By Amanda Alaniz

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – MARCH 18, 2026 – The chess board is set, and the pieces are in place. For the first time ever, the UTRGV Women’s Chess Team is taking their game to the national stage.  

The team will compete in the inaugural National Collegiate Chess Championship Women’s President’s Cup, held alongside the 25th President’s Cup, where UTRGV Chess Team A, comprised of male players, will also participate. Both events will take place from March 20-22 at the University of Missouri.  

The qualifying competitors include the top four teams from the 2025 U.S. National Collegiate Women’s Championship and the recent Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship. Teams hailing from the University of Missouri, Webster University, Saint Louis University, University of Texas at Dallas and UTRGV will be represented.  

Meet Rachel Palmero Martinez, a senior mass communications major and a Woman FIDE Master. (UTRGV Photo by Silver Salas)

Meet Lauren Tovias, a senior multidisciplinary studies major. (UTRGV Photo by Silver Salas)

“The other coaches supported the idea of a competition just for women to help develop women’s chess. That’s how the President’s Cup came to fruition,” Macieja said. “This year, the U.S. Chess Federation evaluated, and we were ready to officially launch this new national championship.” 

MEET THE TEAM  

The four members of the UTRGV Women’s Chess Team are: 

• Martyna Starosta, from Jejkowice, Poland, freshman, economics and finance major, Woman FIDE Master.
• Rachel Palmero Martinez, from Havana, Cuba, senior, mass communications major, Woman FIDE Master.
• Manuela Hernandez Bermudez, from Tulua, Colombia, freshman, business administration major, Woman FIDE Master. 
• Lauren Tovias, from Harlingen, senior, multidisciplinary studies major. 

Macieja said the team is proud to be part of chess history.

Meet Manuela Hernandez Bermudez, a freshman business administration major and a Woman FIDE Master. (UTRGV Photo by Silver Salas)

Meet Martyna Starosta, a freshman economics and finance major and a Woman FIDE Master. She recently competed in Budapest. (UTRGV Photo by Silver Salas)

“Everyone always tracks who was the first to play,” he said. “They will serve as an example for new generations of UTRGV students.”  

NEXT MOVE: NATIONALS  

The women’s team is dedicating time each week to practice in Brownsville as they prepare for their first President’s Cup competition. The players share a collective excitement about this historic moment for UTRGV and for women in chess.  

Hernandez Bermudez acknowledged that chess is often viewed as a male-dominated sport.  

“Chess is seen as a sport for men, and you feel like you must constantly fight against that,” she said. 

The Woman FIDE Master said that women chess players should feel proud to challenge stereotypes every time they sit at the chess board. 

Tovias reflected on her experience in high school, recalling a time when there was no chess team until later on, and she joined, it was predominantly composed of her male classmates.  

“It was all guys – definitely competitive. I had to prove myself a couple of times,” she said. “But chess is fun. I would do it all over again. It’s pushed me to keep going.”  

The national competition is not just a first for UTRGV; it’s a groundbreaking event in chess history. The team is training diligently, evaluating their moves and studying their opponents. Palmero Martinez, another Woman FIDE master, said the team is thrilled to be trailblazers in UTRGV’s history. 

The UTRGV Women’s Chess Team wants to create change in their community, encouraging girls interested in the game to give it a try. (UTRGV Photo by Silver Salas)

“The other teams have more experience with these competitions, but we can do it,” she said with an excited smile.  

Starosta is looking forward to the experience and is proud to be part of the team.  

“I'm very excited about the competition and this new experience with the team. We are hoping to show our best game,” she said.  

CHECK AND GO   

According to the US Chess Federation, chess is predominantly played by men, with 85.4% male and only 12.4% female participants. However, representation in chess is gradually improving. 

The UTRGV Women’s Chess Team aims to create change in their community, encouraging girls interested in the game to give it a try.  

“To any girl interested in chess: keep learning about the game. My advice is to keep that mindset and fight for your dream,” Palmero Martinez said. “We need more girls playing chess, especially in the Valley.”  

Tovias echoes this sentiment, urging young girls in chess to persevere and go after what they want. Although she may not have a title yet, Tovias said she is committed to working hard and learning every time she sits behind the board.  

“Wouldn’t it be cool to get that title? Wouldn’t it be cool to get that high rating,” she said. “Keep trying, keep fighting.”  

The President’s Cup and Women’s President Cup will take place from March 20-22 in Missouri and can be watched online at chess.com.