Currently in the midst of dusting off your old chess set thanks to a little Netflix series called The Queen's Gambit? Well, you're certainly not alone. Since the debut of the show, which is based on the novel of the same name, the age-old strategy game has seen a surge in popularity, with sales of everything from boards to books soaring, as well as a newfound interest in the game online. As it happens, the chess star of the internet arena, is, like the star of the show, a young female champion who's as stylish as she is skilled. And she's shaking up everyone's idea of the typical "chess nerd."
Meet Alexandra Botez, the 25-year-old, real-life Beth Harmon of the social media era. The Woman FIDE Master, who has won a slew of national championships since she was teenager, has garnered hundreds of thousands of fans on Twitch, where she livestreams games, and over 25 million views on her chess-focused YouTube channel. Needless to say, she's cool AF. Click through for everything you need to know!
[Photos via @missbotez]