Polina Karelina
“I started playing chess when I was very young, at 4 years old. However, due to some unfortunate circumstances, I ended up quitting for a few years. Starting to play again at 14 was extremely challenging, but I am happy I did it. The experience taught me to be humble, but confident. It was a tough start coming back, but the hard work led me to represent my country in the team for the 2018 Olympiad. Another thing I admire about the game is that it is also a common language that brings together people from all over the world.”