FIDE Relaunches ChessMom Project for 2026 Olympiad

FIDE and the FIDE Commission for Women’s Chess have announced the return of the ChessMom Project for the 46th Chess Olympiad, set to take place in Uzbekistan in 2026.

First launched in Budapest in 2024, the initiative was widely praised for helping professional women chess players continue their careers while caring for young children.

«I think it is important that women in chess feel supported. We cannot take all the barriers for women away, but with programs like ChessMom we want to help professional chess players balance their career and personal life,» said Dana Reizniece, FIDE Deputy Chair of the Management Board.

The 2026 edition expands eligibility to mothers with children under two years old. FIDE will support ten players, offering up to €1,000 to cover a caregiver’s travel costs, or €500 for players from the host continent. Children and caregivers will be part of the official delegation, with accommodation and meals provided.

National federations must submit player and child details, caregiver information, and confirmation letters to apply. Full guidelines will follow once Olympiad regulations are published.

The project’s first edition supported six mothers from countries including Poland, Georgia, Ukraine, Ethiopia, Namibia, and Eswatini, proving that motherhood and professional chess can coexist.

«We are committed to ensuring that no woman is forced to choose between motherhood and her professional career,» said Francisco Javier Cruz Arce, FIDE Women’s Commission Member and Project Initiator. «ChessMom continues to grow and show that mothers who play chess are not alone.»