"At home, there was always a chessboard in the living room": Monaco resident Fiorina Berezovsky, French cadet chess champion

Behind her broad smile and natural ease, Fiorina cultivates a formidable rigor. Having lived in Monaco since the age of six, after a childhood spent between Germany and the United States, she has just become the French cadet chess champion with an impressive score of 7.5 points out of 9.

"Her games, broadcast live on the Internet, aroused great enthusiasm among the club members, who fervently followed her journey to victory," said the Monte-Carlo Chess Club, of which she has been a lifelong member.

A family passion

The daughter of an international master and a chess teacher, she – so to speak – "fell into it when she was little . " "My parents met at a chess tournament in Ukraine when they were 14. They passed on their passion to us, my whole family plays," the high school student confides . "At home, there was always a chessboard in the living room."

But while her brothers and sister eventually abandoned tournaments, Fiorina took to the game. And made her mark. After years of methodical progression, she won the supreme title in Vichy this year, after finishing runner-up last year. "It's been a goal of mine for a long time: to become French champion before I turn 18," the young woman assures.

This success is no accident. A high school senior in Monaco at the Lycée Albert-Ier, she juggles demanding coursework with daily training. "At least one hour a day and often more on weekends," she explains.

"We are very proud of her because she has come a long way to get here. I know she works very hard," says her brother.

Her passion isn't limited to the game. Fiorina is also fascinated by the world of tournaments, travel, strategy, and confrontation. "You can really learn a lot from chess. For me, it's a sport that mirrors life. Every position forces you to make choices; you have to think and anticipate the other player's plan."

At the Monte-Carlo Chess Club, which she has been attending since arriving in the Principality, Fiorina has become a key member over the years. She has seen the premises fill up, especially after the success of the series The Queen's Gambit . "Many young people have come to see us saying: 'I've seen the series, I want to learn.' There are also toddlers aged 3 or 4 who come to the club and are starting to learn how to move the pieces," the young champion rejoices.

And if she is the only girl her age to compete at this level in her club, she hopes to inspire others.

Peace and Sport Ambassador

Committed and curious, Fiorina has also been a junior ambassador for Peace and Sport since 2022, convinced that chess can be a vehicle for dialogue. She envisions her future between business, marketing, higher education, and a role as a chess influencer on social media to dust off the image that clings to her passion.

Because while some struggle to stay focused for a few minutes, Fiorina can play games lasting more than six hours without ever faltering. "That's what chess has given me: patience, discipline, concentration."

Next step? A world podium in the adult category. With one certainty: Fiorina hasn't finished making waves.