Qiyu Zhou — Biography
Qiyu Zhou, born in Jingzhou, China, on January 6, 2000, is a celebrated figure known for her prowess in chess, her ventures into poker, and her captivating online persona. Her early years unfolded in Antibes, France, where her father's work at a French research institute and her mother's expertise in linguistics shaped her environment. A subsequent move to Oulu, Finland, at the age of four, due to her father's research position, marked another chapter in her upbringing. By eleven, her family settled in Ottawa, Canada. She attended Colonel By Secondary School and was part of the RA Centre Chess Club. In 2017, Zhou began her academic journey at the University of Toronto, pursuing a double major in economics and statistics with a minor in mathematics, but took a pause in January 2021 to dedicate herself fully to full-time streaming. Beyond her intellectual pursuits, she participated in pole vaulting, basketball, and badminton during her high school years and is fluent in English, Mandarin Chinese, Finnish, and French. Her Chinese heritage is a defining aspect of her identity, stemming from her birthplace and her parents' background. She is recognized by several names, including Qiyu Zhou, Nemo Zhou, and her online moniker akaNemsko. The latter originated from a childhood nickname, "Nemo," bestowed by her parents at age three, inspired by her fascination with aquariums and the film *Finding Nemo*. A friend later adapted this to "Nemsko," and "aka" was added for her Twitch handle when simpler variations were unavailable. As of November 2025, her social media presence is substantial, with 349,000 followers on Instagram, 435,100 on TikTok, 528,000 subscribers on YouTube, and 363,000 followers on Twitch.
Zhou's chess journey commenced at age three in France, where her natural talent quickly became apparent in a local chess club, leading her to triumph over older players. Upon moving to Finland, under the guidance of Jouni Tolonen at the Shakki-77 chess club, she achieved a significant milestone at five years old by becoming the youngest Finnish national chess champion, securing the under-10 open division in 2005. She continued to dominate the under-10 category from 2007 to 2010 and claimed the Finnish Women’s National Chess Championship in 2010 at the age of ten. In 2011, she began representing Canada and went on to win Canadian girls' national titles in the under-12 (2012) and under-14 (2013) divisions, followed by the Canadian women’s championship in 2016. Her most notable junior accomplishment was her victory at the under
Zhou's chess journey commenced at age three in France, where her natural talent quickly became apparent in a local chess club, leading her to triumph over older players. Upon moving to Finland, under the guidance of Jouni Tolonen at the Shakki-77 chess club, she achieved a significant milestone at five years old by becoming the youngest Finnish national chess champion, securing the under-10 open division in 2005. She continued to dominate the under-10 category from 2007 to 2010 and claimed the Finnish Women’s National Chess Championship in 2010 at the age of ten. In 2011, she began representing Canada and went on to win Canadian girls' national titles in the under-12 (2012) and under-14 (2013) divisions, followed by the Canadian women’s championship in 2016. Her most notable junior accomplishment was her victory at the under
