Irish Woman Grandmaster Set for Chess Olympiad

Ireland’s first and only Woman Grandmaster, 20-year-old Trisha Kanyamarala from Portlaoise, Co Laois, is preparing to represent Ireland at the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Kanyamarala made history last year by becoming the first Irish woman to earn the Woman Grandmaster title. She began playing chess at the age of eight and went on to become Ireland’s first Woman International Master at just 14.

The upcoming Olympiad will be her third, and she is set to play on board one, leading the Irish women’s team. Her brother, Tarun Kanyamarala, a former Irish champion and International Master, will also compete for Ireland.

The siblings, who founded Irish Chess Technology to promote the game, are encouraging young people to take up chess and develop their skills through regular practice.

Trisha also hopes chess will receive official sporting recognition and greater financial support in Ireland, saying funding would help players compete internationally and encourage more young girls to participate.

The siblings said they are proud to represent Ireland and are looking forward to competing against some of the world’s strongest players.

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