MOSCOW, 3 Mar – Russian chess player Alexandra Kosteniuk announced on Twitter that she officially represents Switzerland on March 3.

Earlier, information appeared on the official website of the Swiss Chess Federation (FSE) that Kosteniuk will play under the flag of Switzerland from January 1, 2024. She acquired Swiss citizenship over 10 years ago through her marriage to a Swiss man.

The fact of the transition was confirmed by the Russian Chess Federation (RCF). The immediate flag change was made possible thanks to a simplified procedure introduced for Russian chess players in connection with the transition of the national federation from the European Chess Union (ECU) to the Asian Chess Federation (ACF).

Kosteniuk is the 12th Women’s World Chess Champion, European Champion, three-time winner of the World Chess Olympiads, two-time winner of the FIDE Online Olympiad, five-time winner of the European Team Championship and two-time winner of the World Team Championship as part of the Russian team. She is also a world and two-time European champion in rapid chess, a two-time world champion in Fischer chess, a three-time European champion in women’s blitz, and the winner of the first Women’s World Chess Cup.

FIDE allows athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete in individual tournaments only under a neutral flag.