Nona Gaprindashvili. Sports biography
Good day, dear friend!
The popularity of women's chess, of course, cannot be compared with men's. I suspect that rarely does anyone know the names of all the world champions. However, Nona Gaprindashvili is hardly among the “unknowns”. There are several reasons for this.
Nona Terentyevna “sat on the throne” for 16 years (62-78 years). Agree, the period is more than respectable.
She was the first to start playing “men’s chess.” Max Euwe wrote:
“In my deep conviction, Nona Gaprindashvili is superior to the famous one. Gaprindashvili's game is much more versatile and brighter. She is a versatile chess player with great creative potential.”
She was a symbol of women's chess in the 60s and 70s. Significantly raising their authority and popularity.
Start
Nona Terentyevna Gaprindashvili native of Zugdidi, Georgia. She was born in 1941. There were five children in the family, Nona the youngest. It was thanks to her brothers and sisters that the girl got involved in chess and took her first steps.
First coach Vakhtang Karseladze , a person largely thanks to whom women's chess in Georgia reached outstanding heights.
Over time, an experienced, famous coach joined in working with the talented chess player. Mikhail Shishov.
The combined efforts, plus Nona’s talent and determination, yielded a truly amazing result:
At the age of 15 she wins the Georgian championship with the result 15.5 points out of 16 possible .
Career and Title
IN 1961 Gaprindashvili won the right to play in the Candidates Tournament (Vrnjacka Banja) and confidently won it with a result 13 of 16, leaving all competitors far behind.
The series of defeats continued in the world championship match with the then champion Elizaveta Bykova . The ambitious and purposeful contender could no longer be stopped. Game Score 9:2 speaks for itself.
One of the games against E Bykova in this match:
E. Bykova - N. Gaprindashvili , Moscow 1962, 0:1
So, in 1962 year the world received a new champion - Nona Gaprindashvili. For as long as 16 years.
Only in 1978 Nona Terentyevna resigned as champion, losing to another brilliant representative of Georgian chess Maya Chiburdanidze .
Subsequently, she repeatedly confirmed her high class. Including in men's competitions, winning a number of tournaments.
Nona Terentyevna won interzonal tournaments twice more, in 1982 and 1990.
Regalia
Nona Terentyevna is the fifth world champion in history. Honored Master of Sports of the USSR.
- The first chess player to be awarded the title of international grandmaster among women in 1976 and among men in 1978.
- Five-time champion Soviet Union. Chairman of the Fide Women's Commission in the 80s.
- The first winner of the Chess Oscar.
President of the National Committee of Georgia in the period 89–96.
She was awarded the Order of Lenin and the Badge of Honor, and the medal For Labor Distinction.
Statements
Nona Gaprindashvili’s determination is well characterized by her own phrase:
“I always had this thought inside me: I play because I want to fight only for the highest awards.”
Nona Terentyevna always loved blitz. She especially remembers meetings with:
In general, Tal won in our matches. I resisted and won some games, but the overall score was in his favor. So, I wanted to win the match against him and so I said that I wanted to play with him when he was drunk. He said he didn't mind, and one day I caught him. We were at some reception in England, he drank, and then we started playing blitz.
It was incredible! Drunk, he played blitz so hard that you couldn’t get close! I will never forget this because normal game- nothing compared to how he played then!
About playing with men:
Men are definitely ashamed to lose to a chess player, even if she is a world champion. They play with me with full dedication of all their strength, even risking losing the next game due to fatigue... You think, grandmasters, when meeting a woman for chessboard, show at least a drop of gallantry? No matter how it is!”
Family and society
Nona Terentyevna takes an active part in the public life of her country. She headed the National Olympic Committee, one of the political parties in Georgia.
Nona always gave priority to her son David. The boy accompanied his mother to competitions and was always nearby.
Today David has his own family and lives in England. And Nona Terentyevna, despite her busy schedule, fulfills the noble role of mother and grandmother with success and pleasure.
Nona Gaprindashvili in the documentary “Tail of the Comet”:
Let us emphasize once again: Nona Gaprindashvili - the first of the fair sex to make women's chess treated without any discounts , irony and sarcasm. She plays truly strongly, versatilely, without succumbing to excessive emotions.
Nona Terentyevna is a true role model for young people. Both as a chess player and as a person with an active lifestyle and love for loved ones.
Thank you for your interest in the article.
If you found it useful, please do the following:
- Share with your friends by clicking on the social media buttons.
- Write a comment (at the bottom of the page)
- Subscribe to blog updates (form under the social media buttons) and receive articles in your email.
The founding congress of the new party “Democratic Party of United Georgia”, behind which is businessman Badri Patarkatsishvili, will be held in Tbilisi in the near future. The party will be led by five-time world chess champion Nona Gaprindashvili. In the famous residence of the oligarch, located on the banks of the Kura River, a conversation took place between the head of the RIA Novosti Representative Office in Georgia, Besik Pipia, and the legendary chess player.
Nona Terentyevna, what paths led you to this fashionable palace, what did the chess player and the disgraced oligarch have in common?
After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the formation of independent Georgia, I was asked and agreed to head the National Olympic Committee. She led the committee until 1996, but at the same time remained the honorary president of the NOC. In 2004, Badri Patarkatsishvili was elected president of the Olympic Committee. It should be noted that Mikheil Saakashvili really wanted to see him in this post. The President personally asked the entrepreneur to take part in the revival of Georgian sports.
Without exaggeration, I can say that Badri turned out to be the savior of Georgian sports. He managed to stop sports emigration. After all, before this, Georgian athletes left the country, changed citizenship and olympic games performed under the flags of other states. They not only performed, but brought gold medals to the treasury of these states. Thus, at the Olympics in Greece in 2004, Georgians won gold medals for Greece, Germany, Uzbekistan... In a word, Badri managed to revive Georgian sports, athletes began to receive everything they needed for full preparation, including monetary rewards unprecedented on the scale of Georgia. If the state paid an athlete 25 thousand dollars for an Olympic gold medal, then Badri gave 225 thousand dollars!
So the sports track brought me and Badri together. And in difficult moments for him, I felt obligated to be with him.
- Nona Terentyevna, what cat ran between Badri Patarkatsishvili and Mikheil Saakashvili?
This cat was the Imedi television company, owned by Patarkatsishvili. Those in power did not like the fact that criticism was being addressed to them, and constructive criticism at that. TV journalists from Imedi did not ignore sensitive topics, drawing public attention to high-profile murders, mass arrests, illegal deprivation of property of citizens and organizations, state business racketeering, and so on.
It turns out that “pink” revolutionaries like it when they are exclusively praised. There were attempts on the part of the authorities to interfere with the editorial policy of the television company, but Badri did not allow them to do so. Then representatives of the government structures offered very big money so that he would sell them Imedi, and talked about exchanging Imedi for Georgian railways" Then Badri answered them: “Imedi” is my brainchild, and children are not sold.”
- For what purpose is the new opposition party being created, which you agreed to lead?
The current presidential elections have shown that hundreds of thousands of people sympathize with the program for the revival of Georgia proposed by Badri Patarkatsishvili. And it would be unacceptable for us to abandon these people to their fate. We continue our fight. Badri's Presidential program "Support - Breakthrough - Prosperity" remains in force and it will be implemented.
Badri Patarkatsishvili promised to spend about one billion dollars within 18 months if he came to power. But he did not become president. To what kind of people will he now cover the costs of gas, electricity, water, pay unemployment benefits, give money and considerable amounts - 2-3 thousand dollars - for the birth of children? Members of your party? There are 2 million unemployed people in Georgia alone.
A scheme for providing assistance to the population is being developed, and not only members of our party will be able to receive it.
Nona Terentyevna, are the authorities putting pressure on you? For you, for example, to leave Badri, you should engage not in politics, but in chess.
To put pressure, you need compromising evidence. But the authorities cannot dig up incriminating evidence on me, because I don’t have any. I lived an honest and decent life. The authorities will not be able to change my position. They can only kill me.
Nona Terentyevna, how did it happen that a girl from the little-known Georgian city of Zugdidi achieved record victories in chess that have not yet been surpassed in the world? You are a five-time world champion, won the Olympics 11 times, and won the European Cup twice.
I was born in Zugdidi, in a city that I love very much, in the family of a teacher. My father Terenty taught accounting at a technical school, my mother Vera Grigolia was a housewife. She raised five boys and one girl. All my brothers played chess, I watched them, and sometimes they allowed me to play too. Once upon a time, a chess tournament among boys was held in the city house of pioneers. One of my brothers was unable to take part in it due to a cold; they urgently looked for a replacement and offered it to me. I sat down at the board and quickly checkmated my opponent, who was several years older than me. The coaches paid attention to me.
- Do your followers, future champions grow up in the family?
I have a son, David, he is 36 years old, works in the office of a British company for demining in conflict zones. There are two grandchildren - Leri is 12 years old, Nikoloz is one and a half years old.
I don’t see any future champions in the whole country today. Maybe nature is resting in Georgia now. For 40 years, Georgian chess players have occupied leading positions in the world. My record, indeed, was not broken, but it was repeated by a friend, Georgian chess player Maya Chiburdanidze.
- Nona Terentyevna, do you manage to find time for chess today?
I participate in various competitions, two years ago I took second place at the chess veterans tournament in Italy. Many people invite me to Russia, Lately I was at tournaments in Siberia and the Urals. I felt from the Russians towards themselves, towards Georgia, the Georgian people the same warm feelings that they had in Soviet times. It's not good when our rulers conflict. Will God forgive us for this, will we be able to explain to the Almighty how two Christian Orthodox countries have come to such relations?
Nona Terentyevna Gaprindashvili (born in 1941) is a Georgian chess player, the first international grandmaster among women (1976) and the first woman to be awarded the title of international grandmaster among men (1978). Honored Master of Sports (1964). World champion (1962-78), USSR (1964,1974, 1981,1983,1985). The first winner of the Chess Oscar prize (1982). Chairman of the Women's Commission of FIDE (International Chess Federation, 1980-1986). In 1989 she was appointed president of the National Olympic Committee of Georgia (1989).
Nona Gaprindashvili was born in Zugdidi (Georgia). She learned to play chess when she was 5 years old. Since childhood, I was only used to winning. In addition to chess, she was fond of football and table tennis. From the age of twelve she trained at the Tbilisi Pioneer Palace under the guidance of the experienced mentor Vakhtang Karseladze, who was the founder of the Georgian women's chess school.
Already at the age of fifteen, Gaprindashvili won the title of champion of Tbilisi and Georgia. At the age of nineteen, the athlete received the right to participate in the Candidates Tournament in Yugoslavia (1961), where she confidently won, scoring 13 points out of 16 possible and two points ahead of the second prize-winner.
In 1962, she was the leader in the world championship match, beating Elizaveta Bykova with a score of 9:2 and becoming the fifth world champion in chess history. In subsequent years, the athlete participated in 5 matches at top level, where she successfully defended her championship title: she won three matches against Alla Kushnir (1965, 1969,1972), one against Nana Alexandria (1975), losing only once to Maya Chiburdanidze (1978).
The athlete was the winner of five USSR championships among women (1964, 1973/74, 1981, 1983, 1985), and won the championship at the World Chess Olympiads 10 times as part of the USSR national team (1963-1986).
Gaprindashvili used risky steps in all fights. Experts say that it was this universal style of play that helped the chess player compete in international tournaments on an equal basis with men and win victories at the tournament in Hastings (1963/64), at the US Open Championship in Lone Pain (1977), in Regionel Emilia (1983, Italy), in Wijkan-Zee (1987, Holland).
After her triumph in the USA, she was the first woman to be awarded the title of international grandmaster among men. In 1979-1988 successfully participated in a number of world championship competitions: won the interzonal tournament in Germany (1982), became the second prize-winner of the interzonal tournament in Yugoslavia (1987).
Nona Gaprindashvili actively contributed to the popularization of women's chess. For her numerous achievements, she was awarded the Order of Lenin (1966) and the Order of the Badge of Honor (1985), and the medal “For Labor Distinction” (1965).
Brief biographical dictionary
"Nona Gaprindashvili" and other articles from the section
When it comes to chess and great grandmasters, men's names such as Fischer, Karpov and others are heard in conversations. But in this intellectual sports there are great and outstanding women. Nona Gaprindashvili held the championship among women for many years.
Chess biography
The future great athlete and international grandmaster was born in early May 1941 in Georgia. Almost everyone in the family was fond of chess, so little Nona Gaprindashvili mastered this game with early age. This was facilitated by the fact that her brothers constantly worked with her and themselves participated in city competitions.
Nona got to her first championship by accident. Her brothers were supposed to participate, but one of them caught a cold, and it was urgently necessary to find a replacement. Nona was included in the list, and she quickly checkmated her first opponent, who was much older and more experienced, which attracted the attention of the coaches. At the age of 12 she entered a chess school.
Nona Gaprindashvili’s first leader and mentor was Karseladze Vakhtang Ilyich, who not only looked after her during her studies, but also protected her from the enthusiastic public and fans during the championships. The young chess player was prepared for higher awards and competitions at the strongest level by the famous coach Mikhail Shishov in the USSR, and grandmaster Aivar Gipslis helped him.
Nona Gaprindashvili, a chess player who has no equal to this day, held her champion title for a record time for this game - for 16 years. In subsequent championships she was in 2nd or 3rd place.
Family
Nona Gaprindashvili was born into a large family. She had 5 older brothers, thanks to whom she became interested in chess. The father of the future grandmaster worked at the technical school in the city of Zugdidi, where the whole family lived, as an accounting teacher. Mother, Vera Grigolia, ran the household and kept order in the house.
Son David has accompanied his famous mother to championships since childhood and was present at almost all awards. He currently works in the UK and lives there with his family. Nona Gaprindashvili has a grandson and granddaughter, with whom she tries to meet as often as possible, which her workload in social and political activities does not allow.
Achievements
Nona Gaprindashvili becomes the owner of many awards and achievements as a result of her painstaking work. The biography of the great chess player interested the whole world. Nona becomes famous and in demand when, at the age of 21, she wins the title of world champion. But her first fame came at the age of 15. At competitions for adults, a young girl defeats her opponents one after another and becomes the champion of Georgia.
Having won the women's chess championship in 1963 and repeating her triumph 3 years later, Nona Gaprindashvili set a goal for herself - to become a winner in competitions for men. Many hours of training and painstaking work on strategy and tactics of the game led to the fact that in 1978, after numerous victories in competitions among men, Nona was awarded the title of grandmaster.
Having lost to her compatriot Nona in the World Championship, and in subsequent years she remained one of the most. Until 1990, she participated in many competitions and Olympics, taking prizes and adding new victories and regalia to her treasury. She was awarded orders, medals and badges of honor not only for victories, but also for her contribution to the development of the game in the country.
Currently, Nona Gaprindashvili, whose photo can be seen in our article, is constantly participating in various games and tournaments for veterans and takes prizes. Unlike many of her colleagues, she did not retire after achieving all her goals, but continues to actively participate in the life and development of her favorite game.
Social activity
In 1991, after the collapse of the Union, independent sports and other associations began to form in Georgia. The head of the Olympic Committee until 1996 was Nona Gaprindashvili, who was already a well-known and titled chess player during this period of time. For a long time remained honorary president of the NOC.
In 2008, Nona Gaprindashvili headed the Democratic Party of United Georgia and worked in this direction for several years. From the very beginning of her career to the present day, the great chess player has been trying to develop and popularize the game.
WORLD CHAMPION 1962-1978
Nona Terentyevna Gaprindashvili (May 3, 1941, Zugdidi) - fifth world champion, international grandmaster among women and among men, Honored Master of Sports.
I learned to play chess with the help of my older brother. She developed a serious interest in the game at the age of twelve.
In 1954 she moved to Tbilisi. She studied at the Palace of Pioneers under the guidance of coach Karseladze. First-class student Nona Gaprindashvili won the title of city champion at 14 years old with a score of 14 points out of 15.Gaprindashvili won 13 games and drew only two (with Manvelova and M. Statnikova).
In 1956 Gaprindashvili won the Georgian women's championship, which was held for the first time in Zugdidi, with an excellent result of 12.5 points out of 15. In the same year, fifteen-year-old Nona Gaprindashvili became the champion of Tbilisi for the first time and won the right to play in the USSR championship for the first time.
At the national championship in Riga (1960) , which was also a zonal tournament of the World Championship, Gaprindashvili took fourth place and received the right to compete in the candidates tournament.
The following year she wins the candidates tournament in the Yugoslav city of Vrnjacka Banja.
In the world championship match (1962)
Nona Gaprindashvili confidently defeated Bykova in Moscow, winning seven games and drawing four. With the rank of chess queen, she performs a lot in team and individual competitions.
Since 1959 Gaprindashvili is a participant in all Spartakiads.
From 1963 to 1986- ten-time winner of the World Olympics, six-time national champion, winner of many international tournaments.
Nona Gaprindashvilidefended her title three times in world championship matches with Alla Kushnir (1965, 1969, 1972) . The champion won the first two matches by four points, the third ended with a score of 8.5:7.5.
In her game against Servati, Nona Gaprindashvili stunned her opponent with a brilliant combination.
GAPRINDASHVILI N. - R. SERVATI
In 1975 Gaprindashvili played a world championship match with Nana Alexandria. The first half of the match took place in Pitsunda, and the second in Tbilisi. During the drawing, Gaprindashvili was given the right to be the first to choose one of two beautiful vases. The chosen vase contained a white flower, and the one left for Alexandria contained a dark purple one.
The overall score of the match is 8½:3½ (+8, −3, =1) in favor of Nona Gaprindashvili.
In the sixth match for chess crown she loses to Chiburdanidze in a difficult and stubborn fight.
The first woman to be awarded the title "USSR Grandmaster of Women's Chess" (1976) .
The first of the Soviet female chess players, Gaprindashvili, plays in men's tournaments. For her success in men's international tournaments, she was awarded the (1978) title of international grandmaster among men.
E The ks-world champion participates in all subsequent cycles of the world championship. Played candidates' matches (1980) with Gurieli and Ioseliani, in 1983- with Levitina.
Ivano-Frankivsk,1981
N. GURIELI - N. GAPRINDASHVILI
In 1982 became the first winner of the Chess Oscar prize.
ShThe bold handwriting of the fifth world champion is universal. An active, attacking style, great creative potential, a desire for an uncompromising fight in every game, all these components allowed Nona Gaprindashvili to reign unchallenged on the chess throne for sixteen years.
The brilliant play of the fifth world champion contributed to the great popularization of chess in Georgia. Several generations of Georgian girls have been playing chess since childhood under the guidance of experienced coaches. Many of them achieved brilliant success in the all-Union and world arenas.
S. MAKSIMOVICH - N. GAPRINDASHVILI
