I’ve always been fascinated by the game of chess since my school days, though I’ve never been particularly skilled at it. Having said that, despite reading quite a bit about it, watching videos, and occasionally playing friendly games over the internet, I’ve never actually joined a chess club to develop as a player. So maybe I would have been better at it than I imagine. I don't think it's necessarily the game itself, but the atmosphere in which it is played that appeals to me. Although it may seem very sedate to spectators, the tension the players experience can be quite intense, though it's a kind of inward intensity. And when TV programmes or movies appear that have a chess theme, I'm always keen to see them.
One notable Netflix movie about chess from around seven years ago was "The Queen's Gambit," which was excellent and had a slight twist. It told the story of an unfortunate orphaned girl who, while living in a home, was discovered to be a chess prodigy and eventually went on to become the world chess champion. I wondered who originally wrote this story, and it turns out it was written in 1983. Someone decided to turn it into a Netflix miniseries, which I understand won awards. What’s more, I’ve just discovered it’s also available as an audiobook, which I purchased today and am now listening to. It’s a compelling tale of misfortune and eventual success in the face of tough breaks in life.
I wondered if anyone else had seen this miniseries.