Daisy Simenda: new Women Fide Master, CB Queen

Recently, a group of Zambian players were on the global trot and one of them was 28-year-old Daisy Simenda.

Zambia may have not won the trophy at the 2026 46th Chess Olympiad Samarkand where the country was represented by Men’s and women’s teams as well as People With Disability (PWD).

However, from the same tournament two players from the Women’s team came back home smiling because they put up splendid performances to get recognition by Chess World governing board FIDE.

Simenda, who was Zambia’s highest performer in the women’s team after managing five victories and two draws to amass 6.5 points, was one of them.

“Earning the Women Fide Master title is a major milestone for me, representing years of dedication, commitment, growth and perseverance. I am a Zambian chess player and a newly titled Woman Fide Master. I have been playing chess since 2011, and over the years, the game has grown from a simple interest into a significant part of my life,” she said.

She said there were moments in sport when a result becomes more than just a result and a championship becomes a piece of history. A victory becomes a story passed from one generation to another. And sometimes, a player makes a move that leaves a mark long after the clocks have stopped.

“Attaining this title during the 2026 World Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan makes it even more special because it came under challenging circumstances. The journey tested my resilience, patience and determination, both on and off the chessboard.

“Despite the challenges and setbacks, I managed to bounce back, refocus and remain committed to my goals, which made the achievement even more meaningful,” she said.

Simenda said her chess journey has had several memorable milestones. At her first World Chess Olympiad in 2018, she earned her first Fide title, Woman Candidate Master (WCM).

“I have since had the privilege of representing Zambia at both junior and senior national team level, and I have won a number of tournaments locally. I am also popularly known as the ‘Copperbelt Chess Queen’ and currently rank as Zambia’s second-highest-rated female chess player,” she said.

Despite her achievements, one of the biggest challenges she has faced in the sport has been the lack of sponsorship and financial support.

Simenda said the financial issue had limited the number of tournaments she could be able to participate in, particularly international competitions. And that even as a national team player, financial support for international tournaments had often been limited, while for many local tournaments she had to sponsor herself.

“This can make it difficult to compete consistently, gain the experience needed and work towards higher titles. Despite this, I have continued to invest in myself and make the most of every opportunity available to me,” she said.

Beyond chess, Simenda is a Metallurgical Engineering graduate from The Copperbelt University (CBU), where she graduated in May 2025. She also gained practical experience in the mining and mineral processing industry through opportunities with some of Zambia’s major mining companies, including First Quantum Minerals (FQM) and Barrick.

“I consider myself a hardworking, ambitious and adaptable individual who is always eager to learn and embrace new challenges. Chess has shaped me in many ways, teaching me discipline, patience, critical thinking and resilience.

“It has also taught me the importance of learning from mistakes, adapting to different situations and remaining focused when things do not go according to plan,” she said.

Her ultimate goal in chess is to become a Woman Grandmaster (WGM). However, she believes in taking things one step at a time. Having recently attained the WFM title, her next target is to work towards becoming a Woman International Master (WIM), while keeping the bigger dream of becoming a WGM firmly in sight.

Beyond her personal ambitions, she hopes her journey will inspire more young girls to take up chess, believe in their abilities and pursue their dreams regardless of the challenges they may encounter.

She would also like to contribute to the growth of women’s chess in the country and encourage more female players to compete and excel at the highest levels.

Simenda said outside chess and her professional career, she enjoys listening to music, swimming and working out and that those activities help her relax, clear her mind and keep her body and mind refreshed, especially after the demands of chess and work.

Ultimately, she aspired to continue growing both professionally and as a chess player while making a meaningful contribution to her country and she was grateful to everyone who had supported and believed in her throughout her journey, and she is looking forward to what lies ahead.