Ubuntu-The Stories Matter: IVIE URIETO

“Chess is more than just a game to me, it’s a vision of greatness. I see a future filled with endless possibilities, and I believe in the power of chess to shape destinies.” - Ivie Ten-year-old Ivie Urieto dreams of becoming a software engineer and a Chess Grandmaster, and she is clawing her way there, checkmate after checkmate. Ivie found the gift of chess in the middle of a global pandemic that rocked the foundations of the modern world. Amidst the uncertainty and isolation, young Ivie discovered a game that would change her life for the better —chess. What began as a simple curiosity sparked by watching her Dad play chess has now blossomed into a passion which Ivie is building on to build her future and empower other young children, particularly those from underserved communities. Ivie’s dad, noticing his daughter’s interest in the game at age four, started to seek structured coaching and mentorship for his young daughter. By the time Young Ivie turned five, she played in her first chess tournament, honing her skills as a chess player and building her spirit of sportsmanship. While Ivie’s Dad cultivated the initial spark, her dedication to the game is what would eventually make her into a global champion. Ivie did not stop at getting good at the game, she became an instructor and influencer for the game of chess. Ivie is dedicated to not just being a player of chess, she is a champion of the game. Through her …

“Chess is more than just a game to me, it’s a vision of greatness. I see a future filled with endless possibilities, and I believe in the power of chess to shape destinies.” – Ivie

Ten-year-old Ivie Urieto dreams of becoming a software engineer and a Chess Grandmaster, and she is clawing her way there, checkmate after checkmate.

Ivie found the gift of chess in the middle of a global pandemic that rocked the foundations of the modern world. Amidst the uncertainty and isolation, young Ivie discovered a game that would change her life for the better —chess. What began as a simple curiosity sparked by watching her Dad play chess has now blossomed into a passion which Ivie is building on to build her future and empower other young children, particularly those from underserved communities.

Ivie’s dad, noticing his daughter’s interest in the game at age four, started to seek structured coaching and mentorship for his young daughter. By the time Young Ivie turned five, she played in her first chess tournament, honing her skills as a chess player and building her spirit of sportsmanship. While Ivie’s Dad cultivated the initial spark, her dedication to the game is what would eventually make her into a global champion. Ivie did not stop at getting good at the game, she became an instructor and influencer for the game of chess.

Ivie is dedicated to not just being a player of chess, she is a champion of the game. Through her foundation, the Ivie Chess Development Foundation, she is taking the game of chess to schools, slums, and IDP camps where she is inspiring other youngsters to dream and become with the game of chess.

Her dedication to the game of chess and talent did not go unnoticed by her coaches and mentors, who played a pivotal role in propelling her to the limelight. Recently, Ivie was selected to participate in the Ubuntu Cultural Exchange Programme in Atlanta, Georgia, as a part of the five-man Chess in Slums Africa team. Ivie won a silver medal at the game, winning a 100 dollar cash prize.

Ivie’s participation in the exchange program is not just a pat on the back for her dedication as a young chess player, but also proof that Chess in Slums Africa’s hypothesis that you can do great things from a small place is indeed true.

As an ambassador for the gift of chess, Ivie has made it her mission to inspire and empower. She speaks boldly about the transformative power of chess, showing that brilliance isn’t confined by age or gender. Ivie carries her story as a message: Chess is more than a game, it’s a tool for liberation and endless possibilities.