June 2023

Upon check-in at about 9am, participants received multiple gifts and souvenirs generously prepared by the organizers, including a chess set with traveling bag, a T-shirt, and a pen/pencil. After a brief Opening Ceremony, where instructors introduced themselves and shared their chess stories, the morning session kicked off with participants split into two groups based on their chess levels. While Florina Zhu and Alice Dong taught the beginners the basic chess moves and tactics, the more advanced students were challenged by WIM Ellen Wang, WIM Evelyn Zhu and Claire Cheng through instructive games and puzzles.

After a fun-filled lunch break over pizza and bughouse games, the afternoon session boasted three simultaneous exhibitions. Ellen, Evelyn and Florina each took six to eight ambitious students, who were eager to prove their learnings and strengths over the battlefield of 64 squares. All instructors proudly stayed undefeated, but they were equally impressed by the fighting spirit of their students. The day had to end with the Awards and Closing Ceremony, when medals and prizes were given out to the best-performing participants; but the love for the game continued among all and the excitement to connect and support each other sustained.          

What excited everyone even more was the visits by chess organizers from nearby towns. Discussing with them on possible future collaborations towards a shared mission of promoting girls’ chess, all instructors were thrilled for the promising opportunities to work with more organizations in the area and to generate bigger impact. Moreover, thanks to the great effort by Florina and Claire, two local media, Tap In Millburn/Short Hills and West Essex Tribune, covered this festival the following week. They also co-authored an article, which will soon be published on Chess Connections magazine, where they echoed the mission of Unruly Queens initiative: “Playing chess will empower young girls embark on a journey of self-discovery and learn valuable skills that will shape their future. Together, we can break down gender stereotypes, promote gender equality, and empower the next generation of female leaders with the analytical tools that the game of chess uniquely provides.”    

For the full collection of pictures from the festival, please visit Unruly Queens’ Flickr album.

Alice joined Unruly Queens in Fall 2022 and has been dedicated since then to UQ’s weekly free online group lessons, where she generously shared her memorable positions, games, and tournaments, as well as her inspiring journey with chess. An idol for many girl players to look up to, Alice’s stories especially her new record will motivate young girls to stay with the game and to keep improving to their fullest potential.

In a recent interview with Chess Connections magazine, Alice reflected on her great success with chess and how she felt about resetting the record. Want to hear what Alice said and to learn about her next goal, please watch for the upcoming summer issue of Chess Connections.