12/14/25 The Maine Women's and Kathy Richards Girls' Chess Championships were played at the Ferland Engineering Education and Design Center at the University of Maine in Orono on Saturday, February 7th, 2026. Twenty-three players competed in four sections: K-5, K-8, K-12, and Open. Here's the illustrated tournament report.

Thanks to Alba Briggs for contributing to this report.

>> Maine Women's Championship US Chess Crosstable <<

>> Kathy Richards Maine Girls' Championship US Chess Crosstable <<

A three-way tie resulted in three Co-Champions in the 2026 Maine Women's Championship. Congratulations to Kathy Richards, Anna Thomas, and Lily Briggs. Anna Thomas received the trophy based on tiebreaks.

Mya Brichacek and Molly Tefft both put up 3.0 points to tie for first in the 2026 K-12 Kathy Richards Girls' Chess Championship. Mya received the trophy on tiebreaks and will be the 2026 Maine nominee
to the WIM Ruth Haring National Girls' Tournament of Champions and the Susan Polgar Invitational.

In the K-8 section, Oleysa Shafirina was the only player in any section to go perfect on the day with 4.0 points in four games. Congratulations Oleysa.

Oleysa's sister Victoria Shafirina was the highest scoring player in the K-5 section with 3.0 points.

2026 Maine Women's Co-Champion Anna Thomas received the trophy based on tiebreaks.

Anna Thomas (left) plays the 2026 Women's Co-Champion Kathy Richards.

Reminiscent of the Polgar sisters, Mary Briggs (left) takes on her sister 2026 Maine Women's Co-Champion Lily Briggs in Round 2.

K-12 Girls Co-Champion Mya Brichacek

K-8 Girls Champion Oleysa Sharifina with her sister K-5 Girls Champion Victoria Shafirina

K-12 Co-Champion Mya Brichacek (left) with K-8 Champion Oleysa Sharifina

Phoebe Alexander (left) plays K-12 Co-Champion Molly Tefft in round 1.

Sophia Cook plays the white pieces vs Matilda Haluska while Clara Cook (background right) takes on Nora Zisette

Mikayla Bouchard (left) and Cedar Zisette get ready to play in round 3 as do Bryn Zisette (right) and Sophia Cook in the background.

Thanks to all players, organizers, and directors for making this event a great success.