Alexandra Kosteniuk

Alexandra Kosteniuk is a young, female, international grandmaster in chess, most well known for her attempts to promote chess in the popular media.  Born and raised in Russia, she started playing chess at the age of 5, and, at the age of 9, became the female European Champion among girls under the age of 10.  A month later, she shared first place at World Championship for competitors under the age of 10.  In 1997, at the age of 13, she became a Woman International Master, and in 2004 was awarded the title of International Grandmaster.  On October 30th, 2009, she and her team won the European Team Chess Championship, and Kosteniuk won an individual gold for outstanding performance.

Kosteniuk also runs a website called chessblog that catalogues major events in her life, and in chess all around.  She also has a highly interactive website that features both her accomplishments and modeling photos she has taken in the name of promoting chess.  She has also published a book about chess that features some of her poems, and played in a movie.  She also hosts a popular podcast entitled “Chess is Cool”, all in the name of promoting the popularity of chess.