Jovanka is a nine-time British Women’s Chess Champion, International Master, author, and broadcaster—and one of the UK’s leading female players. Born and raised on a council estate in South London, she quickly rose through the ranks, becoming European Girls’ Junior Champion to qualifying twice to challenge for the crown in the Women’s World Championship cycle.
In 2017, Jovanka moved from competitive play to become a full-time chess commentator, using her natural storytelling skills to bring the game to life for audiences around the world. In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, she joined the groundbreaking Champions Chess Tour broadcast—a revolutionary show designed to make complex chess ideas both accessible and engaging, helping everyone from newcomers to seasoned players connect with the strategy, emotion, and creativity behind each move.
Driven by curiosity and a passion for problem-solving, Jovanka often applies the lessons of the chessboard to real-world challenges—demonstrating how planning, adaptability, and creativity can drive success. Drawing on skills refined through years of competition in a tech driven chess world; she has developed a love for combining original thinking, alongside calculated risk-taking and adapting to a rapidly changing landscape.
Jovanka is now a regular broadcaster for several of the world’s leading chess organizations—from the largest online platform, Chess.com, to the governing body of chess, the International Chess Federation (FIDE). She covers major live events, from the 2024 World Championship match to the Esports World Cup and has even called a Chess Boxing match along the way!
