Isabelle Tamarozi
ISABELLE TAMAROZI is our chess Educator for the month of November.
Isabelle learned chess from her father and, ever since she was a little girl, she has been absolutely fascinated and obsessed with the sport! Just last year, however, Isabelle decided to make a professional chess career her main objective and she has not looked back since ! Whether she is playing professionally or teaching her students the game, she makes sure that she brings out her inner Girl Boss to the board every single time!
Check out the full chat with Isabelle Tamarozi. Find out how she overcomes her insecurities, what she has to say to Girl Bosses who are unsure if they have what it takes to play chess and what sports other than chess she has gotten involved in over the years…(the list is long!).
1) What are your earliest memories of chess?
It's funny when I'm asked this because I can't remember exactly how I learned to play chess at all. I only know that it was my father who taught me. The first memory I have of chess is the first time that I participated in a school championship. I remember that I drew in the first round because I stalemated my opponent's king, and my immediate and spontaneous reaction was to find my parents and to start to cry! They helped remind me, however, that I was playing for fun, which allowed me to recover and I managed to get third place in a competition where I was playing in a category above my own (I was 7 years old and I was playing in the under 10s).
2) When was the moment/the circumstance that made you decide to make chess an integral part of your life?
I have been a chess player since I was very little, so studying and participating in competitions has always been part of my daily life. I realized that things were getting more serious, when I started winning cash prizes and receiving grants to play in tournaments. The decision to make chess my profession came only last year, when I was finishing my college degree, working at a start-up and teaching chess all at the same time. I took some time to reflect and I realized that what made me happiest was learning more about the game of chess and passing on that knowledge to others. Traveling and participating in tournaments is always great too, so how could I choose otherwise?
3) What has your experience of competing in professional chess tournaments been like as a girl?
It's sad to think that nowadays, even though chess skills and knowledge have nothing to do with gender, that this sport still suffers from gender inequality. The incentives are greater, the prize pools are higher and they are always directed towards men. Despite this, I have noticed some initiatives, such as Girl Boss Chess, which aim to support women in chess and aim to close the gap that still exists in the chess world, which is a great thing.
4) What do you have to say to girls who don’t think that chess is for them?
Chess is for everyone! The only prerequisite for playing chess is that you enjoy learning and having fun. If you have that, then you have everything you need to have a good time playing this wonderful game. And don't be put off by the boys…chess is a mind sport, so dare to challenge whoever you want, without feeling like you’re at any disadvantage being a girl. The important thing is to have fun…always!
5) What does being empowered mean to you and how do you try to empower your students as an educator?
To me, being empowered means not being afraid to be who you are. As a teacher, I always encourage my students to speak their minds and share their opinions about any subject. The idea is for them to feel free to be themselves without feeling insecure or afraid. After all, it is through making mistakes that we learn and evolve, both in chess and in life.
6) What do you love to do aside from chess?
I like to do a lot of things, so in my free time, I divide myself between solving a Rubik's Cube, watching TV series, playing the piano, and cooking different meals. In addition to these hobbies, I have always really enjoyed playing sports. In the past, I’ve trained in soccer, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, tennis. These days, however, I'm just doing gym and dancing classes, which I love too!
7) What are some of your weaknesses or insecurities that you fight to overcome?
I have always felt insecure about playing chess. I used to think that all my opponents were very strong and that they had the right to win, not me. Gradually, I have come to realize that this mentality will not get me anywhere, and that if I'm going to lose for some reason, it must be because I was too optimistic and enthusiastic about the outcome and not the other way around. I also attend sessions with a sports psychologist, so this helps me to face the battles of chess and of life with more tranquility.
8) What does the future look like for Isabelle?
Currently, I’m 100% focused on chess, so everything I project for my short-term and long-term future has to do with this chess career that I’ve committed to. Overall, I'm very optimistic about my plans. I have goals as a player and as a teacher and I have a clear idea in my head of how to have financial stability in the future, so that I can experience the world through chess without restraints.
9) What or who inspires you to be your best self?
During my childhood and adolescence, my parents were always my biggest supporters, and I did a lot for them and for myself. Currently, I still follow my heart for many things, but I'm also very motivated by my fiancée, who encourages me to be myself and to do the things I love, whether they are related to chess or not.
10) What is a Girl Boss in your opinion?
For me, being a Girl Boss means being a walking influenceandmaking a difference in this society we live in today. I believe that we are all born with the ability to be great and to specialize in something, through a combination of hard work and natural talent. Throughout our lives, we have the opportunity to use these talents to help the people around us and make a real difference, and that’s what Girl Bosses do!
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