When Netflix replaced HBO with a bang in the 2021 Emmy awards, seldom did the streaming services giant anticipate the smoke that would shroud one of its most popular shows in controversy. Mid-September, Netflix bagged as many as 44 awards in the 2021 Emmy Awards sidelining the reigning title holder HBO. The popular Netflix shows The Crown and The Queen’s Gambit grabbed the most number of awards.
While this is also the first time the company’s original production bragged the credits, The Queen’s Gambit has offended a veteran woman chess master with a wrong portrayal of her accomplishments. Nona Gaprindashvili, the real-life chess queen from the former Soviet Union, has sued Netflix for $5 Million for using ‘sexist’ dialogue thus defaming her reputation.
The Queen’s Gambit and the “sexist” controversy
The Netflix show, a highly popular and acclaimed series about a fictional woman chess prodigy – has been riding the crest since 2020, turning an overwhelming spotlight on chess and its intrigues. The show has been able to attract chess lovers, and players, even turning even chess-illiterates INto fans of the sport. The protagonist Beth Harmone shot to fame becoming an instant icon.
However, in September, Nona Gaprindashvili, the current Georgian first lady grandmaster, sued Netflix for the incorrect portrayal of her character in the show. She alleged that the show has inappropriately tempered her accomplishments down with a single dialogue by one of the male characters.
In one of the episodes, a male character smirks at the young prodigy Beth Harmone on winning against male players. He compares her to Nona Gaprindashvili, “the female world champion who has never faced men ''. The dialogue has turned out to be not merely a sexist sarcasm but degradation of Gaprindashvili’s career and achievements as a chess master.
In fact, the real-life legend has surpassed many of the “best male chess players in the world” and is the first female to be crowned with the status of an international chess grandmaster.
Gaprindashvili has claimed that while being aware of the actual fact, Netflix has defamed her character merely to raise the TRP of the show in a “cheap and cynical manner”. Though the eighty year old grandmaster remarked that Netflix has tweaked the reality, disparaging her achievements the media powerhouse dismissed her allegations and did not even issue an apology.
Nona Gaprindashvili
The real-life chess legend, Nona Gaprindashvili from Georgia has multiple feathers on her hat for accomplishing something incredible in the times that she grew up. Born in 1941 in Georgia, which was part of the then Soviet Union, Nona dared to dream of becoming a chess player and started playing at an age of 13. In 1962, she started competing with males - a rare credit for a woman in such times - and also defeating them. She always had her aggressive playing skill by which she had beat a number of male players. Nona is the winner of 25 chess Olympiad medals among many other national and international accolades.
In a sport that was predominantly ruled by males, a woman with strong motivation and dedication was moving ahead with her winning strategies. Nona has competed in multiple chess matches out of which at least 59 had male opponents. A motivation to all chess enthusiasts across the globe, especially women players, Nona has proved that hard work and dedication can make one stand the trials of time and cross any barrier to achieve one’s dream – however tough it might seem.
The false statement in the Netflix show has sent ripples of disagreements and heated opposition from Nona’s admirers as well as players across the globe. Such a sexist statement and Netflix’s cold feet towards the veteran player’s accusation has fanned the humiliation, deepening the anguish and protest in the chess world. The very purpose of the show - to highlight the caliber, struggles and triumph of a female chess player in a male-dominated sport – itself has been sabotaged by a single statement, throwing dirt on the agendas and true intentions of such series.
Fighting the good fight against your odds
The Netflix controversy and Nona Gaprindashvili’s life and her fight against the sexist attitude, teach one to face one’s odds, no matter what it is, and when and how it sweeps over you. Moving the pieces around tactfully on a chessboard requires more than talent and learning skills. One needs discipline, perseverance, patience and determination to reach your goals and achieve your dreams.
To garner the right tactics to master the game, your kid needs to have a safe environment to learn and practice the board game. The systematic chess coaching from an established chess institute in Bangalore like MindMentorz inspires and prepares your child to beat all odds and sharpen her/his skills.
At MindMentorz, we take pride in coaching young talents through a meticulous chess curriculum that is rooted in cognitive skill development to help them reach their full potential. We provide a rigorous, well-structured and in-depth understanding of chess. We emphasize embedding the right skills and attitude which are essential not only for chess but in real-life situations as well. To learn more about our philosophy of chess coaching in Bangalore for children and our training schedules, reach out to us at +91 9606847428.