Maia Chiburdanidze

Born on 17 January 1961 in Kutaisi, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union.

Learned chess at age eight from her brother Reziko, who was ten years older.

Was a uniquely gifted child: she could read at age three, started school at five, and was solving complex arithmetic problems in her head by age five.

At age ten, she became Georgian school chess champion.

Graduated from Tbilisi Medical University, balancing her medical studies with a world championship chess career.

Entered the Tbilisi Palace of Young Pioneers chess club shortly after learning the game.

The sixth Women's World Chess Champion, holding the title from 1978 to 1991 — a reign of 13 years.

Became the youngest Women's World Champion in history at age 17 when she defeated Nona Gaprindashvili in 1978.

Successfully defended her title four times over 13 years, one of the longest reigns in women's chess history.

Achieved the International Master title at age 13, a record at the time.

Won the Soviet Women's Championship in 1973 and was awarded the Women's International Master title in 1974.

Known for her universal, positional style and her exceptional endgame technique.

Chiburdanidze was a prodigy who could read at three and do mental arithmetic with three-digit numbers at five.

She held the world title for 13 years, one of the longest reigns in women's chess history.

Her career statistics: 451 wins, 644 draws, and 212 losses — a testament to her consistency at the highest level.

(No famous personal quotes widely documented; her play speaks for itself.)

Winning Chess Puzzles for Girls Volume 6: Play Like Women's World Chess Champion Maia Chiburdanidze — 44 exercises taken from her games.

Chiburdanidze for Buffs by Lyudmil Tsvetkov — presents 15 games from her earlier career, annotated move by move.