She learned about chess in kindergarten and at the age of nine, Marianda Lambou became the under-10 European champion in the girl’s category, beating 65 girls from 30 countries.

“I liked chess from the beginning and I wanted to learn it a lot and in general and I continued because I loved it,” she told ERT about her victory in Antalya, Turkey.

“I feel very good. Most of the guys were playing well, they were among the top in their countries and I had 8 wins and a draw. I played chess calmly and did well,” said the 9-year-old champion.

Before conquering Europe, Marianda who plays for the Sports and Cultural Club Aigli Papagou was five times champion of Greece.

The president of the club Ioannis Panagakos, who was her first teacher was very happy: “Huge success, the greatest is that she is a gem of a character. It was that she had a lot of passion.”

The Lambou family has another champion. Haris, Marianda’s little brother, is the Greek champion for children under 8 years old.

“I like it because it is a sport not with the body but with the mind,” says Haris.