Results: The Princess' Gambit

In 2020, while the world was sheltering at home, a Netflix original series The Queen's Gambit captured a lot of attention. This coming-of-age period drama gives us literal escapism, something many of us desperately needed during a world pandemic. Both the visual and the narrative suggests a fairy tale in a storybook while also being extremely relatable and timeless in theme. Did you happen to watch this series?

Based on the 1983 novel of the same name by Walter Tevis, The Queen's Gambit tells the story of Beth, a young girl who develops an astonishing talent for chess and begins an unlikely journey to stardom while grappling with addiction. The title refers to one of the oldest opening moves in chess called the queen's gambit, which is still commonly played today. The objective of the queen's gambit is to temporarily sacrifice a pawn to gain control of the center of the board. Do you play chess?

Well, move over Queen, there is a new Princess in town. British chess prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan continued her remarkable chess journey in the European Blitz Championship where she won the prize for the best woman player. In late October, she made headlines by becoming England's first world youth champion in 25 years when she achieved the historic triple crown by winning titles in classical, rapid, and blitz. It was a stunning achievement showcasing her exceptional talent and prowess in chess. And, she is only 8 years old. Do you know anyone who has learned how to play chess at age 8, let alone become a world champion?

Abhimanyu Mishra is currently the youngest person to become a Chess Grandmaster. He earned the title of Grandmaster on June 30, 2021 at the age of 12. Mishra, an American chess prodigy, previously broke the United States Chess Federation record for the youngest chess expert. Later on at the age of 9, he become the youngest National master of United States Chess Federation. Don't you find it remarkable that someone so young could master the game of chess, which requires concentration and focus (traits children this young usually lack)?