Chess champion Nona Gaprindashvili has decided to file a complaint against Netflix for spreading false information, and degrading her image in the series “The Lady’s Game”. The streaming giant fought back.
The Lady’s Game: Netflix’s big hit
Released somewhat under the radar in October 2020, the Netflix miniseries The Lady’s Game quickly became a staple of the platform. The story of Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy), a gifted young woman in chess, has fascinated subscribers around the world.
In just a month, the series had broken a viewing record. And that’s not all. The series was seen so much that it revived the sale of chess sets. A few days ago, she was awarded two Emmy Awards:
- best limited series
- best director (Scott Frank)
If the character of Beth Harmon never existed, the series is inspired by several world-famous chess players. Among them, we can cite Judit Polgar or Nona Gaprindashvili.
Netflix faces trial
The latter was the world chess champion from 1962 to 1975. She is also the first woman to have obtained the title of International Grand Master (mixed award) in 1978. In The Lady’s Game, the name of Nona Gaprindashvili is mentioned in the last episode.
Indeed, during the Moscow tournament as Beth Harmon argues, a radio presenter can be heard saying:
The only thing unusual about her is her gender. This is not unheard of in Russia. There is Nona Gaprindashvili, female world champion, but who has never faced men.
However, this assertion is false. As we can see in the illustration above, Nona Gaprindashvili has faced many men in her career. Now 80 years old and living in Georgia, the chess champion was saddened that this false information was given in the series. She therefore decided to file a complaint against Netflix.
the NY Times tells us that she claims millions of dollars in damage and interest for spreading false information. She says the series has degraded her image, and her victories in front of millions of viewers.
They wanted to make this fictional character look like a pioneer, paving the way for the future generation, while this work, it was I who did it years before.
said Nona Gaprindashvili.
Netflix for its part does not let it go, and intends to defend itself against this complaint that they consider “unfounded”.
It is now up to justice to decide.
