The Queen's Gambit

The Queen's Gambit (VO) series traces the journey of Elizabeth Harmon from her difficult childhood to the World Chess Championships in Russia.

Indeed, nothing predestined Beth Harmon to become a great chess champion. First of all, because this high level game was reserved for men in the 50's, but also because Beth had a difficult childhood that one can easily imagine the opposite of chess. Beth lost her mother in a car accident (maybe a suicide?) when she was only 6 or 7 years old. Placed in the Methuen orphanage, she will stay there until she is fifteen years old when a couple, the Wheatleys, will eventually adopt her. This orphanage will be both a hell and a salvation for her. She discovered tranquilizers and developed an addiction to these little pills, but also learned to play chess. It is in the basement of the orphanage, in a small room that serves as a workshop for the maintenance worker, that she surprises him playing alone and asks him to teach her.

The cleaner, Mr. Shaibel, sees an innate talent in Beth. If he is able to teach her the rules and some techniques quickly, the girl soon becomes unbeatable, making the cleaner as grumpy as he is impressed. Mr. Shaibel suggested that Beth play a game against several players from a high school chess club, throwing the girl into the excitement of the competition.

Little by little, Beth Harmon perfected her knowledge of chess. She reads books, learns techniques, and at night, takes an anxiolytic that takes her into a state of mind where she is able to visualize the chess pieces on the dormitory ceiling and move them around to replicate the techniques she has learned.

After her adoption, Beth finds herself alone with Alma Wheatley, both abandoned by her husband. Alma Wheatley understands that her daughter's potential can pay off for them since the various tournaments offer bonuses to the winners. Beth participates in her first official tournaments in this way, winning one after the other by sidelining tough opponents such as U.S. champion Benny Watts. She will only come up against the Russian world champion Vasily Borgov...

Beth resumes training, supported by the best American chess players to prepare for her next competition in Russia where she will face the world champion. Beth will have to face her personal problems: the death of her mother, her addiction to alcohol and anxiolytics, but also find the financing to go to Russia.

At this last tournament, the first woman to reach such a level is a sensation all the way to Russia and despite the conflict between the two great nations. There she faced the best players from all over the world until the final against Borgov making a strong impression on the champion himself!