The MPI Original award-winning documentary short Andrea’s Gambit is now available to watch online here.

The film follows Andrea Botez, the 20-year-old daughter of immigrants who fled communist Romania, as she pursues master-level chess while building a growing career in chess content creation in hopes of gaining admission to her dream university. As her success accelerates across chess, music, and online media, Andrea reaches a pivotal moment: whether to follow the traditional path to college or fully commit to an entrepreneurial trajectory already gaining traction.

At its core, Andrea’s Gambit is about choice. It asks whether formal education is always the clearest path forward—or whether, for some, momentum, risk, and self-directed ambition offer a different kind of preparation for the future.

That question reflects the reality Andrea is navigating. A competitive chess player from a young age, she won the U8 Girls Canadian Youth Chess Championship before transitioning into full-time content creation. Alongside her sister, Alexandra, Andrea co-founded the popular Twitch and YouTube channel BotezLive, which has grown into a major platform at the intersection of chess and online entertainment.

Her creative ambitions extend beyond the chessboard. Andrea has built a parallel career in electronic music, performing internationally under the Monstercat label before launching her own imprint, Botez Records. Today, she shares her mixes on her YouTube channel Andrea Botez, continues producing chess content through BotezLive, and co-hosts the Botez Sisters podcast with Alexandra.

Andrea’s ability to move fluidly between disciplines—strategy, performance, and entrepreneurship—has earned her recognition from Forbes and Rolling Stone as one of the most influential creators in the gaming and music space. Yet Andrea’s Gambit doesn’t frame her success as a finished story. Instead, it captures the uncertainty that comes with standing at the edge of multiple possible futures.

By focusing on that moment of decision, the film offers a broader reflection on ambition, independence, and the courage it takes to chart an unconventional path.

Watch Andrea’s Gambit below, and learn more about the film here.