FIDE Initiative ChessMom: Supporting women on and off the board

"Following overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants during the 2024 Chess Olympiad in Hungary, the ChessMom project will not only continue but expand, ensuring that more players can pursue their chess ambitions without having to choose between career and motherhood."

[Several players participated in the 2024 Chess] ... Olympiad with the support of the ChessMom initiative, which covered the cost of an accompanying caregiver, allowing the players to focus on their games while ensuring their children were cared for.

"The idea for ChessMom was conceived during the 2022 Olympiad in Chennai. Reflecting on its origins, Anastasia Sorokina, Chair of the FIDE Women’s Commission, shared:

“The idea for this project was born during the Olympiad in Chennai. While discussing with commission member Francisco Cruz, we spoke about the clear need for such support. For many women chess players who are planning to become mothers, the fear of pausing or ending their professional careers is very real. ChessMom addresses that directly — showing that it is possible to be both a mother and a competitive chess professional. This initiative is more than logistical support; it is a message that women do not have to choose between motherhood and ambition. It gives hope, security, and dignity to women at a critical moment in their lives.”"

"This announcement [which was posted on the FIDE Commission on Women Chess on 10 May, 2025.]  [It] is a message to all players who are new or expecting mothers: your place in the chess world is secure and celebrated. FIDE encourages you to prepare for participation in your national teams for the 2026 Chess Olympiad. Application details for the next edition of ChessMom will be shared in the coming months."

Source: https://www.fide.com/balancing-moves-and-motherhood-chessmom-initiative-continues/ 

GM Gukesh is crowned the 18th World Chess Champion after winning the 14-game match on 12 December, 2024 against the defending World Chess Champion GM Ding Liren.  Winning this prestigious title was an outstanding accomplishment for this 18 year old chess champion!

The chess world looks forward to following GM Gukesh during his 2025 tournaments and matches.

See link to FIDE website - Gukesh D - 18th World Chess Champion

We are organising taster chess classes!

These classes are perfect for beginners to introduce them to the world of chess.  Beginners will learn the basic rules and piece movements to get them started on their chess journey.
Chess is not just a game but also a tool to improve concentration, mental calculation, and problem-solving skills.  
Whether you or your child is curious about chess or you're looking to introduce them to a new hobby, this taster class is the perfect opportunity to spark their interest in this timeless game.

To be added to the list send an email request to [email protected] before 1st October, 2024.

Teaching children how to play chess offers significant benefits, particularly in enhancing their critical thinking skills. Chess is a game that requires players to analyze situations, consider various outcomes, and make strategic decisions. When children engage in playing chess, they learn to anticipate their opponent’s moves, evaluate different possibilities, and weigh the consequences of each decision. This process developes critical thinking skills.

As children practice chess, they develop the ability to think several steps ahead. This forward-thinking approach is crucial in real-life situations, where they must assess potential outcomes before making decisions. 

Moreover, chess teaches patience and discipline. Children learn that thoughtful, deliberate actions often yield better results than rushed decisions. These skills can be transferable to academic settings and everyday life, where critical thinking is essential for making informed choices.

In summary, playing chess helps children enhance their critical thinking abilities by encouraging strategic analysis, foresight, and disciplined decision-making, all of which are invaluable skills both on and off the chessboard.

(Initial research conducted by ChatGPT)

​Many parents with school age children are aware of the dreaded 'summer slide'.

​‘Summer slide’ refers to children’s loss of academic skills/knowledge between finishing their end of term in June/July and returning to school in August/September.
 
It is believed that during their summer vacation, children can lose a significant amount of what they have learnt the previous school year.  This results in both teachers and students spending additional time revising/catching up at the beginning of the next school year. 
​
There are many steps that parents can take to mitigate summer slide.  For example, engaging students in activities to learn new skills, and improve their concentration and focus.  Such an activity is Chess.  Chess is an ideal activity for children to develop and/or maintain learning skills like mental calculation, concentration, critical and analytical thinking,  Furthermore, learning chess allows students to learn and build a new vocabulary.

If you have any questions about summer chess classes then let us know.