A Serbian chess grandmaster and politician who served as the Minister of Youth and Sports, known for her achievements in the chess world and her contributions to Serbian sports policy.
Alisa Mari, a Serbian chess player, holds the esteemed titles of Woman Grandmaster (WGM) and International Master (IM), and is renowned for being the only twin, along with her sister Mirjana Mari, to hold the WGM title in the history of modern chess. On top of her impressive chess career, Mari also served as the Minister of Youth and Sports in the Government of Serbia from 2012 to 2013.
Introduced to chess at the tender age of four, Alisa Mari's journey began alongside her twin sister Mirjana. The siblings' early start in chess proved to be a defining factor in their future successes.
Mari's family is filled with chess enthusiasts. Her twin sister Mirjana is also a chess player, and together they hold the unique distinction of being the only twins with WGM titles. Alisa is also a mother of twins, a girl, and a boy, Milica and Duan.
Alisa Mari's chess prowess was evident from a young age. At 12, she became a national chess master and senior champion of Belgrade. Her achievements continued to mount, and by 15, she was a FIDE Woman International Master (WIM) and World Junior Vice Champion.
As a 16-year-old, Mari became the youngest ever winner of the Yugoslav Chess Championship, held in Pucarevo in 1986. This remarkable feat was followed by her being awarded the FIDE WGM title at the age of 18.
In 1990, Mari won the Candidates Tournament for the Women's World Chess Championship in Borzhomi, Georgia. She then faced Xie Jun in the final challenger match, which Xie Jun won, eventually becoming the Women's World Chess Champion.
Mari continued to participate in Candidates Tournaments, sharing 4-5th place in Shanghai, China in 1992, and 4-5th place in Tilburg, Netherlands in 1994. Her last appearance in the Candidates Tournament was in 1997, where she shared 5-7th place in Groningen, Netherlands.
On July 27, 2012, Alisa Mari was elected as the Minister of Youth and Sports in the Government of Serbia, a position she held until September 2, 2013. This marked a significant departure from her chess career, as she took on a leadership role in the Serbian government.
Alisa Mari's legacy extends beyond her impressive chess career. As a trailblazing female chess player, she has inspired countless young girls and women to take up the game. Her ministerial career has further solidified her position as a role model, demonstrating her ability to excel in both sports and politics.
Through her remarkable achievements, Alisa Mari continues to leave an indelible mark on the world of chess and beyond.
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A Soviet chess grandmaster who dominated the game for over a decade, winning numerous championships and earning a reputation as one of the greatest players of all time.
