Natalia Pogonina
(born on March 9, 1985) is one of the best female chess players in the world, member of the Russian Olympic chess team.
Woman Grandmaster (WGM), three-times European champion (U16, twice U18), bronze prize winner at the World Championship (U18) and European Women Championship, winner of the gold medal at the 1st International Mind Sports Games, co-winner of the 2008 Student World Championship, and #1 at multiple prestigious international tournaments (2005 – Bykova Memorial, 2007 – Rudenko memorial, 2009 – Moscow Open, etc.). Olympic Chess Champion (team & individual gold medals in 2012), reigning Russian Women's Chess Champion.
Ranked as 3rd most successful female chess player in the world in 2009 by the Association of Chess Professionals.
Her current FIDE rating is over 2500 – a mark that is associated with the title of a male Grandmaster.
Other notable facts:
@Checkers42 Parenthood, since chess can be a minor part of parenthood (if one decided to teach her/his kids how to play).
@musirapha Baira is my best friend. It was hard for me psychologically to face her. Also, I was burnt-out after sharing 1st at the Superfinal. Other factors too. Thanks!
@Nicholas Karras I am skeptical about switching to Fischer Random or some other chess variation. Chess is very far from having being explored to the end.
Thanks for all your answers. Sometimes I worry if current chess can withstand all this super computer analysis. Although it seems that it is infinite I get concerned if we can continue playing with lesser and lesser amounts of originality.
Do you think Chess 960 will take over at some point?
I have an idea of a new piece. This new piece will move like a Night and a Bishop with limited control on the number of squares when it acts as a Bishop. If we add these 2 pieces we will be playing on a 10 x 10 board -- 100 squares. The game would be so complicated that it may be immune to analysis.
As a GM do you feel we need such a change. Thank you and best wishes to you.
Of course sorry about your result in the Women World Championships.
Seems that Baira played some marvellous chess, but your play seemed quite passive to me. In both games I guess you lost because of a wrong position of your queen. Do you agree with this ? Did you know well your opponent ?
How did you feel psychologically ? Thanks for your answers, and the best to you in the future.
A beginners book or one for the lower end of the middle
market. 1400-1800. Often feel this bunch are neglected
and it's a shame as it is them that buy the majority of the books.
The books are either too basic for them or go right above their heads.
Your bio is an inspiration!