Girls & Women’s Statewide Chess Championships Held at Bay View Academy

Female chess players of all ages and skill levels gathered at St. Mary Academy – Bay View on Saturday for the 2nd annual state-wide chess tournament featuring the Open Women’s Championship and Girls’ Championship (K-12).

This year’s event was built on the momentum of last year’s landmark inaugural tournament, which saw nearly 30 players compete, the largest turnout for an all-female chess event in New England history. By establishing this as an annual tradition, Bay View and the Ocean State Chess Association continue their mission to close the significant gender gap in competitive chess.

“Following the historic success of the first tournament, we remain committed to providing a space where girls and women can excel,” said Amy Gravell, President of St. Mary Academy – Bay View. “This wasn’t just a tournament; it’s an opportunity to empower the next generation of female strategic thinkers across New England.

Photos: Vivian Langston, a student at Bay View Academy, was among the participants in the All-Girls & Women’s Championships held Saturday in East Providence.

Chess is experiencing a significant boom and is growing in popularity, driven by online chess platforms. Still, the sport is male dominated with only about 11 percent of players in the United States being female. But efforts are being made to create more opportunities and increase female participation. Saturday’s event, the Ocean State Chess Association State Championship, aims to promote competitive chess among women and girls across New England.

“Last year was our first year doing this and we set the record for New England and this year we are going to rival that,” said Bay View Academy Chess coach Jared Farley, one of the event organizers.

Vivian Langston, a student at Bay View, was one of the participants at Saturday’s event. She loves the competitive nature of chess and the element of surprise the game provides.

She especially enjoys, “When you’re in a tough spot and you make a move that your opponent is surprised by,” said Langston.

About St. Mary Academy – Bay View –  is an independent, Catholic school serving a diverse population of girls from preschool through grade twelve. In the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy, we foster academic excellence in an innovative and creative learning environment. We are committed to empowering each student to be a confident, independent, compassionate and socially conscious young woman who fully lives her faith.