Circuito Internacional Femenino 2026 – She Plays
The Circuito Internacional Femenino 2026 She Plays takes place in Talca, Chile, from November 3–7, 2026, combining an opening program on November 3 with the main FIDE-rated competition from November 4–7. The tournament is organized by Fundación Caissa and played at Club Talca, bringing together a strong international women’s field for four days of classical chess.
The main competition is a 7-round Swiss tournament with a time control of 60 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. Results count for national and international rating, and the event is registered with FIDE under Event ID 492171. The current Chess-Results starting list contains more than 50 players and is headed by IM Deysi Cori, alongside WIM Maria Florencia Fernandez, WIM Javiera Belen Gomez Barrera, WIM Ayelen Martinez and other titled players.
Before the rated tournament begins, She Plays will hold two public activities on Tuesday, November 3. An opening simultaneous exhibition is scheduled for 10:00 at Plaza de Armas de Talca, followed at 19:00 by the official She Plays launch and Meet & Greet. The tournament forms part of Fundación Caissa’s wider She Plays initiative, which promotes participation, development and leadership opportunities for girls and women through chess.
♟️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏷️ Tournament | Circuito Internacional Femenino 2026 She Plays |
| 📅 Overall Dates | November 3–7, 2026 |
| ♟️ Rated Competition | November 4–7, 2026 |
| 🌍 Country | Chile |
| 📍 Location | Talca, Maule |
| 🏛️ Venue | Club Talca – 1 Oriente 1033, Talca, Maule, Chile |
| 👤 Organizer | Fundación Caissa |
| 🔢 Rounds | 7 rounds |
| 🔄 Format | Swiss System |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 60 minutes + 30 seconds per move |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE Standard; national and international rating calculation |
| 🆔 FIDE Event ID | 492171 |
| 🎯 Tournament Director | FM Roberto Alarcón Bahamondez |
| ⚖️ Chief Arbiter | FA Melany Vildósola Canales |
| 🌐 Organizer Website | https://www.fundacioncaissa.org/ |
| 📱 She Plays Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/sheplayschessofficial/ |
| 📄 Official Bases | https://www.federacionchilenadeajedrez.cl/new/torneo/3514/ |
| 📝 Registration | https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSelCulzbXIuEoq_uI5Cm3xXlXZqD0CQC8EZHfHHago_j1UW5w/viewform |
| ♟️ Chess-Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1473542.aspx?lan=1 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The main She Plays competition uses a 7-round Swiss System. Each player receives 60 minutes for the game plus a 30-second increment after every move, making this a Standard/Classical tournament.
The event is registered for both national and international rating calculation. Pairings and tournament administration are handled through Swiss-Manager, while the official results, pairings and current participant list are published on Chess-Results.
With more than 50 players currently listed, the field combines experienced international titleholders with Chilean and international competitors. The leading entries include IM Deysi Cori of Peru, WIM Maria Florencia Fernandez and WIM Ayelen Martinez of Argentina, as well as WIM Javiera Belen Gomez Barrera of Chile.
👥 Sections / Groups
The event is organized as one international women’s playing field rather than separate rating or age sections. All participants compete within the same seven-round Swiss tournament.
The current starting list includes players from Chile and other countries, with several IM, WIM, WFM and WCM titleholders among the entries. Since the participant list may continue to change before the tournament, players should use the official Chess-Results page for the latest confirmed field.
📅 Schedule
Tuesday, November 3
| Time | Program |
|---|---|
| 10:00 | Opening Simultaneous Exhibition – Plaza de Armas de Talca |
| 19:00 | Official She Plays Launch + Meet & Greet |
The opening simultaneous is announced with IM-WGM Deysi Cori, WIM Florencia Fernandez, Alondra Bagatella and GM José “Pepe” Cuenca among the invited chess personalities.
Wednesday–Saturday, November 4–7
| Dates | Program |
|---|---|
| November 4–7 | Circuito Internacional Femenino 2026 She Plays – 7-round FIDE-rated Swiss tournament at Club Talca |
Players should consult the official Bases and Chess-Results shortly before the event for the final round-by-round starting times and any technical updates.
📝 Registration
Registration is handled externally through the official organizer registration form linked from the Chess-Results tournament page.
Official Registration:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSelCulzbXIuEoq_uI5Cm3xXlXZqD0CQC8EZHfHHago_j1UW5w/viewform
Participants should also review the current official tournament Bases published through the Chilean chess federation:
https://www.federacionchilenadeajedrez.cl/new/torneo/3514/
Players should verify the current participation conditions, payment requirements and any registration deadlines directly through these official sources before completing their entry.
👤 Organizer
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| Organizer Name | Fundación Caissa |
| Tournament Director | FM Roberto Alarcón Bahamondez |
| Chief Arbiter | FA Melany Vildósola Canales |
| fundacioncaissa@gmail.com | |
| Website | https://www.fundacioncaissa.org/ |
Fundación Caissa develops chess projects in Chile with an emphasis on education, community participation and competitive opportunities. Its She Plays program specifically promotes chess participation and development among girls and women.
📍 Venue
The tournament will be played at Club Talca – 1 Oriente 1033, Talca, Maule, Chile.
Club Talca is in the central part of Talca, close to Plaza de Armas and within convenient reach of hotels, restaurants and the city’s principal services. The November 3 opening simultaneous takes place separately at Plaza de Armas de Talca, while the rated tournament from November 4–7 is scheduled at Club Talca.
🏨 Accommodation
No dedicated tournament accommodation package or official She Plays hotel rate has been verified. However, several practical hotels are located in central Talca close to the tournament area.
| Hotel | Area / Notes |
|---|---|
| Hotel Marcos Gamero | 1 Oriente 1070, Talca. Located on the same central street as Club Talca and particularly convenient for the tournament venue. |
| Hotel Diego De Almagro Talca | Calle 4 Poniente 1011, Talca. Central full-service hotel with convenient access to the city center and tournament area. |
| Hotel Stella Talca | 1 Poniente 1697, Talca. Central accommodation approximately five blocks from Plaza de Armas. |
Hotel rates and availability can change considerably by date. Players and accompanying families should therefore check current rates and cancellation conditions directly with the hotel before booking.
🚆 How to Get There
From Santiago International Airport
For most international visitors, Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (SCL) in Santiago is the principal gateway for reaching Talca.
Official airport taxis, shared transfers and public buses are available from the terminal. One practical public-transport option is to take an airport bus toward Terminal Sur in Santiago and continue to Talca by intercity coach. Another option is to travel from the airport toward central Santiago and connect with an EFE train from Santiago’s Estación Central.
Allow additional transfer time in Santiago, especially during weekday traffic, and confirm the final train or bus departure before leaving the airport.
By Train from Santiago
EFE operates the rail corridor from Santiago Estación Central toward Chillán, with Talca as one of the principal intermediate stops.
This provides a convenient option for players traveling from Santiago without a car. Tickets and the latest departure times should be checked directly with EFE before travel because services and schedules may vary by date.
After arriving at Talca railway station, the final journey to Club Talca is most practical by local taxi or another local transfer service.
By Intercity Bus
Talca has frequent intercity connections with Santiago and other cities in central and southern Chile. Long-distance coaches arrive at Talca’s principal bus terminal, from where Club Talca can be reached by a short local transfer.
Travelers arriving from Santiago Airport can connect to the long-distance bus network through Santiago’s main bus terminals. When planning a same-day connection, allow adequate time for airport-to-terminal travel and possible traffic.
By Car
Talca lies approximately 250 km south of Santiago and is reached primarily via Ruta 5, Chile’s main north–south highway.
Drivers approaching central Talca should navigate toward 1 Oriente 1033. Since the venue is in a central urban area, allow extra time for city traffic and confirm nearby parking arrangements before the first round.
International Connections
Players arriving from outside Chile will normally find Santiago the most practical international entry point. From Santiago, both rail and intercity coach connections continue south to Talca, while private transfers and rental cars provide additional flexibility for families carrying luggage or chess equipment.
For the return journey, check the Talca–Santiago schedule in advance and leave sufficient connection time before an international flight from SCL.
ℹ️ Other Information
The tournament carries FIDE Event ID 492171 and is registered for national and international rating calculation.
Official pairings, results and updates are published through Chess-Results:
https://chess-results.com/tnr1473542.aspx?lan=1
The participant list should be treated as dynamic until registration closes and the organizer confirms the final field. Players are therefore advised to check Chess-Results and the official tournament Bases again shortly before traveling to Talca.
The November 3 activities form part of the wider She Plays program and provide an opportunity for participants and the local chess community to meet leading women players before the rated tournament begins.
Additional Details
Organizer
♟️ About Fundación Caissa
Fundación Caissa is a Chilean nonprofit organization that uses chess, education, innovation, art, and culture as tools for community development and social inclusion. Its work focuses particularly on children and young people, combining competitive chess with educational programs designed to strengthen cognitive, emotional, strategic, and social skills.
The foundation began more than a decade ago as a local initiative created by educators and chess players who saw the potential of chess beyond competition. Early activities brought chess into schools, public spaces, and community centers. Over time, Fundación Caissa expanded its work into a broader educational model that also incorporates STEAM learning, creativity, technology, and inclusive community programs.
Today, the foundation operates across multiple regions of Chile and works with schools, municipalities, companies, volunteers, and local communities. Its mission emphasizes equal access to educational opportunities, while chess remains one of the principal tools used to develop concentration, decision-making, strategic thinking, confidence, and interpersonal skills.
🏆 Chess Tournaments & Activities
Tournament organization is an important part of Fundación Caissa’s chess program. The foundation combines educational initiatives with competitive events for school students, developing players, and international participants.
In July 2026, Fundación Caissa organized the Torneo Escolar de Ajedrez 2026 in Santiago. The event brought together more than 500 students from 25 schools and used separate Infantil, U14, and Juvenile categories. The tournament reflected the foundation’s approach of linking competition with learning, participation, and community activity.
The organization has also expanded into international chess through the Circuito Internacional Femenino 2026 – She Plays. The tournament takes place in Talca from November 3–7, 2026, with the FIDE-rated competition running from November 4–7 at Club Talca. It is a seven-round Swiss tournament played at 60 minutes plus 30 seconds per move and is registered for both national and international rating.
FM Roberto Alarcón Bahamondez serves as Tournament Director, while FA Melany Vildósola Canales is Chief Arbiter. The event attracts titled players from Chile and other countries, including International Masters and Woman International Masters, placing Fundación Caissa’s women’s chess program within the wider international tournament calendar.
♀️ She Plays & Women’s Chess
She Plays is one of Fundación Caissa’s principal chess initiatives. The program was created to increase female participation in competitive chess while also promoting leadership, confidence, strategic thinking, and supportive networks among girls and women.
During the first half of 2026, She Plays reached more than 200 girls aged 8–17 through in-person tournaments in five Chilean regions: Metropolitana, Valparaíso, Biobío, La Araucanía, and Los Lagos. The program also added 15 new schools and organized three regional seven-round Swiss tournaments.
She Plays operates at several levels. School and regional events introduce girls to organized competition, while international activities provide access to stronger opposition and titled players. The 2026 Talca event also includes public activities before the main tournament, such as an opening simultaneous exhibition and a Meet & Greet with invited chess personalities.
The program’s broader objective is to reduce the participation gap between male and female players. Rather than treating women’s chess as a single annual tournament, Fundación Caissa uses She Plays as an ongoing circuit that connects school participation, regional competition, development opportunities, and international events.
🌱 Education, Youth & Community Development
Fundación Caissa treats chess as an educational tool as well as a competitive sport. Its Chess for Cognitive Development program focuses on concentration, strategic thinking, decision-making, and socioemotional skills. Activities are designed for children and young people and are implemented through schools and community initiatives.
The foundation also develops STEAM workshops, combining science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics through practical learning activities. In 2026, these workshops expanded into five additional municipalities in the Santiago Metropolitan Region.
This broader educational structure distinguishes Fundación Caissa from an organization focused only on tournament administration. Chess competitions form one part of a wider program that includes classroom learning, community interventions, innovation projects, and initiatives for groups that may have fewer educational opportunities.
Its stated approach emphasizes working with communities rather than only for them. Partnerships with schools, municipalities, volunteers, and other institutions therefore play an important role in expanding the reach of each program.
📚 History & Development
Fundación Caissa traces its origins to a small educational and chess initiative created more than a decade ago. The organization began by bringing chess into local schools and community spaces after educators observed how the game could support concentration, decision-making, resilience, and respect for opponents.
As the project developed, its activities expanded beyond traditional chess instruction. The foundation began integrating STEAM education, art, technology, and social-inclusion projects while continuing to use chess as a central educational tool.
By 2026, Fundación Caissa was operating programs in multiple regions of Chile and organizing events ranging from large school tournaments to international FIDE-rated competitions. The growth of She Plays, in particular, demonstrates how the organization has moved from local educational initiatives toward a national and increasingly international chess-development platform.
The Circuito Internacional Femenino 2026 – She Plays continues that development by bringing an international women’s field to Talca while combining competitive chess with public activities and community engagement.
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