Kosteniuk - Cori Chess Match in Machu Picchu
 That's me at the Machu Picchu after getting my trophy
Women's Chess Promotion at its finest!!
Hi everybody!
I'm writing this post from the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge in Peru. This afternoon the most amazing chess match took place, in a location one could only dream of, one of the 7 wonders of the world: The Machu Picchu!
I was playing with the World Champion Under-16 Deysi Cori in what may be one of the most publicized matches of this year. The match was shown live on Peruvian TV live and dozens of photographers and TV crews from around the world came to cover this story. It was surreal, dozens of reporters were running around the Machu Picchu with satellite internet, relaying photos and videos to their headquarters live! Our train from Cusco this morning had a whole wagon for the Press!
NEW: the first game is on YouTube at this link.
Some photographers at work. Most of them were on the other side, though :-)
I will tell you about the match in more detail soon (I have full videos of all games and of the whole event, as well as hundreds of nice photos, so get ready for new videos on my YouTube channel "ChessQueen" and new photos on ChessPics), but for the moment let me tell you how it went. Since the match was live on TV, the games were played in blitz 4 + 2 (4 minutes for the game + 2 seconds per move), which is a time control I am quite fond of (together with the 3 + 2 of the world blitz championship). So in this match against Deysi I won the first game quite convincingly, and in the second one I was 2 pawns up and only needed a draw to secure the first prize. But I lost concentration and lost the game, which made all of Peru jump in happiness and forced the match into a sudden death tie-break 3rd game. I'm pleased to say I won it in a nice style and so was able to take home the top prize.
The view from where we played was incredible, I have never been in such a wonderful place, and playing chess there was doubly as nice! Just look at the photo below, can you imagine playing there?
 Deysi Cori playing me, Alexandra Kosteniuk, at the Machu Picchu
 That's me, Alexandra Kosteniuk and World U-16 Champion Deysi Cori
This has been a wonderful experience for me, the road to the Machu Picchu is unbelievable, I had to get up at 2:30 AM from Lima, fly to Cusco, then a bus, a train, another bus... such nice views, but the tough road was so worth it! Photos here are worth their weight in gold, believe me! I hope this event goes a long way to promote women's chess in the world, as well as promote tourism to the Machu Picchu. If you haven't seen the Machu Picchu in your lifetime, you're missing on something very, very impressive.
Thanks to the organizers who made this amazing match possible. I'm going to bed now as tomorrow morning I will get up at 5 AM and see the sunrise here at the Machu Picchu. After that I go back to Cusco to do some more chess promotion, then I will have a big simul in Lima on Tuesday.
Posted by Alexandra Kosteniuk Women's World Chess Champion Labels: Cori, Kosteniuk, Machu Picchu, Peru
Kosteniuk in Peru - First Days
 Receiving the diploma from the Rector of the UNI
Hello everybody!
I arrived to Peru during the night Wednesday-Thurday at around midnight, and already on Thursday had lots of events: first I met with the Rector of the University of Engineering (UNI), who gave me a medal and diploma of Famous Visitor. We also had a press conference, where it was announced that the match between me and Deysi Cori will take place in the Machu Picchu tomorrow Sunday.
Many officials of the Ministry of Sports and Tourism were present, even the cultural attaché of the Russian Embassy. It was said that our chess match at the Machu Picchu will no doubt increase the amount of Tourism to Peru, as well as promote chess in the country.
 Me and Deisy Cori
The last 2 days we had an "Octogonal" tournament with 8 participants, 7 from Peru and myself. Yesterday I played quite poorly, only getting 2.5 points out of 8, but today was much better with 5/6, beating Jorge Cori 2-0 and tying with Deisi Cori 1-1 in our little matches. The winner of the "Octogonal" tournament was GM Emilio Cordova, and I tied for 4th-5th.
I have to get up tomorrow at 3 AM to fly to Cusco then the trip to the Machu Picchu will take about 4 hours, and at 2 PM I will play a 2-game match with Deisi. I will be sure to let you know how it goes. I already have plenty of photos and videos that I will post as soon as I have some time.
Posted by Alexandra Kosteniuk Women's World Chess Champion and Chess Queen
Labels: Cori, Kosteniuk, Peru
Kosteniuk to Peru - Confirmed
Hi everybody!
I just got the official brochure of next month's trip to Peru. As for Colombia last week, it will be very busy: I will be giving conferences & simuls, playing a tournament with the 7 strongest youth chess players of Peru, in both Rapid and Blitz time controls. But the high point for me will be a 2-game match played at the top of the Machu Picchu (that's one of the 7 wonders of the world!) against Peru's top youth hopeful, Deysi Cori. I look forward to that match very much!
So if you will be in Peru between May 21 and 25, mark your calendar! See the schedule on the brochure below.
Posted by Alexandra Kosteniuk Women's World Chess Champion and Chess Queen® Labels: Kosteniuk, Peru
Deysi Cori to face Kosteniuk in Machu Picchu Peru
Hi everybody!
I just read today on the Andina News Agency that next month I will play a match with Deysi Cori right at the top of the Machu Picchu!
I am glad that my Peruvian trip is working out, there will be many more events in Peru, and as soon as I have the full schedule, I will publish it.
Peru's Deysi Cori to face world chess champion Alexandra Kosteniuk in Machu Picchu
Lima, Apr. 23 (ANDINA).- Peru's U-16 world champion Deysi Cori Tello announced she will play reigning women's world chess champion Alexandra Kosteniuk in the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu.
“I’ll have a match against women’s world champion Alexandra Kosteniuk in Machu Picchu within a month. It’s going to be very interesting. I’m already training,” Daysi told RPP radio.
Deysi Cori, the only female player from Peru to hold the Grandmaster title, said she just spent three months in Europe together with her brother Jorge training for the upcoming international chess competitions, such as the Chess Olympiad in Russia and the World Junior and Girls U20 Chess Championships in Poland.
In November 2009, Daysi and Jorge Cori obtained the title of chess International Grandmasters in the U-16 and U-14 categories respectively at the last World Youth Chess Championship 2009 in Turkey.
The siblings were honored by the government in December 2009 for their accomplishments, and each of them received a check for 15,000 soles and a laptop; as well as US$ 22,000 for their trips during 2010.
Posted by Alexandra Kosteniuk Women's World Chess Champion Labels: Kosteniuk, Peru
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