A Jakarta university student played her first Olympiad in Uzbekistan and came home with a big step toward a Woman Grandmaster title. 

At a glance

• 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad 
• 12 days of play (16–27 September 2026) 
• Hundreds of teams from many countries 
• 4th Indonesian woman at WGM level

She won a chess title that she doesn't officially hold yet. That sounds odd, but it is the key detail in Laysa Latifah's story.

Laysa Latifah, a student at Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ), earned a Woman Grandmaster (WGM) norm at the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, held 16–27 September 2026. It was her first Olympiad. According to UNJ and Good News From Indonesia, she is the fourth Indonesian woman to reach the WGM level. She already held the Woman International Master (WIM) title.

Who is Laysa Latifah?

Laysa studies at UNJ and plays under Indonesia's flag. Photos from UNJ show her at the board in a dark red hijab and glasses, arms folded, a row of black pieces in front of her. Behind her, the hall is full of red tablecloths and white chairs.

She is not new to strong chess. Before Samarkand, she had already earned the WIM title, which is the step just below WGM for women.

What is a WGM norm?

A norm is a result good enough to count toward a title, but it is not the title itself. FIDE, the world chess federation, usually asks players to collect more than one norm 

and also reach a minimum rating. Check the current rules on the FIDE website before you publish.

So the correct headline is "earns a WGM norm," not "becomes a WGM." Many social posts get this wrong. That small difference is what makes the story honest.

Why does the Samarkand result matter?

The Olympiad is a team event with hundreds of teams, and every game is played under national pressure. Laysa was playing it for the first time, and she still reached a norm.

The surprising part is how she described her approach. Laysa said the hardest part was not only technical but also mental and about self-confidence. Her answer was simple: focus on one game at a time, enjoy the process, then review each result before moving on.

Who helped her get here?

UNJ says her result was supported by coaches and a university scholarship. The scholarship helped her balance her studies with a chess career. That matters because many young players have to choose between school and tournaments.

What happens next?

The norm is not the end of the road. Laysa still needs the remaining requirements for the full WGM title, and the exact steps depend on FIDE's rules and her current rating.For readers in Indonesia, the bigger story is the pipeline. A student in Jakarta can now reach the top level of women's chess without leaving her university.