Chess queen plots her next move (Yes, there are pics!)

The Republican-American ^ | 2/3/2009 | Evan S. Benn

[raybbr]

The best women's chess player in the world flipped a dirty diaper into the trash as she pondered her next move after a dominating year.

"I want to open a chess academy online, keep training, doing the podcast," South Floridian Alexandra Kosteniuk said during a recent stroll with her baby, Francesca. "But right now, my priority is being a mommy."

Kosteniuk, 24, won the Women's World Championship in her homeland of Russia in September. After several months of traveling the globe, Kosteniuk, her husband, Diego Garces, and their 20-month-old daughter are settled back at their home in Key Biscayne, Fla.

An aspiring model who uses her good looks to promote chess, Kosteniuk has been compared to Russian tennis knockout (and Miami Beach, Fla., resident) Anna Kournikova. (Kosteniuk debunks the comparison by noting that she has won individual tournaments, a feat the other Russian cannot claim.)

But, like Kournikova, Kosteniuk has managed to broaden her sport's appeal by selling her combination of talent and beauty.

About 3,000 people subscribe to her podcast at chessiscool.com, and about 10,000 others log on each month to her Web site, where they can see photos of Kosteniuk in bikinis and buy her instructional DVDs.

"It's the most popular chess site out there," said her husband, 49, who is also her webmaster and publicist.

They met at a chess demonstration that Kosteniuk hosted in Switzerland, Garces' home country. He is an attentive handler, lugging oversize chess pieces to photo shoots and making sure that certain shots are off-limits — nothing promiscuous and no photos of the hubby, please.

[raybbr]

I only got to play my buddies in school....

[raybbr]

You guys got an appropriate ping list for this?

[Army Air Corps]

I wouldn’t mind being her pawn.

[Gondring]

I only got to play my buddies in school....

LOL!

[y6162]

I like chest..ooops..chess...

Qxk3!

[meyer]

The fine queen needs to be knighted!

[OB1kNOb]

Checkmate! I mean, not guilty!

[meyer]

"...her husband, Diego Garces,..."

Darn the luck - my dreams shattered! :-)

[massgopguy]

Hmm, my Bishop seems to have moved.

[Retired Greyhound]

One of our fellow FReepers has played against her online, I believe.

[Joe 6-pack]

"The fine queen needs to be knighted!"

I think she needs to be jumped.

[a fool in paradise]

Chess Club PING

[Lazamataz]

I'd like to take that pawn, en-passant.

We could castle up together.

[Craigon]

“Kosteniuk, 24...” “...said her husband, 49”

You go dude! Lol.

[raybbr]

I would let her mate me anytime.....

[raybbr]

One of our fellow FReepers has played against her online, I believe.

Isn't that like chatting on a sex site? LOL No substitute for handling the piece.

[BlueDragon]

I think she needs to be jumped.

That's not a legal move!

[martin_fierro]

Kosteniuk, 24, won the Women's World Championship in her homeland of Russia

Darn. I was sizing up her prospects as a Czech mate.

[Joe 6-pack]

"That's not a legal move!"

All's fair in love and war.

[Sloth]

[ Report Abuse | Bookmark ] I only got to play my buddies in school....

I played a lot of 'solitaire'...

[biff]

It is in checkers!

And in checkers, you get to crown your opponent.

[Mase]

Now I understand why guys joined the chess club.

[LonePalm]

Sometimes it's good to be the king.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[steve-b]

Swimsuit babe girl-on-girl... what's not to like?

[Tallguy]

An aspiring model who uses her good looks to promote chess, Kosteniuk has been compared to Russian tennis knockout (and Miami Beach, Fla., resident) Anna Kournikova. (Kosteniuk debunks the comparison by noting that she has won individual tournaments, a feat the other Russian cannot claim.)

OK, so you're not the "Anna" of International Chess. You're the "Danika Patrick" of International Chess!

[Retired Greyhound]

I would imagine that it is difficult to type with one hand

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

In relative ppower inherent in the chess pieces, you just can’t beat the bishop.

[Straight Vermonter]

My two oldest boys have won state championships. I wonder if she would play with them?...er...against them.

[raybbr]

Swimsuit babe girl-on-girl... what's not to like?

Good catch! LOL I didn't see that. It tells me where your mind is. (Probably the same place as mine.)

[pappyone]

u got tgat rifht&

[GUNGAGALUNGA]

Change - I would hit it...to I WOULD JUMP IT!!!

[Tennessee_Bob]

Not in public, anyways.

[major_gaff]

she showed up in this month’s copy of Chess Life...for the first time in a long time I didn’t open to the chess puzzles straight away. ;~)

[Toddsterpatriot]

No one I ever played chess with looked that good.

[steve-b]

It tells me where your mind is. (Probably the same place as mine.)

Get your mind out of the gutter.

It's blocking my periscope.

[mikrofon]

Sand castle, Queen's side...

[Excuse_Me]

The best women's chess player in the world

Not really. Judit Polgar would beat her three games out of four. She is currently tied for ninth, and is a grandmaster. Perhaps it should be "The best-looking woman grandmaster chess player in the world."

[Clemenza]

Unfortunately, she comes from an evil country and, even worse, has an ANNOYING accent!

[scrabblehack]

Did Polgar not participate in the Women’s World Championship?

[stylecouncilor]

ping

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Queen’s gambit ACCEPTED!

[onedoug]

“Milosh!”

[CowboyJay]

I’d love to put the moves on her...

[Rome2000]

I finally figured out a use for my oversized chess pieces!

[grey_whiskers]

DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING!

NO more calls, please.

We have a winner!

[Hoodat]

Absolutely, positively, not guilty.

[Chode]