Australian chess champ made grown men cry at age 10

Just like on the hit Netflix show, The Queen’s Gambit, Aussie chess champion Heather Richards started playing the game at a young age.
And in a similar way to the show’s heroine, she wasn’t always popular with her opponents.
“I had three grown men cry when I beat them,” Ms Richards told 9news.com.au.
“It kind of scared me. I was 10 or 11.”
The Queen’s Gambit has been popular on Netflix. (Netflix)
Ms Richards, 37, was 10 when her mother taught her to play the game, alongside her brothers, in the UK.
At her first tournament she was one of only two girls.
She lost, she recalls, but after her mother bought her a book on chess, something clicked – and she started to win.
Heather Richards was ten when she started playing chess. (Supplied)
Before long she was beating much older players, winning titles and travelling the world.
“I think I was in the top five juniors in England, boys and girls, by the time I was 12,” she said.
She won multiple titles as a teenager, often against much older opponents, and her success continued to adulthood.
The character in The Queen’s Gambit starts playing the game as a young child. (Netflix)
She was awarded the prestigious Women’s International Master title in 2002 – the second biggest on offer – and won the Australian Women’s Championship in 2015 after relocating.
International rankings all now place her in the top five in the nation, making her one of the youngest champions.
While women play men in tournaments, Ms Richards admits sexism in the game has been rife, especially in the UK.
Top British player Nigel Short announced in 2015 girls “didn’t have the brains to play chess”.
The Queen's Gambit
Anya Taylor-Joy as Beth Harmon in Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit. (Netflix)
But she said there’s little of that in Australia.
“The chess world has moved forward,” she said.
READ MORE: Netflix hikes price in Australia
READ MORE: Australia’s most Googled terms of 2020
Ms Richards said the life of a young chess champ portrayed on the Netflix show reflects her experience in many ways.
Set in the 1950s and ’60s and based on the Walter Tevis novel, it’s about an orphan called Beth Harmon, who becomes a chess genius after learning the game in an orphanage.
However Ms Richards, an engineer from Rockhampton, Queensland, said she has never felt the pressure which sees the character turn to drugs and alcohol.
Fellow player Jilin Zhang, 37, has felt the intense need to win.
Jilin Zhang played chess for China from a young age. (Supplied)
The Sydney mum was just seven when she was sent to chess lessons in China.
She travelled by bus for 90 minutes for classes in her city in the north-east of China, as often as four times a week.
And within a couple of years she was winning national tournaments against much older players.
Chess player Jilin Zhang during a game in China. (Supplied)
Aged 10, she moved 1000km from home to join the national youth team, training for eight hours a day and competing around the world.
“It was very, very hard. I was the youngest,” she said.
She was paid by the government to play, in a nation which takes chess very seriously.
However, as her career progressed, like the character in The Queen’s Gambit, she was simply not used to losing.
The first time it happened, in Spain, was a big shock.
“For me it was like failure, because if you’re not a winner you’re nothing,” she said.
READ MORE: What Australia was tweeting about in 2020
Sydney mum Jilin Zhang is a champion chess player. (Supplied)
Ms Zhang gave up playing professionally when she moved to Sydney in 2005.
While the scene in Australia is a far cry from China, she’s the country’s best female player according to the Australian Chess Federation – and one of the youngest in the rankings.
She holds the top title of Woman Grandmaster, but is now also passionate about running children’s chess classes, saying it teaches them life lessons.

Chess craze after Netflix show

Over the past few months, Google in Australia has seen the biggest spike in searches for chess for a decade, no doubt boosted by the show, as well as the pandemic.
Meanwhile, sales of chess sets on eBay in Australia climbed by 110 per cent after the series came out.
President of Australian Chess, Gary Wastell, told 9News it’s too soon to see if the rise in interest in the game will translate into new players turning up at actual events once they restart after coronavirus.
Anya Taylor-Joy as Beth Harmon as seen on Netflix's The Queen's Gambit.
Netflix’s The Queen’s Gambit is behind a rise in interest in chess. (Netflix)
However, playing chess online has also climbed in popularity.
Chess.com has gained 2.35 million players since the series started, boss Nick Barton told the New York Times, with 15 per cent more women joining than normal.
You can even play virtual games against The Queen’s Gambit heroine, Beth Harmon, on the site.
People are also keen to watch other people play chess online.
Australia’s best selling toys over the past 50 years
View Gallery
US pair, the glamourous Botez sisters, have millions of views on video streaming sites of them playing the ancient game.

Source: 9NEWS

272 Replies to “Australian chess champ made grown men cry at age 10”

  1. ромашкино альметьевск база отдыха официальный сайт
    гостиница оренбурга цены отель которосль ярославль официальный сайт пансионат в ленинградской области недорого
    кострома отели с бассейном и спа гранд авеню отель екатеринбург официальный сайт отель форум тюмень

  2. литфонд пансионат пицунда отели витязево шведский стол
    гостиницы вельска цены севастополь курортный город отель палаццо краснодар
    лениногорский санаторий авито туапсе квартиры посуточно пансионат кристалл уют анапа

  3. гостиница астра первоуральск свиссотель сочи камелия
    отель пансионат кристалл геленджик отзывы гостиница клеопатра ульяновск гостиница союз одинцово
    зеленый гай абу даги махачкала санаторий октябрьский в сочи официальный сайт

  4. пансионаты евпатории цены на 2021 гостиница аквалоо в сочи
    мичуринск отели гостиницы санаторий лениногорский татарстан гостиницы североморск
    база остров первоуральск отель вертикаль красная поляна гостевой дом лилия краснодар

  5. old flat hostel где лучше отдохнуть в абхазии 2021
    санаторий аквалоо цены на 2021 санаторий пятигорье в пятигорске официальный сайт отели в центре сухуми абхазия
    балчуг вьюпоинт отель герцен хаус отель санкт петербург официальный сайт отель марриотт краснодар на букинг ком

  6. семейный курорт у моря береговой русь железноводск официальный
    сочи санаторий правда официальный сайт кабардинка жилье рядом с морем семейный парк отель союз истра
    санаторий зори ставрополья г пятигорск санатории крыма с грязелечением саки грязелечебница курсовка цены

  7. риксос красная поляна адрес санаторий подмосковье домодедово
    ессентуки отдых цены гостиницы козьмодемьянск кирова 70 пятигорск
    отдых в сочи в конце сентября чем полезны нарзанные ванны в кисловодске где купить путевку в санаторий кисловодска

  8. каскадная лестница кисловодск история аренда гостиницы в анапе
    отель марина палас геленджик псоу на карте снять номер в гостинице в кисловодске
    пансионат геленджик официальный сайт гостиницы великого новгорода цены везделет скивиллаг

  9. отдых сухум отель мовенпик таганка
    серебряный век дом отдыха таруса санаторий в карелии марциальные воды дом отдыха в подмосковье все включено недорого
    наследие гостиница москва вднх туапсе пансионат южный официальный сайт ялта интурист сайт

  10. гостиница шератон в москве проживание в кисловодске
    санатории анапы все включено пушкинские ванны пятигорск официальный сайт отель онежский замок петрозаводск
    шакар палас гостиница санаторий мвд в крыму сочи отдых все включено санатории

  11. красная глинка самарская область лучшие гостиницы адлера
    отдых в уфе на выходные крым самый дорогой отель открытый юг 2022 год
    гостиница причал калуга официальный сайт династия гостиница санкт петербург официальный сайт гостиница уют голицыно

  12. черноморец лагерь гостиницы валдая цены недорого
    санаторий зеленая роща сочи цены на 2021 санаторий анапа океан официальный сайт цены лагерь для похудения в крыму
    кисловодск сан пикет пансионат лазурь белокуриха где находится

  13. пятигорск гостиница бештау пансионат дружба
    золотой пляж ялта судак отдых 2021 цены открытый бассейн адлер
    хостел в алтуфьево дешево базы отдыха с бассейном дома отдыха казань

  14. патриот гостиница калининград ольхон проживание
    скопин гостиницы пансионат пляж витязево официальный детские санатории калининградской области
    санаторий дорохово цены газпром отель крым николаевка отель

  15. санаторий меллас официальный сайт артек гурзуф
    летний отдых в сочи санаторий плаза железноводск колхида гагра фото
    красные холмы павлово респект холл ялта гостиница акфес сейо владивосток

  16. дивноморское база отдыха гостиница родина красноуфимск
    ялта mriya resort spa the 7 hostel москва сити отель бархатные сезоны сочи официальный сайт
    отель сириус сочи отзывы отель новочеркасск санаторий зеленая роща сочи официальный сайт цены

  17. This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!

  18. naturally like your web site however you need to take a look at the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to tell the truth on the other hand I will surely come again again.

  19. Try to slowly read the articles on this website, don’t just comment, I think the posts on this page are very helpful, because I understand the intent of the author of this article.

  20. Try to slowly read the articles on this website, don’t just comment, I think the posts on this page are very helpful, because I understand the intent of the author of this article.

  21. naturally like your web site however you need to take a look at the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to tell the truth on the other hand I will surely come again again.

  22. This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!

  23. I’m often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your web site and maintain checking for brand spanking new information.

  24. I’m often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your web site and maintain checking for brand spanking new information.

  25. Hi there to all, for the reason that I am genuinely keen of reading this website’s post to be updated on a regular basis. It carries pleasant stuff.

  26. You’re so awesome! I don’t believe I have read a single thing like that before. So great to find someone with some original thoughts on this topic. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the internet, someone with a little originality!

  27. This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!

  28. You’re so awesome! I don’t believe I have read a single thing like that before. So great to find someone with some original thoughts on this topic. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the internet, someone with a little originality!

  29. I’m often to blogging and i really appreciate your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I’m going to bookmark your web site and maintain checking for brand spanking new information.

  30. Try to slowly read the articles on this website, don’t just comment, I think the posts on this page are very helpful, because I understand the intent of the author of this article.

  31. This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!

  32. You’re so awesome! I don’t believe I have read a single thing like that before. So great to find someone with some original thoughts on this topic. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the internet, someone with a little originality!

  33. After research just a few of the blog posts in your website now, and I really like your manner of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site listing and will probably be checking again soon. Pls try my web site as well and let me know what you think.

  34. Oh my goodness! a tremendous article dude. Thanks However I am experiencing challenge with ur rss . Don抰 know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting identical rss drawback? Anyone who knows kindly respond. Thnkx

  35. Hi there to all, for the reason that I am genuinely keen of reading this website’s post to be updated on a regular basis. It carries pleasant stuff.

  36. Hi there to all, for the reason that I am genuinely keen of reading this website’s post to be updated on a regular basis. It carries pleasant stuff.

  37. Try to slowly read the articles on this website, don’t just comment, I think the posts on this page are very helpful, because I understand the intent of the author of this article.

  38. I and also my buddies ended up checking out the excellent advice from your website and then got a terrible feeling I never thanked the website owner for those tips. My boys became totally stimulated to see all of them and have now extremely been having fun with them. Thanks for being considerably considerate and also for making a decision on some cool things most people are really wanting to know about. Our sincere regret for not expressing gratitude to you sooner.

  39. I as well as my friends were actually looking at the great things from your site and then suddenly I got a terrible suspicion I had not thanked you for those tips. Those men happened to be for this reason excited to read all of them and have now seriously been tapping into them. Appreciate your simply being quite thoughtful as well as for selecting this sort of ideal guides most people are really eager to understand about. My very own sincere regret for not expressing appreciation to you earlier.

  40. Needed to draft you the little remark to help thank you so much again about the magnificent secrets you have shown in this article. It’s quite tremendously generous with people like you to deliver extensively what exactly some people might have supplied as an ebook in order to make some cash for themselves, and in particular now that you might well have done it if you decided. These smart ideas also worked to be the easy way to know that most people have the identical eagerness the same as my very own to find out way more with regards to this matter. I know there are a lot more pleasant occasions in the future for those who look over your blog.

  41. My spouse and i ended up being so comfortable Raymond managed to complete his basic research from the precious recommendations he came across out of the web pages. It’s not at all simplistic just to possibly be giving out strategies which often some people may have been selling. Therefore we discover we now have the website owner to thank for that. The type of illustrations you’ve made, the straightforward blog menu, the friendships you help promote – it’s got mostly unbelievable, and it’s aiding our son in addition to us consider that this concept is brilliant, which is quite indispensable. Many thanks for all!

  42. I’m also commenting to let you understand what a helpful discovery my cousin’s child experienced visiting your blog. She even learned a wide variety of details, with the inclusion of how it is like to possess a very effective teaching style to make the mediocre ones really easily grasp some tricky topics. You actually exceeded our own desires. I appreciate you for providing the powerful, healthy, edifying and in addition unique tips about the topic to Emily.

  43. I must show my appreciation to you for rescuing me from this type of instance. Right after searching throughout the search engines and finding solutions which are not productive, I assumed my entire life was done. Being alive minus the solutions to the difficulties you have fixed all through your entire blog post is a serious case, and the kind which may have in a negative way affected my entire career if I hadn’t noticed your web page. Your personal skills and kindness in touching every part was useful. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I hadn’t come upon such a subject like this. It’s possible to at this time relish my future. Thank you so much for your expert and result oriented help. I won’t hesitate to suggest the sites to any individual who ought to have care on this subject matter.

  44. I would like to show thanks to the writer just for rescuing me from this situation. After checking through the the web and meeting proposals which are not productive, I figured my entire life was gone. Living without the presence of approaches to the issues you have solved by way of your entire post is a critical case, as well as ones that could have badly damaged my career if I hadn’t discovered your website. Your main training and kindness in controlling a lot of things was vital. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I hadn’t discovered such a step like this. I am able to at this time relish my future. Thank you very much for the specialized and results-oriented help. I will not be reluctant to propose your web page to anybody who would like direction about this situation.

  45. Thank you a lot for providing individuals with an extraordinarily superb opportunity to read from here. It is usually very superb and as well , full of amusement for me and my office fellow workers to visit your website minimum thrice weekly to find out the newest guidance you have. And indeed, we’re at all times motivated concerning the brilliant tricks you serve. Selected 3 points in this posting are honestly the most beneficial we’ve had.

  46. I precisely desired to appreciate you all over again. I do not know what I could possibly have created without the techniques documented by you relating to that area. It had been an absolute hard matter in my position, however , discovering a skilled style you processed the issue took me to weep with contentment. I am just thankful for your service and then hope that you know what a great job that you are putting in instructing men and women by way of your websites. Most probably you’ve never encountered all of us.

  47. I definitely wanted to jot down a note to be able to thank you for some of the magnificent advice you are writing here. My considerable internet look up has finally been compensated with pleasant facts and strategies to share with my classmates and friends. I ‘d repeat that many of us readers actually are truly fortunate to exist in a good site with many awesome people with insightful secrets. I feel very privileged to have discovered your entire webpages and look forward to some more cool minutes reading here. Thanks a lot again for all the details.

  48. You’re so awesome! I don’t believe I have read a single thing like that before. So great to find someone with some original thoughts on this topic. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the internet, someone with a little originality!

  49. This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!

  50. Thanks for a marvelous posting! I genuinely enjoyed reading it, you are a great author.I will always bookmark your blog and will often come back down the road. I want to encourage continue your great job, have a nice weekend!

  51. I carry on listening to the reports speak about getting free online grant applications so I have been looking around for the most excellent site to get one. Could you advise me please, where could i get some?

  52. يتجلى تفاني المصنع في الجودة في الأداء المتفوق لأنابيب HDPE ، والمعروفة بقوتها ومتانتها الاستثنائية.

  53. naturally like your web site however you need to take a look at the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling problems and I find it very bothersome to tell the truth on the other hand I will surely come again again.

  54. It’s really a nice and useful piece of info. I’m glad that you shared this useful info with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thanks for sharing.

  55. Try to slowly read the articles on this website, don’t just comment, I think the posts on this page are very helpful, because I understand the intent of the author of this article.

  56. I carry on listening to the reports speak about getting free online grant applications so I have been looking around for the most excellent site to get one. Could you advise me please, where could i get some?

  57. I think the content you share is interesting, but for me there is still something missing, because the things discussed above are not important to talk about today.

  58. This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!

  59. Скоро возводимые здания: прибыль для бизнеса в каждом кирпиче!
    В нынешней эпохе, где моменты – финансы, здания с высокой скоростью строительства стали реальным спасением для коммерции. Эти новейшие строения объединяют в себе высокую надежность, экономичное использование ресурсов и ускоренную установку, что сделало их отличным выбором для бизнес-проектов разных масштабов.
    [url=https://bystrovozvodimye-zdanija-moskva.ru/]Легковозводимые здания из металлоконструкций[/url]
    1. Молниеносное строительство: Секунды – самое ценное в деловой сфере, и сооружения моментального монтажа способствуют значительному сокращению сроков возведения. Это особенно востребовано в ситуациях, когда срочно нужно начать бизнес и начать зарабатывать.
    2. Финансовая экономия: За счет оптимизации производства и установки элементов на месте, экономические затраты на моментальные строения часто оказывается ниже, по сравнению с традиционными строительными проектами. Это позволяет сэкономить средства и получить более высокую рентабельность инвестиций.
    Подробнее на [url=https://xn--73-6kchjy.xn--p1ai/]scholding.ru/[/url]
    В заключение, быстровозводимые здания – это первоклассное решение для бизнес-проектов. Они включают в себя быстроту возведения, экономичность и устойчивость, что дает им возможность наилучшим вариантом для профессионалов, готовых начать прибыльное дело и обеспечивать доход. Не упустите шанс экономии времени и денег, оптимальные моментальные сооружения для вашего следующего начинания!

  60. Hi there to all, for the reason that I am genuinely keen of reading this website’s post to be updated on a regular basis. It carries pleasant stuff.

Comments are closed.