Nona Gaphrindashvili

Nona Gaprindashvili is the five-times women’s World Champion in chess, winning the title in 1962 and holding it for 16 years. She is 11 times Champion of the Chess Olympiad. Nona was the first woman to become a grandmaster among men, doing so in 1978. In 1997 for exceptional achievements in the development of chess Transitional cup after her name was established by Fide at the Chess Olympiads for the best Nation with leading aggregate result among men and women. Nona was named the best Georgian Sportswoman of the 20th century.

For lifetime achievements Nona has received following Georgian State awards as the Presidential Order of Excellence, the Medal of Honor, the Order of King Tamar, the Order of Vakhtang Gorgasali of the first and second quality.