If a young girl from the United States like Beth Harmon had gone up against a Russian grandmaster and actually beat him at the World Championship years earlier, it would have been a huge deal. It certainly was in the mid- to late 20th century when The Queen’s Gambit takes place. There are some things in the series that are true, however, like the Modern Chess Openings book that Beth is gifted by her janitor mentor in the first episode. Series. Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Benny Watts (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) appear to be a match made in heaven, but their relationship in The Queen's Gambit, is rather complicated. A sober Beth travels to the USSR and with the support of her found family — friends like Benny Watts (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), Jolene (Moses … In only seven episodes, The Queen’s Gambit tells the story of Beth Harmon (played by the wonderful Anya Taylor-Joy), who was orphaned at the age of nine in the 1960s. But child stardom comes at a price. Pretty much from the moment Beth Harmon fully understood the game of chess, there was no one in the world who could beat her in the game. Throughout the series, there are … It was a shame a care free night had been he ability to change everything in an instant. Townes. I guess viewers like me are left rewatching the series for hidden details and seriously amazing fashion (shoutout to costume designer Gabriele Binder!). Benny Watts likes to see himself as a lot of things - a chess prodigy, a grand master, author of one of the best selling books, a damn good coach, a cowboy or a pirate (he hasn't decided yet), someone who looks really good wearing a floral robe, to name a few. The charming Benny Watts, played by Thomas Brodie-Sangster, is also a chess champion who starts off as Harmon’s rival but then becomes friends with her. Benny Watts using his beautiful slender hand to move his bishop to H4. But also speed chess. However, by the time the two have crossed paths, Benny has already become so successful that he’s no longer interested in competing in the chess world. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we love. The series showcased the dangers of drug abuse in a way that consciously made me as the viewer root for her to stop using, which is something I think is unique to this show. So is Chess Review Magazine, although it never had Beth Harmon or Benny Watts—the character played by Thomas Brodie-Sangster (from Love Actually and Game of Thrones)—on the cover. Discover the online chess profile of Abid Akmal (BennyWatts99) at Chess.com. Tragically, The Queen’s Gambit is not based on a true story or a real female prodigy. Maybe we can just let the audience imagine what comes next.”. Tevis actually based Benny on Bobby Fischer, a real-life child prodigy chess genius. And helping Beth to beat Borgov in Moscow, obviously. One of Beth's most important relationships is with Benny Watts, a fellow chess prodigy. "Would you like to start my clock?" That’s a real book you can read and study if you’re so inclined. She hones her skill in the game over the course of eight years, going to compete in the U.S. Open at age 16, where she draws with Benny Watts: a grandmaster and U.S. Champion. This content is imported from YouTube. Beth Harmon lost the first chess game she played against a world-class opponent. Marcin Dorociński as Vasily Borgov, the current Soviet-Russian world champion chess … And when Harmon played Watts in the US Championship montage? Other players Beth faces in The Queen’s Gambit are made up too. In case you haven't binged all seven episodes of The Queen's Gambit on Netflix, let us introduce you to Benny Watts. The exchange between Beth (played by Anya Taylor-Joy) and Benny (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) reflects an insider’s knowledge of chess in the United States at the time that the show is … The True Story of 'Stranger Things' Is No Joke, 13 New Movies Based on *Wild* True Stories, 40 Movies Based on True Stories You Can Stream RN, ‘The Laundromat’ Is Kinda Based on a True Story, Here’s the Deal With Timothée’s Movie ‘The King’, The Terrifying Real Story Behind 'The Nun'. Who is … Executive producer William Horberg said in an interview with Town and Country, “The last scene feels like a beautiful note to end the show on, so I’m not sure if we want to go on and answer that question. They’re the closest we have to Beth IRL. Nov 2, 2020 The Queen's Gambit follows Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy), a chess prodigy, who eventually meets a fellow chess star named Benny Watts. Even those of us, myself regrettably included, who don’t really follow or play chess would at least know the name Beth Harmon vaguely…the way you know Olympic athletes who play obscure winter sports or how I vaguely remember that someone was once Searching for Bobby Fischer. Later, with the help of ex-Kentucky … The seven screens with the retro camera lenses mixed with the edgy soundtrack made chess interesting. And, for those who love to indulge in the ritual of “want to feel old,” Benny Watts, fictional chess desperado, is played by Thomas Brodie-Sangster, the little drummer boy from Love, Actually. Or at least he doesn't think he is. From the sound of it, we won’t be getting another season. Charged Clocks. Benny was just as much of a chess whiz as Beth, and his experience and confidence gave Beth her first real loss in the game. Marielle Heller as Alma Wheatley. Benny barges onto the scene in episode three, when Beth encounters him at a Cincinnati tournament in 1963. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, This Season's ATFR Special Is Gonna Look Different, We Know The Bachelorette's Next Filming Location, What is a Changeling on 'Fate: The Winx Saga", ABC Execs Explain Why They Cast "Queen" Victoria, 20 Successful ‘Bachelor’ & ‘Bachelorette’ Couples, You Def Want the Tea on Anna Redman From 'Bach', All the Secrets 'Bachelor' Producers Have Revealed, 'Grey's Anatomy' Isn't Coming Back For Awhile, Clare and Dale’s Relationship Was Always Dramatic. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. This isn’t a Marvelous Mrs. Maisel situation that’s mixing it up by making fictional characters interact with real historical figures. Cosmopolitan participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. While real-world chess grandmasters like Bobby Fischer aren’t directly referenced in The Queen’s Gambit, Fischer’s 1972 match again the Russian grandmaster Boris Spassky was known as the “match of the century” and cited in history books as a major event in the Cold War. Inspired designs on t-shirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. Alongside Taylor-Joy and other talented cast members like Marielle Heller and Bill Camp, actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster plays the character Benny Watts, another gifted chess player who … According to a 1983 interview with the New York Times, Tevis was inspired to create the character of Beth Harmon, a chess prodigy who develops a tranquilizer addiction at a young age, by his own experiences in the world of competitive chess and juvenile drug dependency. Was it a coincidence that she showed up randomly the night before two important matches? Both series were critically acclaimed, and the latter went on to become Netflix's most-watched scripted miniseries. Seriously! Even Anya Taylor-Joy herself said that while she would love to come back and play Harmon again, she thinks the show ended in a good place. Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Benny Watts, a brash young man who is the reigning United States chess champion and one of Beth's most challenging competitors, later a mentor and friend. Incredible. Review: The Queen’s Gambit revolutionizes chess, Waco Downtown Farmers Market stays strong during pandemic woes, Student Spotlight: Lauren Ainsley Lovelies incorporates faith into crafting, Review: Don’t watch Bridgerton with your parents, Student Activities abides by new guidelines for ‘normal’ spring, Honoring Lum: Baylor softball dedicates season to late assistant coach, Bull Moose Society welcomes new age for Baylor conservatives, Don’t Feed the Bears — Depth Chart Reveal, Buzzfeed quizzes go viral, connect people online, Don’t Feed the Bear – Basketball winding down. The first time Beth plays Benny Watts, the reigning US champion, at the US Open in Las Vegas, he defeats her. Marielle Heller plays the role of Alma Wheatley in the series. Brodie Films and Winnet music. I guess I will never know. Among the most surprising real life matches pulled into the series is Beth’s final game of speed chess against Benny Watts, which was played at the Paris Opera in 1858. “Are you not gonna watch me play?” Benny called rather loudly as you passed the group. I couldn’t get enough of the rivalry and was left on the edge of my seat in anticipation. We can stan Beth Harmon and her rock-and-roll approach to a historically geeky game all we want, but we’re stanning a fictional character. Beth Harmon (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Benny Watts (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) appear to be a match made in heaven, but their relationship in The Queen's Gambit, is rather complicated. Orphaned at the tender age of nine, prodigious introvert Beth Harmon discovers and masters the game of chess in 1960s USA. That is until she met Benny Watts. One of Beth’s most important relationships is with Benny Watts, a fellow chess prodigy. As Beth continues to win games and reaps the financial benefits of her success, she becomes more dependent on alcohol and other drugs. I recommend checking out the chess careers of women like Judit Polgár and Hou Yifan, who were both winning titles as young teenagers, as well as notable grandmasters like Irina Krush, Nona Gaprindashvili, and Vera Menchik. Both are talented chess players isolated somewhat by their own genius and ambition, but they find that they are less lonely in each other's company. See their chess rating, follow their best games, and challenge them to a play game. Benny Watts (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), Harry Beltik (Harry Melling) and Jolene (Moses Ingram) all played pivotal roles in calling out Harmon on her addiction and pulling her out of it. So is Chess Review Magazine, although it never had Beth Harmon or Benny Watts—the character played by Thomas Brodie-Sangster (from Love Actually and Game of … Created by Scott Frank, Allan Scott. It was inspired by the book’s author’s own life. But Benny Watts is not vulnerable or nostalgic. Anya Taylor-Joy as Beth Harmon and Thomas Brody-Sangster as Benny Watts in The Queen’s Gambit. The seven screens with … Photo courtesy Netflix . Thank you, Thomas, for taking the time to talk with me and all of the Chess.com … He went on to star in Frank's subsequent Netflix miniseries, The Queen's Gambit (2020), as chess player Benny Watts. What was her purpose? What happened that night? I appreciated that the use of these drugs and later the use of cigarettes and alcohol were not romanticized, but rather questioned by the other characters in the show. Iranian student Dorsa Derakhshani, 22, is a Woman Grandmaster and Saint Louis University student who says chess is even more sexist than Netflix's The Queen's Gambit suggests. ───WASTED TIME A game of chess can change a persons Life in ways no can explain, just with the Right person. Womp, womp. For a while, I suspected that maybe she was working with Borgov (Marcin Dorocinski), but nothing came of that. Beth Harmon and Benny Watts's shared chess prowess and competitive spirit make them a seemingly perfect match - why did their relationship fail? In my opinion, one of the most interesting aspects of the show was the development of Harmon’s drug addiction, starting with the orphanage’s use of tranquilizer pills to calm the young girls. You walked back into the bar to see it busier now and the usual crowd surrounded Benny Watts as he took his usual spot in the centre of the bar. One thing I was left curious about was Harmon’s relationship with Cleo (Millie Brady). If you have enough YouTube tutorials to help you with the latter but the former has you wanting more information, let’s get into the chess of it all. Who is Benny Watts? Another aspect of the show that made me fall in love was the amazing cinematography concepts. Benny Watts (Thomas Brodie-Sangster), Harry Beltik ... As someone who has never been interested in chess, I found the fantastical display of the chessboard on the ceiling engaging and wonderfully creative; I felt like I was able to better understand what the mind of a genius must look like. She develops friendships with several people, including former Kentucky state champion Harry Beltik; gifted but arrogant chess prodigy Benny Watts and journalist, photographer and fellow player D.L. She … And when Harmon played Watts in the US Championship montage? In the series, Benny Watts is a fellow child prodigy that Beth crosses paths with. Promise. Gaga and Michael Polansky’s ’Ship Is So Damn Cute, Spoil Yourself With These Valentine's Day Gifts, 'The Bachelor' Season 25, Episode 4: Mean Girls, The First Full Moon of 2021 Brings So Much Drama, How ELOQUII Is Elevating BIPOC Fashion Designers. If you have not made it that far into the Gambit, apologies for ruining the plot, but Beth and Benny Watts, boy wonder of the chess world, do in fact bone. Incredible. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. - D. L. Townes. The Queens Gambit AU Benny Watts AHSsouls 2020 You could see the chess board in between him and another man and the defeated look on Benny’s opponents face. Based on the 1983 novel by Walter Tevis, The Queen’s Gambit’s (2020) scripted limited series has taken the world by storm. While in an orphanage, she discovers her genius ability to play the game of chess and grows to battle the best in the world. Benny Watts is an arrogant, popular, and very intelligent chess prodigy and a part of the main cast in the Netflix series, The Queen's Gambit. Like Beth, he had a knack for the game as a child, but unlike her, was given opportunities from an early age, and by the time they meet, he’s a seasoned champion who doesn’t bother to compete half the time. 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