46th Chess Olympiad · Samarkand 2026 · Women's section

Ireland Women at the 2026 Chess Olympiad

Ireland Women have four match wins from six and sit 53rd, three places above their starting rank. Their tournament has swung between emphatic wins and two heavy defeats, with Antonina Gora leading the scoring on 3½/5.

Starting seed56
After Round 653
Match points8
Game points14½
Match record4W 0D 2L

Squad

Player scores through Round 6

PlayerRatingGWDLScore%
Antonina Gora WCM 1946 5 3 1 1 70%
Diana Mirza WFM 1950 4 3 0 1 3 75%
Lara Putar WFM 1975 5 2 2 1 3 60%
Alice O'Gorman 2009 5 2 1 2 50%
Trisha Kanyamarala WGM 2289 5 2 1 2 50%

Tournament trajectory

Position after each round

RoundRankMPGP
Round 1 49 2 4
Round 2 91 2 4
Round 3 79 4
Round 4 44 6 11
Round 5 65 6 11½
Round 6 53 8 14½

Round 1

Ireland 4–0 Myanmar

After R1: 49th

Four boards, four wins. Ireland opened with a 4-0 sweep of Myanmar.

BoardIrelandOpponentTeam resultGame result
1 Alice O'Gorman
Black · 2009
Phoo Zum May
1575
Win 0-1
2 Lara Putar
White · 1975
Amarawatti Min
1750
Win 1-0
3 Diana Mirza
Black · 1950
Lin Htet Lin
1488
Win 0-1
4 Antonina Gora
White · 1946
Myint Myat May
Unrated
Win 1-0
Board 1 Alice O'Gorman vs Phoo Zum May Win

Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation, English Attack · Black · 2009 vs 1575

Phoo Zum May gave Alice O'Gorman the opening with 22.c4. The game had been close; it was not close afterwards. f4 was the tougher defence.

Board 2 Lara Putar vs Amarawatti Min Win

Semi-Slav Defense: Main Line · White · 1975 vs 1750

Amarawatti Min gave Lara Putar the opening with 28...Rd8 with 4:53 left. The game had been close; it was not close afterwards. Nc2 was the tougher defence.

Board 3 Diana Mirza vs Lin Htet Lin Win

Scandinavian Defense: Valencian Variation, Main Line · Black · 1950 vs 1488

Lin Htet Lin was under pressure before 30.g3; that move made the position much harder and Diana Mirza took over. Ra1 was the tougher defence.

Board 4 Antonina Gora vs Myint Myat May Win

French Defense: Steinitz Variation, Boleslavsky Variation · White · 1946 vs Unrated

Antonina Gora already had some pressure, but Myint Myat May's 12...Bc5 turned it into a clear advantage. a6 was the tougher defence.

Round 2

Ireland 0–4 Germany

After R2: 91st

Four decisive games, all the wrong way for Ireland. Germany won 4-0.

BoardIrelandOpponentTeam resultGame result
1 Trisha Kanyamarala
Black · 2289
Elisabeth Paehtz
2404
Loss 1-0
2 Alice O'Gorman
White · 2009
Hanna Marie Klek
2293
Loss 0-1
3 Lara Putar
Black · 1975
Jana Schneider
2325
Loss 1-0
4 Antonina Gora
White · 1946
Lara Schulze
2307
Loss 0-1
Board 1 Trisha Kanyamarala vs Elisabeth Paehtz Loss

Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations · Black · 2289 vs 2404

Trisha Kanyamarala gave Elisabeth Paehtz the opening with 22...Qb7 with 42 seconds left. The game had been close; it was not close afterwards. Bd4+ was the tougher defence.

Board 2 Alice O'Gorman vs Hanna Marie Klek Loss

Sicilian Defense: Closed, Anti-Sveshnikov Variation, with d6 · White · 2009 vs 2293

Alice O'Gorman's 20.Nf5 was the break in the game. There had been little in it; after that Hanna Marie Klek had a clear advantage. f4 was the tougher defence.

Board 3 Lara Putar vs Jana Schneider Loss

French Defense: Winawer Variation, Alekhine-Maróczy Gambit · Black · 1975 vs 2325

Jana Schneider already had some pressure, but Lara Putar's 40...Nd8 with 35 seconds left turned it into a clear advantage. g5 was the tougher defence.

Board 4 Antonina Gora vs Lara Schulze Loss

Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Modern Bishop's Opening · White · 1946 vs 2307

Lara Schulze already had some pressure, but Antonina Gora's 25.h5 turned it into a clear advantage. c4 was the tougher defence.

Round 3

Ireland 3½–½ Nicaragua

After R3: 79th

Ireland were in control against Nicaragua. Wins from Alice O'Gorman, Lara Putar and Antonina Gora did the damage, with Trisha Kanyamarala adding the half-point.

BoardIrelandOpponentTeam resultGame result
1 Trisha Kanyamarala
White · 2289
Abigail Carolina Cabezas Calero
1841
Draw 1/2-1/2
2 Alice O'Gorman
Black · 2009
Patricia Alvarez Gutierrez
1828
Win 0-1
3 Lara Putar
White · 1975
Luciana Yassika Paguaga Cruz
1615
Win 1-0
4 Antonina Gora
Black · 1946
Anahi Alexandra Munoz Cortez
1828
Win 0-1
Board 1 Trisha Kanyamarala vs Abigail Carolina Cabezas Calero Draw

Queen's Gambit Declined: Tarrasch Defense, Pseudo-Tarrasch · White · 2289 vs 1841

Abigail Carolina Cabezas Calero needed an escape and got one when Trisha Kanyamarala played 52.Rc4 with 2:46 left. The advantage vanished, and the draw was there from that point. Rb7 was the better way to keep the pressure on.

Board 2 Alice O'Gorman vs Patricia Alvarez Gutierrez Win

Semi-Slav Defense: Noteboom Variation · Black · 2009 vs 1828

The position was still playable until Patricia Alvarez Gutierrez played 18.Qf3. That was the point it tipped decisively towards Alice O'Gorman. O-O was the tougher defence.

Board 3 Lara Putar vs Luciana Yassika Paguaga Cruz Win

Tarrasch Defense: Classical Variation · White · 1975 vs 1615

The position was still playable until Luciana Yassika Paguaga Cruz played 33...b5 with 32 seconds left. That was the point it tipped decisively towards Lara Putar. Be5 was the tougher defence.

Board 4 Antonina Gora vs Anahi Alexandra Munoz Cortez Win

Sicilian Defense: Delayed Alapin Variation, with d6 · Black · 1946 vs 1828

The position was still playable until Anahi Alexandra Munoz Cortez played 25.b3. That was the point it tipped decisively towards Antonina Gora. Nxc5 was the tougher defence.

Round 4

Ireland 3½–½ Jamaica

After R4: 44th

Three wins and a draw gave Ireland a comfortable 3.5-0.5 win over Jamaica.

BoardIrelandOpponentTeam resultGame result
1 Trisha Kanyamarala
White · 2289
Adani Clarke
1943
Win 1-0
2 Alice O'Gorman
Black · 2009
Rachel Miller
1974
Draw 1/2-1/2
3 Diana Mirza
White · 1950
Gabriella Watson
1857
Win 1-0
4 Antonina Gora
Black · 1946
Amy Stephenson
1726
Win 0-1
Board 1 Trisha Kanyamarala vs Adani Clarke Win

Zukertort Opening: Queen's Gambit Invitation · White · 2289 vs 1943

Adani Clarke was under pressure before 29...exf3; that move made the position much harder and Trisha Kanyamarala took over. fxg4 was the tougher defence.

Board 2 Alice O'Gorman vs Rachel Miller Draw

Sicilian Defense: Chekhover Variation · Black · 2009 vs 1974

Rachel Miller had the better of it, but 51.c8=Q let Alice O'Gorman off the hook. The advantage disappeared and the game came back to level. h4 was the better way to keep the pressure on.

Board 3 Diana Mirza vs Gabriella Watson Win

Caro-Kann Defense: Maróczy Variation · White · 1950 vs 1857

Gabriella Watson had the initiative, then 20...Bc5 changed everything. Diana Mirza went from defending to winning. Nxd5 was the way to keep the advantage.

Board 4 Antonina Gora vs Amy Stephenson Win

Sicilian Defense: Moscow Variation · Black · 1946 vs 1726

Antonina Gora already had some pressure, but Amy Stephenson's 36.Rc1 with 2:14 left turned it into a clear advantage. Kf1 was the tougher defence.

Round 5

Ireland ½–3½ Iran

After R5: 65th

Iran won 3.5-0.5. Lara Putar supplied Ireland's only half-point.

BoardIrelandOpponentTeam resultGame result
1 Trisha Kanyamarala
Black · 2289
Mobina Alinasab
2317
Loss 1-0
2 Alice O'Gorman
White · 2009
Melika Mohammadi
2342
Loss 0-1
3 Lara Putar
Black · 1975
Mitra Asgharzadeh
2118
Draw 1/2-1/2
4 Diana Mirza
White · 1950
Anousha Mahdian
2110
Loss 0-1
Board 1 Trisha Kanyamarala vs Mobina Alinasab Loss

Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Maróczy Bind, Réti Variation · Black · 2289 vs 2317

Mobina Alinasab already had some pressure, but Trisha Kanyamarala's 49...Bc4 with 32 seconds left turned it into a clear advantage. Rxa3 was the tougher defence.

Board 2 Alice O'Gorman vs Melika Mohammadi Loss

King's Knight Opening: Konstantinopolsky · White · 2009 vs 2342

Melika Mohammadi already had some pressure, but Alice O'Gorman's 15.h4 turned it into a clear advantage. f4 was the tougher defence.

Board 3 Lara Putar vs Mitra Asgharzadeh Draw

French Defense: King's Indian Attack · Black · 1975 vs 2118

Very little separated Lara Putar and Mitra Asgharzadeh. The position stayed within reach for both players and the point was shared.

Board 4 Diana Mirza vs Anousha Mahdian Loss

Yusupov-Rubinstein System · White · 1950 vs 2110

The decisive shift came when Diana Mirza played 22.Ng4. Anousha Mahdian took control and did not give it back. b4 was the tougher defence.

Round 6

Ireland 3–1 Syria

After R6: 53rd

Ireland beat Syria 3-1, with two wins and two draws.

BoardIrelandOpponentTeam resultGame result
1 Trisha Kanyamarala
White · 2289
Manar Khalil
1863
Win 1-0
2 Lara Putar
Black · 1975
Nibal Algildah
1905
Draw 1/2-1/2
3 Diana Mirza
White · 1950
Doha. Farha
1876
Win 1-0
4 Antonina Gora
Black · 1946
Naya Bofroud
1807
Draw 1/2-1/2
Board 1 Trisha Kanyamarala vs Manar Khalil Win

Sicilian Defense: Old Sicilian · White · 2289 vs 1863

Trisha Kanyamarala already had some pressure, but Manar Khalil's 11...d5 turned it into a clear advantage. a6 was the tougher defence.

Board 2 Lara Putar vs Nibal Algildah Draw

London System · Black · 1975 vs 1905

Lara Putar had the better of it, but 24...Ne4+ let Nibal Algildah off the hook. The advantage disappeared and the game came back to level. g5 was the better way to keep the pressure on.

Board 3 Diana Mirza vs Doha. Farha Win

Rubinstein Opening · White · 1950 vs 1876

Doha. Farha's 30...Nd6 was the break in the game. There had been little in it; after that Diana Mirza had a clear advantage. Qd1+ was the tougher defence.

Board 4 Antonina Gora vs Naya Bofroud Draw

Bogo-Indian Defense: Exchange Variation · Black · 1946 vs 1807

Very little separated Antonina Gora and Naya Bofroud. The position stayed within reach for both players and the point was shared.

Sources and method. Match scores, pairings, ratings and standings are taken from Chess-Results. Game commentary is based on the supplied Olympiad PGNs and their embedded engine evaluations. Engine labels are used as evidence for the identified turning points; they are not presented as comments made by the players.