In the suit, Gaprindashvili called the incorrect dialogue “grossly sexistâ€.
The lawsuit was filed in LA district court on September 16 and is focused mostly on one scene in the Queen’s Gambit.
The popular Netflix show is about a fictional American chess player named Beth Harmon who rises up the ranks to become a globally successful chess legend.
In the finale of the series, during one scene, a commentator watching Harmon play directly references real-life chess star Gaprindashvili and her career.
“Elizabeth Harmon’s not at all an important player by their standards,†explained the announcer.
There’s Nona Gaprindashvili, but she’s the female world champion and has never faced men.â€.
At this point, Queen’s Gambit is set in the year 1968.
According to the lawsuit filed by Gaprindashvili, by this point in time, she had already played and defeated many men in chess, including 10 grandmasters.
The lawsuit continues, harshly criticising Netflix for its choice to change history and claiming the company had “brazenly and deliberately lied†about her achievements “For the cheap and cynical purpose of ‘heightening the drama’ by making it appear that its fictional hero had managed to do what no other woman, including Gaprindashvili, had done.â€
Netflix said in a statement to the LA Times that the streamer had the “utmost respect†for the legendary chess player, but believes the lawsuit “has no merit†and “will vigorously defend the case.â€
In an interview with the New York Times, Gaprindashvili found the whole situation ironic