16-Year-Old Zoey Tang Becomes Oregon’s First Woman Grandmaster Chess Player

Oregon’s First Woman Grandmaster in Chess, Zoey Tang, Makes History at Portland Chess Club

At just 16 years old, Zoey Tang, a junior at Westview High School in Beaverton, has become Oregon’s first woman grandmaster in chess. This prestigious title, awarded by the Fédération Internationale des Échecs (FIDE), is the highest honor for women in competitive chess.

With approximately 350,000 active FIDE-rated chess players worldwide, only around 11% are women, and fewer than 500 hold the title of woman grandmaster. Tang’s achievement is truly remarkable, and she is now setting her sights on achieving the open grandmaster title.

Tang’s journey in chess began at the age of 7 in a school club, where she found the game both fun and challenging. Over the years, she has competed in over 250 tournaments, traveling across the country and internationally to hone her skills.

In 2022, Tang founded Puddletown Chess, a nonprofit chess club aimed at reaching student players in elementary and middle schools. The club’s mission is to increase scholastic participation in Oregon and create a more diverse community of young players, offering free entries to encourage players from all backgrounds to participate.

Despite the gender gap in chess, Tang’s efforts have helped bridge that divide at Puddletown tournaments, where the gender breakdown is closer to 50-50. Her dedication to the game and commitment to fostering a welcoming and inclusive chess community have earned her praise from fellow players and supporters.

Tang’s advice to novice players is to embrace losses as learning experiences and to cultivate patience and resilience. Her own journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring chess players, showing that dedication and hard work can lead to extraordinary achievements.

As Tang continues to pursue her goal of becoming an open grandmaster, she remains a shining example of talent, determination, and sportsmanship in the world of chess. Oregon is proud to have such a remarkable young talent making history at the Portland Chess Club.