2013 Grand Pacific Open

Hola darlings!

Goddesschess, among others, is once again providing sponsorship for this great Open in British Columbia held over the Easter holiday (March 29 - April 1, 2013).  It attracts a large contingent of Canadian and American players, including chess femmes, and the larger portion of our sponsorship money is dedicated to prizes for them.  More information and register online!

WGM Kateryna Rohonyan is registered to play in this year's GPO!  Rohonyan has a FIDE rating of 2296.  Now a resident of Seattle, Washington, she has played in several Washington State Chess Championships, and participated in the 2007, 2008 and 2010 U.S. Women's Chess Championships. 

At 2012 Canadian Open

During part of her chess career, Rohonyan played in college as the recipient of a chess scholarship, moving to the US in 2004.   She participated for several years in the U.S. Chess League, and has played in a FIDE Women's World Chess Championship.  She was also a member of the bronze-medal winning U.S. Women's Chess Olympiad Team in 2008. 

These days Rohonyan makes her living in the computer software industry and playing competitive chess has devolved to a lesser role in her life.  It is therefore wonderful to see Rohonyan registered for the 2013 Grand Pacific Open!  Rohonyan's last FIDE-rated event was the August, 2012 Canadian Open in Victoria, BC, where she scored 5.0/8. 

Not sure of the count of chess femmes at this time - I saw 5 names (in addition to Rohonyan) that I identified as chess femmes - there may be more but sometimes I'm not so good with names :)  As of February 19th, 61 players pre-registered.  Keeping fingers crossed for a great turn-out of chess femmes. Goddesschess prizes are awarded in addition to any other prizes that a female player may win:  $80, $70, $60, $50, $40.