North-East chess player welcomes The Queens Gambit scheme to get women playing THE England Chess Federation has launched a scheme to encourage women to play chess after the widespread success of the Netflix show The Queen s Gambit, a move welcomed by North-East chess players. The Queen s Gambit tells the story of orphaned child prodigy Elizabeth Harmon, played by Anya Taylor-Joy, who is taught chess by a janitor in the orphanage basement. Set in the 60s, Beth is one of the first women to play the game and climbs her way onto the international chess circuit while battling with substance abuse.
Despite a struggle to be taken seriously by the boys she persevered, becoming the first-ever Scottish girls’ champion at 17 and Scottish ladies champion in 1975.
“We were a laughing stock in the beginning. Girls just didn t play chess, Mrs Hindle said. So I thought I’d go home and learn some tricks and traps so I can beat people, especially boys.”
Anya Taylor-Joy as chess champ Beth Harmon in The Queen s Gambit. - Credit: Phil Bray/Netflix
- Credit: Phil Bray/Netflix
Mrs Hindle said she was once playing for Norfolk at an inter-county contest when her opponent joked with his mates that he “wouldn’t need long” before their game.