Portlaoise chess star becomes first Irish woman to earn Woman Grandmaster title
Portlaoise’s Trisha Kanyamarala has made history by becoming the country’s first woman chess Grandmaster.
Growing up in Portlaoise, Trisha Kanyamarala never imagined that a board game she once found “confusing” would one day see her make Irish sporting history.
The 21 year old has become the first Irish woman to earn the Woman Grandmaster title, the highest title awarded exclusively to female chess players by the International Chess Federation, following years of perseverance and hard work.
Her journey began in primary school in The Heath, where she first developed a love of board games through playing checkers.
When her father introduced her to chess, however, she wasn't immediately convinced.
"It just felt very complicated," she recalled. "I didn't have that much patience when I was seven or eight years old."
Instead, she spent her time swimming, playing basketball and Irish dancing while watching her father and older brother play chess.
Everything changed after visiting a chess club in the Curragh, where she gradually became fascinated by the game.
"I would tag along with my brother and dad, but I wouldn't really play. I would just watch how others played," she said.
Eventually, with the help of learning cards that suggested which chess piece to move, her confidence grew.
"It kind of interested me and that's how I kept on playing from there."
Her progress through the ranks was steady rather than sudden.
In 2019, she earned her first Woman International Master norm before securing the remaining norms in Mumbai, Dundalk and Dublin, becoming a Woman International Master at just 14 years of age.
The road to becoming a Woman Grandmaster was considerably tougher.
After earning her first Woman Grandmaster norm in 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted competition, while balancing studies meant chess occasionally took a back seat.
Her second norm came in Norway in 2024, but the final one proved frustratingly elusive.
"2025 actually was pretty rough," she said.
"I was playing loads of tournaments because I was just one norm away. Tournament after tournament it just kind of slipped away."
When she finally secured her third norm, relief was her overwhelming emotion.
"I was like, 'Okay, I had to do it much earlier, but I'll take this.'"
Making history is something she hopes will have an impact beyond her own career.
"I really feel great about this and I hope I could inspire other young girls and women to take up chess," she said.
"I hope it shows that it's possible. Hopefully this encourages more girls and young women to continue playing chess and believe that they can also reach the highest level."
Her success has already taken her across the world representing Ireland.
She has competed at two Chess Olympiads, in Chennai, India, in 2022 and Budapest, Hungary, in 2024, where she led the Irish women's team. Featuring around 200 countries, the Olympiad is one of the world's largest international team chess competitions.
This September she will once again represent Ireland when the team travels to Uzbekistan for the 2026 Chess Olympiad.
Before then, she faces a busy summer of competition. She begins an international tournament in Copenhagen today, July 20, which runs until July 26, before competing at the British Chess Championships at the University of Warwick from August 1 to 9.
She is also edging closer to another major career milestone after recently earning her first International Master norm at a tournament in Andújar, Spain. To achieve the International Master title, she now requires two further norms and a FIDE rating of 2400.
Away from competition, Trisha hopes to see chess continue to grow in Ireland.
The Irish Chess Union is currently seeking official recognition of chess as a sport, something she believes would provide much needed funding and support for players.
"It's not easy because of the expenses," she said.
"Many players are not playing that many tournaments abroad because it's difficult without support. But if we have that support, there would be many Irish players representing the country and they would have lots of opportunities."
Her achievements have also been recognised at the highest level.
Following her Woman Grandmaster title, she received a letter of congratulations from Taoiseach Micheál Martin. After becoming a Woman International Master, she was also congratulated by President Michael D. Higgins and invited to Áras an Uachtaráin.
"Moments like this motivate players to keep going when things are not great," she said.