In current pandemic, most of us have assorted to multiple different ways to keep ourselves occupied. While some of us have achieved milestones which otherwise may not have been possible, some of us have tried and failed (like me). Yes, I tried to knit a sweater for my husband but it turned out the right size for my 8-year old son instead. Funny, not funny! Well, I believe that there are some things that are achievable and some that are not (like pleasing your mother-in-law).
Jokes apart, one thing that did inspire me recently and as I hear from most of my readers, it has inspired them too is The Queen’s Gambit, one of the top 10 series on Netflix today.
Not that chess as a sport hasn’t been popular but with this series, its quickly getting recognized as one of the most popular hobbies that people are exploring in quarantine.
Chess is near to my heart since childhood (probably because it was the only sport that let me label myself as a sports person;-) ) It was something that I became passionate about, something which I initially believed to be was beyond possible. But with my sister’s encouragement and regular chess practice with her, I did win the local chess championship!
I am not an orphan and didn’t necessarily live a struggled life, but found many similarities between the main character Elizabeth “Beth” and I. Both started playing chess not knowing the power this sport withholds in itself, both were fortunate to have a mentor quite early in the journey (my sister was my Mr. Shaibel), both quit playing chess for no good reason, and both ended up loving chess more than life (my love for chess reignited in quarantine this year).
So, if this Netflix series has created a similar emotional impact on you, I say STOP watch The Queen’s Gambit and start playing chess!
“The Queen’s Gambit,” based on a 1983 novel by Walter Tevis
Came across an interesting article at The Washington Post: The forgotten female chess star who beat men 90 years before ‘Queen’s Gambit’
