In 2023 a new program was launched to support tournament organizers who host norm events for female chess players. This initiative aims to create more opportunities for women chessplayers to earn titles and compete at higher levels. Each year, the support provided has grown, allowing for even more tournaments to take place and the positive outcomes motivate us to continue.
Support for Women’s tournaments 2026
CRITERIA
- The organizing federation must be an ECU member.
- We may support only one ECU organizer – country per year.
- The closed tournament must be at least a WIM norm tournament.
- Majority of the female players must come from ECU member federations and at least 4 players competing for norms must come from ECU member federation.
- If there are no requests received for a certain Quarter, support will be moved to another Quarter.
- Requests for a financial support to be sent to our Women’s commission till May 31, 2026 for the tournaments being organized between January and June 2026 (Q1+Q2).
- Requests for a financial support to be sent to our Women’s commission till July 31, 2026 for the tournaments being organized between July and September 2026 (Q3).
- Requests for a financial support to be sent to our Women’s commission till October 31, 2026 for the tournaments being organized between October and December 2026 (Q4).
OUR FINANCIAL SUPPORT
This year we can offer a financial support to 4 organizers, as following:
- WIM norm tournament => support of 800 EUR/tournament
- WGM, IM norm tournament => support of 1100 EUR/tournament
- Financial funding will be provided after half of the rounds have been played.
PRIORITY FOR THE SUPPORT
- Organizers who have already received our financial support are eligible to apply again. However, if there are more requests received for the certain Quarter, the priority will get the organizers who has never received a support from us yet.
- Organizers of European Federations with fewer titled female players (WIM/WGM) will have a priority to get our support.
- Federations with less than three WIM titled players on their FIDE list are eligible nominate 1 male player for the closed tournament.
- Tournaments with better conditions (covering the accommodation costs, meals and no fee) will have a priority.
- For tournaments which already received a financial support from us, ECU Women’s Commission has the right to nominate one player (from countries with fewer WIM/WGM players, depending on a tournament type). ECU nominated female player should have a minimum rating of 2030 for a WIM norm tournament, or 2180 for a WGM norm tournament, depending on the tournament’s norm (in order not to lower the tournament rating average).
Please submit your request with following information to us:
- Type of the women’s tournament (WIM or WGM).
- Tournament Director.
- Country and date of the tournament.
- Tournament link, if available.
- List of the players and average rating of the players, if available.
The program is “ Supported by the FIDE Development fund. “