A 16 years old, she is a sensation in the world of chess. Phiona Mutesi, a Ugandan from the slums, learned to play chess one day when she was looking for food. In 2011, Tim Crothers devoted an article to him in the prestigious American sports magazine, ESPN Magazine. She is Phiona Mutesi, a Ugandan from 16 years old who discovered chess while strolling in the corridors of a tournament, looking for food.
Today, the writer dedicates an entire book on the teenager that he considers the ultimate underdog. "Before I discovered chess, I lived on the street," Phiona told CNN. "There was nothing to eat in the street"."I liked the look of the pawns" In 2005, the starving girl was taken to a refuge where the Ugandan Robert Katende, 28, taught people to play chess in exchange for a cup of porridge. . He was organizing a tournament on this occasion. "I had never heard of chess before that", tells the teenager to journalists, "but I liked the look of the pawns". The instructor thus taught the basic rules of the game to Phiona, 9 years old at the time. Excited, she continued to play.
According to ESPN, she walked 6 kilometers a day to go play chess with Robert Katende. The latter taught him various strategies. Together, they scheduled a match against a player who had beaten the kid before and against all odds, and to the general surprise of the other players, it was the young apprentice who won the duel. "She plays very aggressively, like the boys", testified a player. “She likes to attack and when you play against her it feels like she pushes us back until we can't back down”.
Disney bought the rights of its history
A few weeks later, the pupil passed the master, who knew it was time to teach him how to diversify his game. Robert Katende was convinced that the little one had a natural talent which allowed him to aim for the highest level. The Ugandan became the youngest winner of the African chess championships. This gift for chess allowed the young girl to return to school where she hopes to continue studying to become a doctor. In his book, entitled “The Queen of Katwe” for which Disney has already bought the rights for a possible adaptation on the big screen, Tim Crothers recalls the journey of Phiona Mutes, who comes from a poor neighborhood where only boys have children. opportunities. Her father died of AIDS and her mother is also believed to be HIV positive.
By Maxime Lambert
SOURCE:
gentside.com