Twenty-one-year-old Trisha Kanyamarala became the first Irish woman to be awarded the title of woman grandmaster (WGM) in chess, following her high standard of play at the London Chess Classic recently. The achievement marked the pinnacle of a six-year journey for Kanyamarala, who previously became Ireland’s first woman international master in 2020, aged just 14. Trisha Kanyamarala, the first Irish woman ever to become a Woman Grandmaster in chess. She speaks appreciatively about the fact that chess has allowed her to travel the world, “from Mexico to Japan”. In September, she’ll travel to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, as part of a team representing Ireland at the 2026 Chess Olympiad.

Source: The Irish Times March 08, 2026 13:38 UTC