Nona Gapridashvili - a Georgian chess player is the first woman who was awarded as a grandmaster by FIDE. She was born in Zugdidi in 1941. At the age of 20, in 1961 she won the fourth woman’s Candidates Tournament, setting up a title match against world champion Elisaveta Bykova. In 1924 women’s championship of Leningrad was the first women’s tournament sponsored by any government. It gave a huge opportunity to women chess players. With the victory of Nona Gaprindashvili in 1962, an era of supremacy by Georgian players began. Gaprindashvili held the title of champion for 16 years. She has won world championships five times. Also, she is a winner of 20 Olympic gold medals. During her career, she successfully competed with male players. In 2001 her name was given to the Tbilisi Chess School. According to her own words, chess is her life, that’s why she follows her passion even today, and in 2015, at the age of 74, she once again became a champion in the Seniors World Championship.
Article by Ana Tvaladze Translated by Salome Kashia Edited by Mariam Beshidze
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