Today was held the Traditional Moscow Blitz Chess Championship, with the 20 strongest players of the city. This is undoubtedly the strongest city blitz championship in the world. Alexandra was the only woman admitted to this prestigious event, and she did a very respectable score of 7/19, with wins against GM Dreev (photo on the left), GM Korotylev, IM Gabrielian, GM Belov, IM Maslak, and Zuikov, and draws against IM Dvalishvili and GM Zviagintsev. The tournament was won by GM Morozevich. We have 53 photos of the event you can watch here.

Following Alexandra’s successful Chess960 Tournament in Mainz last week, we are pleased to present to you our new Fischer Random Chess960 PGN Player. Click here to see some of Alexandra’s games from the Finet Open from Mainz last week in our new Chess960 Player. Thanks to Lutz Tautenhahn for the code and Tobias Feigel for the design. Alexandra really enjoyed playing this new chess variant invented by Bobby Fischer in 1996. It’s wonderful because there are 960 possible starting positions, and so you have to start thinking from move 1 on, and the positions that arise are often most interesting. More info on Fischer Random here. Enjoy!

Thanks to the chess world for making our site www.kosteniuk.com the most visited chess Grandmaster site of the world. Our traffic numbers show from 2,000 to 10,000 unique visitors per day, and up to 100,000 unique visitors per month. This is a great result, which proves that the world is watching Alexandra in her quest in higher and higher chess results, as well as in her promotion of the game of chess around the world. However, Alexandra still needs your help to continue her work, so if you can, please donate to her Chess Fund. You can also help in a modest but helpful way by buying one of Alexandra’s charming Teddy Bear Keychains. More info here. Thanks for your help!

Another success for Alexandra in Mainz, coming out the top woman in the combination Fischer Random and Rapid Chess with highest overall points: 7 + 7.5 = 14.5 and tie-break points: 45 + 51 = 96. Second came in Stefanova (7.5 + 7 / 93.5) and third Cmilyte (6.5 + 8 /90.5), with same overall points, but lower tie-break points, which means Alexandra played against stronger opponents during the tournaments. The Rapid tournament was won by Radjabov with a fantastic field of 546 players! Thanks to the organizer of this festival Hans-Walter Schmitt (on the left in the photo). A photo album is coming soon…

Today was the first day of the Ordix Rapid Chess tournament in Mainz, Germany. Alexandra has now 4.5 points out of 5. She beat strong GM Ivan Sokolov (2691) in the 4th round and drew GM Zvjaginsev (2659) in the 5th round. Tomorrow there will be 6 more rounds. We have put Alexandra’s win against GM Sokolov in our PGN Player, in the pull-down menu “wins against GM’s”.

Chess Grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk had a great time in Mainz in the largest Fischer Random tournament of the year. The tournament was of incredibly high level with 47 players with the Grandmaster (men) title, and was won by GM Levon Aronian. Alexandra got 7 points out of 11 and overall was second among women, behind Stefanova, but in front of Paehtz, Zhukova, Cmilyte, and Chiburdanidze (see full results here). According to Alexandra, Fischer Random chess is a great invention, it allows you to use your imagination from move 1 on, and there is no need to memorize variations since you will most likely be seeing the starting position for the first time in your life. The games that are played are more interesting and unpredictable.

Chess Grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk is playing in the largest Fischer Random tournament of the world, in Mainz, Germany! This chess variant was invented by Bobby Fischer and is also called “Chess960”, because there are 960 possible starting positions. The tournament has 11 rounds, Alexandra did 4 out of 5 today and will play the last 6 rounds tomorrow. On the photo you can see ex-world champion Anatoly Karpov watching Alexandra’s game. More news on the official site.

Congratulations to the whole Russian women’s team who got BRONZE medals at the European Team Championships in Goteborg, Sweden: On the photo, from left to right: Nadezhda Kosintseva (board 2), Alisa Galliamova (also bronze on board 5), Alexandra Kosteniuk (board 1), Ekaterina Kovalevskaya (board 3), and Tatiana Kosintseva (also gold on board 4). Our congratulations go especially to the European Champions: Poland, and the silver medalists: Georgia. Alexandra’s games are here and our Goteborg Photo album is here. NEW: Photos of the Prize Ceremony are HERE.

Today was a tough day for the challengers Ukraine and Russia who lost to Poland and Georgia. These last 2 are practically guaranteed gold and silver. Tomorrow is the last round and Russia and Bulgaria will fight for bronze. Have a look at Alexandra’s games here and at our GOTEBORG PHOTO ALBUM which has 159 photos, and will grow to 200 by the end of the tournament!

Today August 5 Russia’s women team won against the Ukraine 2.5 to 1.5, with Alexandra drawing against Zhukova in a tough Berlin Wall Ruy Lopez. The Kosintseva sisters drew their games and Galliamova won on the last board. Russia is still in second position behind Poland, tied with Georgia. Tomorrow Russia plays against Georgia, it will be a key match for the medals. Only 2 rounds to go. Have a look at Alexandra’s games here and at our GOTEBORG PHOTO ALBUM which has 159 photos, and will grow to 200 by the end of the tournament!

Today August 4 Russia played a draw 2-2 against Poland, so they stay tied in second position. Tomorrow Russia plays the Ukraine. There are still 3 rounds to go. We have updated our PGN Player. Our GOTEBORG PHOTO ALBUM now has grown to 159 photos, enjoy!

Today August 1 Russia beat Greece in the European Championship in Goteborg, with Alexandra on the first board of Russia beating Dembo and proving that not all endings with opposite color bishops are drawn. You can see the game in our PGN Player by clicking here. Follow Alexandra’s games live at 3 PM CET on the official site. Make sure to have a look at our photo album by clicking here. We will update the album with new photos almost every day. Tomorrow Russia plays against Romania, the only other team with the maximum of 6 team points.