03.01.2009
The hottest chess event of 2008: Watch my video about how I became the 12th Women World Champion in the history of chess. It's published on my YouTube channel, where you can find many other high quality chess blitz videos in bigger size.
29.12.2008
Alexandra Kosteniuk just published the 32nd episode of her popular chess audio podcast "Chess is Cool". It's a 16 minute MP3 file in which she talks about how she won at the recent Women's World Championship in Nalchik. Alexandra became the 12th women world champion in history. You can listen to it by clicking here or by susbcribing for free on iTunes.
21.12.2008 The Underwire from Wired.com is running a contest to find the sexiest geek of the year 2008, and women's chess world champion Alexandra has been nominated as one of the contestants. Voting is taking place right now. Would it not be cool if Alexandra turned out as one on the top on the list? That would show how cool chess is. We like to define a geek as someone who has chosen concentration rather than conformity, one who passionately pursues skill (especially technical skill) and imagination, not mainstream social acceptance. Or a person with a devotion to something in a way that places him or her outside the mainsteam. Chess may be somewhat geeky, but nevertheless we think it's the coolest game of all. Do you agree? You can read another article about this on Examiner.com and another one here
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17.12.2008
FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhnov offered women's world chess champion Alexandra Kosteniuk a national costume of the Republic of Kalmykia, and we have an exclusive web photo album for you to enjoy.
As a holiday gift to you, Alexandra will send free autographed world champion postcards to anybody who requests one by email to Alexandra. Don't forget to write your postal mailing address as it will be a real postcard not an email postcard. Happy Holidays!
14.12.2008
Alexandra was the guest of honor in Elista, Kalmykia, Russia, just before the start of the Elista 2008 Grand Prix event. FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov offered to Alexandra a beautiful horse as a gift for winning the 2008 Women's World Chess Championship. Alexandra also gave two simuls and a chess class to students. She was welcomed to the school of Iki-Chonos where high officials accepted her in the ranks of the "Big Wolves". With her sister Oxana she was invited to the city's Buddist temple. Pufichek's 477 photos are ready for you to enjoy.
06.12.2008
Alexandra was the guest of honor at the 1st Korea Open Chess Championship, in Seoul, South Korea. You see her pictured here with the Chairman of the Korea Chess Federation Hyun In-Suk. Alexandra gave a 40-board simul on the last day of the event, you can see a 209-photo album by Pufichek by clicking here.
01.12.2008 On the 29th and 30th of November took place the 2nd Cup Alexandra Kosteniuk in Moscow, for kids U-6 and U-8, organized by Alexandra's Moscow chess school, Azbukachess. It took place in the beautiful Central Moscow Chess Club, and attracted 84 participants. You can watch photos of the event by clicking here.
13.11.2008
Today Alexandra's team won their first match 4-0 against Azerbaijan. Alexandra won against Zeinab Mamedjarova in only 23 moves: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Be3 Be7 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. c3 Qd7 12. h3 Rad8 13. Bc2 f5 14. exf6 Nxf6 15. a4 Bxh3 16. gxh3 Qxh3 17. Ng5 Qh4 18. Bf5! Bd6 19. Ndf3 Qh5 20. Kg2 h6 21. Rh1 Qe8 22. Ne6 Ne7 23. Nxg7!! Black resigned because of 23...Qc6 24. Be6+ Kxg7 25. Bxh6+ Kg6 26. Qc1 Ne4 27. Bxf8 Kf6 28. Qh6+ Ng6 29. Qg7+ Kxe6 30. Nd4 mate! You can copy and paste the moves in this pgn player.
12.11.2008
Russia is presenting the strongest teams, in both women and men competitions, at the 2008 Dresden Olympiads. The women's team is composed of World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk, Tatiana Kosintseva, Nadezhda Kosintseva, Ekaterina Korbut and Natalia Pogonina (average ELO 2495). The men's team is composed of Grandmasters Vladimir Kramnik, Peter Svidler, Alexander Grischuk, Alexander Morozevich and Dmitry Jakovenko (average ELO 2756). Follow the event on the organizer's site, watch the games live, and check the results.
14.10.2008 BREAKING NEWS: GOLD AGAIN AT THE MIND SPORTS GAMES! Alexandra Kosteniuk and her teammates Natalia Pogonina, Valentina Gunina, and Irina Vasilevich won the Women's team Blitz event, beating in the final matches the number 1 seeded China (Hou Yifan (vice-champion of the world), Zhao Xue, Xu Yuhua (ex-world champion), Huang Quian and Ruan Lufei 2.5 to 1.5 and 3 to 1. Alexandra on the first board won both her games against Hou Yifan, congratulations! NEW! Watch all 270 photos from Beijing here!