Game of Her Life

She’s fourteen years old and as talented a chess player as very few at her age. And she’s from one of the poorest regions in the world. “Phiona Mutesi is the ultimate underdog”, ESPN The Magazine writes. “To be African is to be an underdog in the world. To be Ugandan is to be an underdog in Africa. To be from Katwe is to be an underdog in Uganda. And finally, to be female is to be an underdog in Katwe.” This brilliant reportage follows Phiona Mutesi to the chess Olympiad in Russia, which for her is also a trip to a totally new world. A world of elevators, hot showers and multiple meals a day.