Nona Gaprindashvili, Georgian chess player, grandmaster turned 80 today.
Gaprindashvili was born on May 3, 1941. She is a five-time world champion, 11 team and 9 individual Olympic gold medalists and Chair of the FIDE Women’s Commission (1980-1986). Gaprindashvili is the strongest female chess player of her generation in the world.
In 1978, Nona Gaprindashvili became the first female chess player to be awarded the title of Grandmaster.
In 1997, on the decision of the 68th Congress of the FIDE, the Nona Gaprindashvili Cup was established at the Chess Olympics, which is awarded to the country’s men’s and women’s teams for the best overall result.
In 2001, Tbilisi Chess Palace was named after her.
By Ketevan Skhirtladze
