In a ceremony attended by the Georgian Prime Minister, Minister of Sport and FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, Georgia paid tribute to one of the greatest women chess players of all time, Nona Gaprindashvili.
The celebration – held at the Rustaveli National Theatre in Tbilisi, one of the most prominent cultural venues in Georgia – was organised in honour of Gaprindashvili’s 85th birthday (on May 3 this year).
The audience included Georgia’s most senior state leadership, government ministers, members of parliament, Tbilisi city officials, business leaders and representatives of the chess community.
The 90-minute-long celebration combined Nona’s chess career with Georgian cultural heritage in a unique artistic interpretation of her legacy.
At the highlight of the ceremony, Gaprindashvili herself appeared on stage, greeted with ovations. She was presented with the Highest Award of Georgia for Sports Achievement in recognition of her outstanding contribution to chess, sport and the nation of Georgia.
Akaki Iashvili, president of the Georgian Chess Federation, said: “Nona Gaprindashvili is part of Georgia’s history. She opened doors for generations of women in chess, and she showed that talent, courage and character can change the game forever. Thanks to her, chess is popular and recognised in the country.”
As an example of the high esteem chess enjoys in Georgia, Iashvili noted that the renewed Chess Palace in the center of Tbilisi will open soon, offering space to players and young children from all over the country, including the newest educational materials.
FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich was also among the guests at the celebration.
“Nona Gaprindashvili is a living chess legend, but she is also a national cultural icon, a symbol of Georgian heritage. She is an inspiration for her nation and for the entire chess world, a figure whose legacy promotes the best in chess. It was an honour to be here and celebrate with her and many true chess fans from Georgia and the world,” FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich said.
Gaprindashvili won the Women’s World Championship title in 1962 and later became the first woman to receive the grandmaster title. A five-time Women’s World Champion, an eleven-time Chess Olympiad winner and the first female winner of the Chess Oscar, she is considered a role model for several generations of Georgian players, with a legacy linked to the rise of Maia Chiburdanidze, Nana Alexandria, Nino Gurieli and other great players.
Photos: https://gov.ge/