# Maia Chiburdanidze

> Georgian chess grandmaster

**Wikidata**: [Q232720](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q232720)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maia_Chiburdanidze)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/maia-chiburdanidze

## Summary

Maia Chiburdanidze is a Georgian chess grandmaster and former World Chess Champion, recognized as one of the most prominent female chess players in history. She represented the Soviet Union during her competitive peak and later Georgia following the dissolution of the USSR. Her achievements in chess have earned her multiple prestigious awards including the Order of the Red Banner of Labour, Order of Friendship of Peoples, and Order of Vakhtang Gorgasali.

## Biography

- **Born:** [Date not available in source material]
- **Nationality:** Georgian (formerly Soviet Union)
- **Education:** Associated with Tbilisi State Medical University (established 1918 as a faculty, became independent university in 1930)
- **Known for:** Chess competition at the highest international level; became World Chess Champion
- **Employer(s):** [Specific employers not available in source material]
- **Field(s):** Chess (sport/athletics)

## Contributions

Based on the available source material, specific concrete contributions such as tournament wins, publications, or specific career milestones are not detailed in the provided data. The categorical information indicates her primary identity as a chess player (Thing with sitelink_count: 13) and athlete (Thing with sitelink_count: 80). Her classification as a physician (Thing with sitelink_count: 176) alongside her chess career suggests dual professional identification, though specific medical practice details are not provided.

## FAQs

**What country did Maia Chiburdanidze represent in chess competitions?**
Maia Chiburdanidze represented the Soviet Union during its existence (1922-1991) and later represented Georgia following the country's independence in 1991.

**What awards has Maia Chiburdanidze received?**
She has received the Order of the Red Banner of Labour (Soviet Union), Order of Friendship of Peoples (Soviet Union), Order of Vakhtang Gorgasali (Georgia), and was recognized as a Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR.

**What is Maia Chiburdanidze's professional background?**
Beyond her chess career, Maia Chiburdanidze has associations with the medical field, specifically Tbilisi State Medical University in Georgia.

**What makes Maia Chiburdanidze notable in chess?**
She is recognized as a chess grandmaster and held the title of World Chess Champion, making her one of the most accomplished female chess players in history.

## Why They Matter

Maia Chiburdanidze matters as a pioneering figure in women's chess, achieving the title of World Chess Champion during an era when female chess players faced significant barriers in the sport. Her success at the highest levels of international competition brought visibility to Georgian and Soviet chess. The recognition she received through multiple state awards from both the Soviet Union and Georgia demonstrates the high esteem in which she was held by both regimes. Her dual identity as both a competitive athlete and someone connected to the medical profession (as evidenced by her association with Tbilisi State Medical University) represents an unusual combination of elite sports achievement and academic/professional pursuit.

## Notable For

- World Chess Champion title
- Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR award
- Order of the Red Banner of Labour recipient
- Order of Friendship of Peoples recipient
- Order of Vakhtang Gorgasali recipient (Georgia's highest honors)
- Representation of Georgia and Soviet Union in international competition

## Body

### Early Life and Background

The source material does not provide specific details regarding Maia Chiburdanidze's birth date, birth place, or early life circumstances. However, her nationality is established as Georgian, with historical context indicating she competed representing the Soviet Union during its existence from 1922 to 1991, and subsequently represented Georgia following the country's independence in 1991.

### Education and Professional Dual Identity

One of the distinctive aspects of Maia Chiburdanidze's profile from the source material is her association with Tbilisi State Medical University. This institution was established as a faculty in 1918 and became an independent university in 1930, located in Tbilisi, Georgia. The source material lists her under the category of "physician" (Thing) with a notably high sitelink count of 176, suggesting significant recognition of this professional identity alongside her chess career. This dual identity as both a competitive athlete and medical professional is relatively uncommon among elite chess grandmasters.

### Chess Career

Maia Chiburdanidze's primary identity in the source material is clearly established as a chess grandmaster (wikidata_description: "Georgian chess grandmaster"). She is categorized as a "chess player" (Thing) with sitelink_count: 13 and as an "athlete" (Thing) with sitelink_count: 80, reflecting her status as a serious competitive athlete. The source material does not provide specific tournament results, championship dates, or detailed career milestones, but her classification as a grandmaster and former World Chess Champion indicates achievement at the highest levels of the sport.

### Awards and Recognition

The source material provides detailed information about Maia Chiburdanidze's awards:

**Soviet Awards:**
- Order of the Red Banner of Labour: Established September 7, 1928, this was one of the Soviet Union's prominent orders recognizing labor achievements
- Order of Friendship of Peoples: Established December 17, 1972, this Soviet order recognized achievements in strengthening peace and friendship between nations
- Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR: Established May 27, 1934, this Soviet award recognized outstanding athletic achievements and was the highest sports honor in the USSR

**Georgian Awards:**
- Order of Vakhtang Gorgasali: Established December 24, 1992, this is a Georgian order recognizing military merit in three classes, awarded following Georgia's independence from the Soviet Union

The combination of Soviet and Georgian awards reflects her career spanning both political entities and the high regard in which she was held by both regimes.

### International Representation

Maia Chiburdanidze represented two political entities during her competitive career: the Soviet Union (1922-1991) and Georgia (independent since 1991). This representation timeline aligns with her status as a product of the Soviet chess system that produced many of the world's strongest players during the mid-to-late 20th century, and her continued representing Georgia after the dissolution of the USSR.

### Legacy and Significance

While the source material lacks specific details about her tournament victories or exact championship reign, Maia Chiburdanidze's recognition as a World Chess Champion and recipient of multiple high-ranking state awards establishes her significance in chess history. Her achievement as a female World Chess Champion in the Soviet system was notable, as the Soviets dominated chess during her competitive era. The presence of her Wikipedia entry (sitelink_count: 50) and Wikidata entry indicates sustained recognition in encyclopedic sources. Her dual identity as both athlete and medical professional, as suggested by her association with Tbilisi State Medical University, represents a unique combination that distinguishes her from typical chess professionals.

## References

1. Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1969–1978)
2. Biographical Dictionary of Georgia
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. List of players on FIDE lists 1967-2001
7. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 January 2001
8. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 30 April 2001
9. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 July 2001
10. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 October 2001
11. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 January 2002
12. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 30 April 2002
13. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 July 2002
14. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 October 2002
15. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 January 2003
16. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 30 April 2003
17. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 July 2003
18. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 October 2003
19. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 January 2004
20. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 30 April 2004
21. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 July 2004
22. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 October 2004
23. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 January 2005
24. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 30 April 2005
25. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 28 February 2013
26. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 October 2005
27. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 January 2006
28. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 30 April 2006
29. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 July 2006
30. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 October 2006
31. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 January 2007
32. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 30 April 2007
33. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 July 2007
34. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 October 2007
35. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 January 2008
36. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 30 April 2008
37. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 July 2008
38. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 October 2008
39. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 January 2009
40. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 30 April 2009
41. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 July 2009
42. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 30 September 2009
43. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 30 November 2009
44. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 January 2010
45. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 March 2010
46. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 May 2010
47. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 July 2010
48. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 30 September 2010
49. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 30 November 2010
50. FIDE Standard Ratings as of 31 January 2011