Maia Chiburdanidze is a Georgian chess grandmaster and former World Chess Champion. She has made significant achievements in her chess career, including a record at the age of 13 when she became the youngest player to earn the title of Woman International Master (WIM) at the International Chess Federation in 1974.
Chiburdanidze's career took off in 1977 when she won the Women's Soviet Chess Championship and went on to become the Women's World Chess Champion in 1978, at just 17 years old. She successfully defended her title four times, which led to her reign as a champion for a decade until 1991.
Her success has continued with victories at international tournaments such as the Chess Olympiad where she represented the Soviet Union from 1980 to 1990, and the Republic of Georgia from 1992 till 2012. Throughout her career, she's garnered multiple awards and medals.
Aside from her competitive achievements, Chiburdanidze has made great strides in promoting women's chess. She took part in a unique event in history, the "Great Female Chess Parade,” where 1000 female chess players competed in a tournament promoting female participation in the sport.
Chiburdanidze continues to be a high-profile figure in the chess world today, even serving as a vice president for the International Chess Federation (FIDE). Her contributions to chess have made a significant impact and helped pave the way for future generations of female chess players.