Alexandra Kosteniuk

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Alexandra at 35th Chess Olympiad Bled 2002

Alexandra Kosteniuk (Александра Костенюк) (born April 23, 1984 in Perm, Volga Federal District) is a Russian chess player who became female European champion in 2004 by winning the tournament in Dresden, Germany. In August 2006 she became the first Chess960 (Fischer Random) women world champion after beating Germany's top female player Elisabeth Pähtz 5.5-2.5.

In November 2004, she achieved the International Grandmaster title, becoming one of the eleven women to ever receive the highest title awarded by the World Chess Federation (FIDE). She also holds the titles of Woman Grandmaster and International Master. She is third on the October 2006 FIDE women Elo rating list with a rating of 2534. Kosteniuk won the 2005 Russian Women's Championship, held from May 14 to 26 in Samara, Russia, finishing with a score of +7 =4 -0.

Kosteniuk's mottos have been "chess is cool" and "beauty and intelligence can go together". With these as a backdrop, Kosteniuk has been promoting chess in the capacity of a fashion model in order to spark interest in the game around the world. She is also the host of a popular podcast "Chess is Cool".

Her website (see below) covers the events she is playing in and contains a large photo gallery of herself.