Mothers who compete in elite chess will be able to benefit from a new set of family support policies, implemented by Fide (International Chess Federation) at major events from 2026, as part of its “ChessMom” initiative, the regulatory body announced this Tuesday (4).
The program, initially tested at the 2024 Olympics in Budapest, was developed to help professional players balance motherhood with competition and will also be applied to future World Cups.
Under the new model, mothers with children under two years of age will be entitled to logistical and financial assistance, including travel and accommodation for a companion.
“The objective is simple: no woman should have to choose between motherhood and her career as a professional chess player,” said Francisco J. Cruz Arce, of Fide’s women’s commission.
Up to ten players will be supported by the expanded program, with Fide reimbursing up to one thousand euros (R$6,186) for companions’ travel costs and recognizing both the companion and the child as part of the official national delegation, guaranteeing access to meals, accommodation and competition venues.
The current Fide World Cup in Goa, India, had only one woman registered, 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh.
The women’s chess Olympiad, however, features 50 players from ten countries. In 2024, six mothers received support through the program —Alina Kashlinskaya (Poland), Nana Dzagnidze (Georgia), Yuliia Osmak (Ukraine), Aster Melake Bantiwalu (Ethiopia), Rauha Shipindo (Namibia) and Nolwazi Nkwanyane (Eswatini).
