Alexandra Kosteniuk

Women's rank: No. 14 (October 2026)
Rating: 2481 (−14 this month)
Peak rating: 2561 (January 2018)
Title: Grandmaster (2004)
Federation: Switzerland
Born: April 23, 1984, Perm, Russia (age 42)
FIDE ID: 4128125

A former Women’s World Champion, who held the title from 2008 to 2010, and the 2021 Women’s World Rapid Champion. She now plays for Switzerland.

Away from the board she has worked as a model and acted in film. In 2022 she was among the 44 elite Russian players who signed an open letter protesting the invasion of Ukraine.

Career highlights

Women's World Champion 2008–2010
2021 Women's World Rapid Champion
2004 European Women's Champion
Represents Switzerland

Titles

FIDE Women's World Cup: 2021

From the winners lists on our event pages.

Alexandra Kosteniuk in The Chess Herald

Oct 11, 2026Maghsoodloo Takes Freestyle Friday on 9/11 Among 112 Masters
Oct 2, 2026Caruana Heads a 12-Player U.S. Championship Field in Saint Louis
Sep 10, 2026GCL's Lead Swings Back to the Gambits on Day 5
Sep 8, 2026GCL's Wild Day 3: Gambits Fall, Pipers Seize the Lead

FIDE profile · Wikipedia
Profile last reviewed September 29, 2026. Ratings update monthly from FIDE.