Alexandra Kosteniuk was recognized as the best chess player of the year

Russian chess player Alexandra Kosteniuk has been named Player of the Year by the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The first women’s individual awards in the history of FIDE were presented in Chennai, India, at the federation’s congress. Also, 2022 has been declared by FIDE the Year of Women’s Chess. The ceremony was opened by FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich, who noted the exceptional role of women in modern chess.

Kosteniuk in 2021 became the winner of the Women’s World Cup, the world champion in rapid chess, and also took second place in the World Blitz Championship.

Svetlana Gerasimova, Vice-President of the International Association of Supporting Chess Players and Senior Coach of the Russian National Team in Drafts and Chess for Persons with Musculoskeletal Disabilities, received a special prize. “I am very grateful to FIDE, which thus appreciated my efforts to promote chess among people with disabilities,” said Gerasimova. “Disabled people are an important part of our chess family. I asked FIDE to consider lifting the sanctions on the Russian and Belarusian national teams that affect people with disabilities.”

The head of the general department of the Russian Chess Federation (RCF) Yana Sidorchuk was awarded the best organizer from Europe, and the CRF press officer Eteri Kublashvili was recognized as the best female photographer from Europe.

TASS