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Meet the modern-day Beth Harmon, a chess influencer who started training when she was 6 years old
Meet the modern-day Beth Harmon, a chess influencer who started training when she was 6 years old
Joey HaddenDec 18, 2020, 19:24 IST
Alexandra Botez says that like Beth Harmon she knows what it's like to not be taken seriously as a female player.Netflix/ Courtesy of Alexandra Botez
Some fans of "The Queen's Gambit" are calling chess influencer Alexandra Botez, 25, the "real life" Beth Harmon.
Botez's father began teaching her chess when she was just 6, and she won her first national championship at 8.
Botez continued to win national championships throughout high school before attending Stanford University.
Now, Botez has nearly 500,000 followers on the livestreaming platform Twitch. She also holds the International Chess Federation title of Women's FIDE Master.
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Alexandra Botez starting playing chess thanks to a bet between her parents when she was 6 years old.
Alexandra Botez poses for a photo with her father.
Courtesy of Alexandra Botez
Then her dad began training her for chess tournaments.
Botez began training when she was 6 years old.
Courtesy of Alexandra Botez
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Since then, Botez said she has won six national championship titles for females her age.
Botez poses with one of her national championship trophies.
Courtesy of Alexandra Botez
While she was growing up, Botez was so focused on chess that she said it felt like she was living in an alternate universe built for the game.
Botez competes at a chess tournament as a child.
Courtesy of Alexandra Botez
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This feeling was heightened in high school when Botez was often traveling for chess tournaments.
Botez competes in a tournament in high school.
Courtesy of Alexandra Botez
Botez also relates to how Harmon's character isn't taken seriously as a female player.
Botez said she experienced sexism at chess tournaments.
Courtesy of Alexandra Botez
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Botez turned down a chess scholarship to attend her dream school, Stanford University, where she became the first female chess club president.
Botez and her mother when she graduated from Stanford.
Courtesy of Alexandra Botez
In 2016, Botez started streaming chess on Twitch, where she has gained a significant following.
Botez started streaming on Twitch four years ago.
Courtesy of Alexandra Botez
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Aside from the game itself, Botez said she thinks the sense of community on Twitch keeps people watching.
Botez and her sister, Andrea, streaming on Twitch.
Courtesy of Alexandra Botez