Bhutan now has two new Women Candidate Masters in chess following the 46th Chess Olympiad 2026 held in Uzbekistan. The nine-member national chess team returned home today after competing in the tournament.
The two new Women Candidate Masters Pema Yangsel Dorji and Tshenden Pema earned their titles during the tournament. They now join Lhundrup Dorji, Suk Raj Monger and Asha Huang Limboo, taking the country’s total to five.
The International Chess Federation awards the Candidate Master title to players who achieve an International Chess Federation or FIDE rating of at least 2,200. The title is held for life.
At the tournament, Bhutan’s women’s team secured 16 individual wins and two draws, while the men’s team recorded 13 wins and seven draws from a total of 44 matches played in each category.
The women’s team finished 160th among 189 participating countries, while the men’s team ranked 188th among 206 countries.
Team members said the women’s team improved their performance compared to the previous Olympiad, while the men’s team maintained a similar performance.
The twelve-day Chess Olympiad ended on Sunday.
Pelden Wangchuk
Edited by Passang
