Nadezda Pentala

Nadezda first learned to play chess at the age of four, and since then, her love for chess remains intensely alive, vibrant and undiminishable. As a competitive chess player, she won 7 National Youth Championships and dozens of regional individual and team competitions. She received the title of Woman FIDE Master at 12 years old and won the National Girls Junior Championship when she was only 14 years old!

Nadezda is approachable, curious, and creative and, in her life, chess remains an integral part of who she is and it has greatly impacted the way she thinks, acts and presents herself. Some of her best, all-time favourite memories are connected to chess!

Despite deciding to focus on her studies and to not to pursue a professional career as a chess player, Nadezda continues to work and thrive within the world of chess as an arbiter and coach. She ensures her passion for chess continues to spread and touch every new person that she encounters.

Nadezda believes that the best thing about chess is that it teaches mindfulness, sportsmanship and patience, in a way that is also fun and social and that brings tons of joy! Her goal is to inspire girls and women to use chess as a tool to become strong and confident, and her dream is to see them succeed.