Nona Gaprindashvili was the first woman ever to be awarded the FIDE (International Chess Federation) Grandmaster rank (among men) in 1978, the highest a chess player can attain. The title is, fittingly, for life – Gaprindashvili had been playing chess since she was 5 years old, and at 81 years old, she continues to be a force to be reckoned with in the shrewd and thrilling world of chess.

Read the full interview in the book here