The 19-year-old has gained momentum thanks to her Instagram account, a platform where she has a huge following of 1.8M followers.
In an interview for Netflix, where she is filmed as she plays a solo chess game, the 15-time champion revealed what she and the protagonist of The Queen’s Gambit have in common.
The Real Queen’s Gambit Shares What She And Beth Have In Common
“I definitely think me and Beth are super similar cause she never took no for an answer,” Majimbo said.
“I never ever, ever take no for an answer,” she continued.
The player added that, just like Beth, she always defines her own path.
One of the most popular limited series on Netflix, The Queen’s Gambit is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Walter Tevis. The series follows Beth (Anya Taylor-Joy), an orphan in 1960 Kentucky, discovering a talent for chess. Determined to become a Grandmaster, Beth is on a steady path to international fame and recognition, but struggles with addiction and loneliness.
Beth has to deal with skepticism and sexism in a still very male-dominated chess world, but she’s unfazed. She just plays, the best way she can. Majimbo does the same.
“I never let anyone control me,” she said.
Elsa Majimbo Got Into Chess In A Very Unexpected Way
Majimbo also explained how she first got into chess. Much like Beth, she saw people playing and became immediately fascinated by the board.
“The first time I started playing chess, it was a very chance-like situation,” she said.
“I had just moved schools and one day, as I was walking towards the swimming pool area, I saw so many people gathered playing chess, and I was like ‘Ooh, what’s this mysterious, mystical game?’” she said.
She asked one of the players to teach her, but they refused. Majimbo then asked the coach of the chess team to show her how to play.
“And at first I was horrible,” she admitted.
“But then I had so much time on my hands, and I got better, and better, and better,” she said.
The Queen's Gambit is streaming on Netflix