensure accessibility for girls of all backgrounds. These events provide a supportive environment that encourages girls to compete, develop their skills, and build new friendships.

Photo courtesy of FEMchess

The president and co-founder of FEMchess, Allyson Wong, remarked, “This year’s event was made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of US Chess Women, whose financial grants and partnership enable FEMchess to continue its mission of championing girls in chess. Their support, combined with the efforts of local chess clubs, ensures that every participant feels empowered. We look forward to continuing our partnerships with US Chess Women and local chess organizations to inspire the next generation of female chess players and future leaders.”

Learn more about FEMchess and their mission at FEMchess.org. Check out this video from FEMchess’s to relive the excitement of the 4th FEMchess All-Girls Scholastic Chess Championship!