For the first time in the chess history of the independent Ukraine a chess player got the title of the World Women Chess Champion. Anna Ushenina, 27-years old from Kharkiv, won in the final against former world champion Antoaneta Stefanova.

On December 3rd, 2012 in Kharkiv a festive meeting of the World Women Chess Champion Anna Ushenina was held. Here are all the details of the airport meeting, a photo report, a short biography of Anna Ushenina, and the congratulatory letters by Ukrainian officials.


Many supporters came to the airport in order to congratulate Anna Ushenina for the brilliant achievement and to organize a warm meeting on the native land. Among them were her mother Olga, friends, colleagues and admirers, local authorities and the chess federation representatives, in particular President of the Kharkiv Region Chess Federation, rector of Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Sergey Gusarov, Head of Family, Youth and Sports Department of Kharkiv Region State Administration Dmitry Perepelitsa, vice rector of NU “Law Academy of Ukraine”, President of Chess Club “Law Academy” Anatoly Getman, Anna’s coach and manager, first vice president of the Kharkiv Chess Federation Gennady Krugovoy.

The President of the Ukrainian Chess Federation Viktor Kapustin followed the competition online during his official business trip abroad. On his behalf, the Head of the UCF International Cooperation Commission Olena Boytsun also greeted Anna Ushenina for the brilliant victory.

The President of the Ukrainian Chess Federation Viktor Kapustin stated about Anna Ushenina’s historical victory, “This striking success became possible due to years of Anna’s daily hard work and her outstanding personal qualities – endurance, strong will, and confidence. Anna Ushenina is an example of commitment and talent, professionalism and chess excellence, she is the pride of Ukraine!” Until now none of the Ukrainian women chess players participated in the final for the world chess crown. Viktor Kapustin expressed confidence that this important event in the history of national chess would be the beginning of a new stage in development of chess in Ukraine.

Anna Ushenina was welcomed as a true hero with numerous flowers and greetings. Correspondents from national and regional media asked to share fresh impressions about the competition and winning the title. After meeting at the airport all the participants went to Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, where a press conference was held as well as a reception in her honor. There were many pleasant gifts awaiting Anna – sweet chess pies, laptop, unusual chess set – as well as congratulations and sincere wishes from colleagues, friends, coaches, fans, and officials.

Anna Ushenina got congratulations from The President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich who welcomed Anna’s brilliant achievement, as well as the Prime-Minister of Ukraine Nikolai Azarov, Head of the Sport Committee of the Parliament of Ukraine Pavel Kostenko, Vice-Prime-Minister Raisa Bogatyreva. The Ukrainian Chess Federation plans to hold a big chess celebration in honor of Anna Ushenina in December in Kiev.

Short Biography of Anna Ushenina

Anna Ushenina (born 30.08.1985, Kharkiv), is International Women Grandmaster, International Master among men, honored master of sports of Ukraine, member of the national women’s team of Ukraine.

On 01.11.2012, with ELO 2452 is rated at 38th position among women in the world. The highest rating 2502 was achieved on 01.07.2007

The highest achievements:

Champion of Ukraine among girls under 12 years (1997);
Two-time champion of Ukraine among girls under 14 years (1998 and 1999);
Two-time champion of Ukraine among girls of 20 years (2000 and 2002);
European champion among girls under 18 in the national girls team of Ukraine and silver prizewinner at the 1st board (2002);
Champion of Ukraine among women, a bronze medalist in the championship of Ukraine among girls under 20 (2005);
World champion of the Women’s Chess Olympiad in the national team of Ukraine (Turin, Italy), silver medalist of Ukrainian championship among women (2006);
Bronze medalist of team championship among women in the national team of Ukraine, the first place on the 3rd board in the national team of Ukraine for European Women’s Team Championship (2007);
Silver medalist at the World Women’s Chess Olympiad in the national team of Ukraine (Dresden, Germany), bronze medalist of European Championship for Women (2008);
Bronze medalist at World Team Championship (Ningbo, China) and Europe (Novi Sad, Serbia) among women in the national team of Ukraine (Ningbo, China, 2009);
Champion of Ukraine at rapid and blitz chess among women (2012);
Second place in the international women’s Super Tournament in Krasnotur’yinsk and international chess festival «Moscow Open» among women tournament “C” (Russia, 2008);
Winner of International Women Grandmaster Tournament “12-th Cup of Rector” (Kharkiv, 2010);
Bronze medalist at the World Women’s Chess Olympiad in the national team of Ukraine (Istanbul, Turkey, 2012);
FIDE World Women Chess Champion (Khanty-Mansiysk, 2012).

Text and photos by Anna Korol

Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
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