The knight piece in chess will soon be universally known as the 'Gentildonna' in a shock move designed to align the sport with what the World Chess Authority has called "a cultural force chess can no longer afford to ignore."
Gentildonna was a champion Japanese racehorse and has also found fame as a star of the Umamusume franchise, a wildly popular anime and gacha game centred on anthropomorphised racehorses.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a spokesperson for the Authority put a timeframe on the unexpected 'rebrand', confirming the knight will be universally known as the 'Gentildonna' in all world chess communications from November 25 onwards.
A seven-time G1 winner who amassed over US$19 million in earnings, Gentildonna’s most famous victories include the 2012 Triple Tiara and the 2012 Japan Cup, an iconic performance in which the mare forced into the clear by making heavy contact with Orfevre, ultimately denying the reigning Japanese Horse of the Year in a thrilling finish.The daughter of Deep Impact’s 2014 G1 Dubai Sheema Classic win was similarly spectacular, launching late after being stuck behind a wall of horses early in the straight.
In arriving at the decision to rename the knight 'Gentildonna' specifically, the Authority's cited the racehorse's courage, strength and ability to extricate herself from extremely precarious scenarios as being "very much aligned with the values the knight represents."
This masthead understands the Authority's recently-formed Nomenclature and Cultural Alignment Committee had also considered Haru Urara as an option, but ultimately passed her over for what was perceived as an "insufficient tactical range".
Chess insiders close to the situation believe that Haru Urara is however considered a prime candidate should the naming rights for the pawn come ever under review, given its status as a beloved, somewhat one-dimensional 'slow mover'.
Other Umamusume are said to be lobbying for their own pieces. Gold Ship has reportedly requested the bishop, citing its unpredictable diagonal movement and tendency to occasionally not move at all.
More to follow.
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