"The Queen's Gambit": Georgian chess legend sues Netflix

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Chic chess worlds: In »The Queen's Gambit« Anja Taylor-Joy plays a fictional world chess champion

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Charlie Gray / Netflix

Former Georgian chess world champion Nona Gaprindashvili has sued the streaming company Netflix for defamation for five million dollars.

The 80-year-old does not agree with the portrayal of her person in the hit series "The Queen's Gambit".

In the lawsuit filed with a California court on Thursday, Netflix is ​​accused of having falsified Gaprindashvili's performance in the fictional series "shamelessly and deliberately".

"The claim that Gaprindashvili 'never competed against men' is obviously false as well as grossly sexist and condescending," says the lawsuit.

In addition, Netflix described Gaprindashvili as Russian, although it was known that she was Georgian.

In the last episode of the series, Gaprindashvili is mentioned by name by a speaker during a chess tournament.

The statement is made that she never played against men.

According to the complaint, however, she competed against a large number of top male players and defeated a total of 28.

Netflix expressed in a statement "the greatest respect for Ms. Gaprindashvili and her illustrious career".

However, the allegations are of no value and the case is being vigorously defended.

Gaprindashvili became world champion at the age of 20 and defended her title four times between 1962 and 1978.

In 1978 she was also the first woman to be appointed grandmaster by the world association FIDE.

She started for the USSR until Georgia's independence in 1991.

"The Queen's Gambit" was one of the greatest successes for Netflix in 2020.

Netflix does not publish reliable figures.

According to the company, 62 million households watched the series within the first 28 days.

However, a series or movie counts as "seen" on Netflix terms if it has been turned on for two minutes.

At the US television awards, the Emmy Awards, which are presented on Sunday night, "The Queen's Gambit" is one of the favorites.

The series was nominated for 18 awards, including the leading actress Anya Taylor-Joy.

kae / sid