At just 15-years-old, Shreeya Mahadeo stands as one of South Africa’s most promising young chess talents. A pupil at Durban Girls' College, her journey began at the age of seven when her father, Sebastian, first introduced her to the game. Since then, her passion and determination have propelled her to the international stage, where she will soon represent South Africa at the Commonwealth Chess Championships in Malaysia. Shreeya’s path has not been without obstacles. She recalls moments of discouragement, particularly when international tournaments felt out of reach due to financial challenges. “I felt demotivated when it came to international trips because we couldn’t actually afford it,” she shares. However, the launch of her BackaBuddy campaign has reignited her hope. “Now that we’ve started the BackaBuddy campaign, I have the opportunity to learn, gain experience, and represent my country, something I’m really happy to do.” Listen to the full conversation!