For the first time in the history of the independent Ukraine a chess player got the title of the World Women Chess Champion. 27-year-old Anna Ushenina from Kharkiv won in the final against former World Champion Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria. Last Monday Ushenina received a warm "welcome back" in her native city, Kharkiv.

Text and photos by Anna Korol

On December 3rd, 2012 in Kharkiv a festive meeting of the World Women Chess Champion Anna Ushenina was held. Anna became the Champion at the recent knock-out World Championship that took place from the 10th of November to the 1st of December 2012 in Khanty-Mansiysk in Russia.

Women World Champion Anna Ushina with FIDE President Kirsan
Ilyumzhinov and Antoaneta Stefanova (r.) | Photo courtesy of FIDE

Many supporters came to the airport in order to congratulate Anna with a 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 the President of the Kharkiv Region Chess Federation, the Rector of the Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Sergey Gusarov, the head of the Family, Youth and Sports Department of Kharkiv Region State Administration Dmitry Perepelitsa, the Vice Rector of NU "Law Academy of Ukraine", the President of Chess Club "Law Academy" Anatoly Getman, Anna’s coach and manager, first Vice President of the Kharkiv Chess Federation Gennady Krugovoy.

Many friends, fans and officials awaiting Anna Ushenina's arrival at Kharkiv airport

President of the Ukrainian Chess Federation Viktor Kapustin followed the competition online, while on an official business trip abroad. On his behalf, the head of the UCF International Cooperation Commission Olena Boytsun greeted Anna Ushenina on a brilliant victory.

President of the Ukrainian Chess Federation Viktor Kapustin congratulated Anna Ushenina on the historic 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 commitment and talent, professionalism and chess excellence. She is the pride of Ukraine!

Ushenina and her mother being interviewed by TV reporters

Till now none of the Ukrainian women chess players even fought 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 the Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, where a press conference was held as well as a reception in her honor.

Different TV channels also present at the press conference

There were many pleasant gifts waiting for Anna – sweet chess pies, a laptop, an unusual chess set – as well as congratulations and sincere wishes from colleagues, friends, coaches, fans and officials.

Ushenina received congratulations from the highest officials of Ukraine. The President, Viktor Yanukovich, officially congratulated Anna for her brilliant achievement as well as the Prime-Minister of Ukraine Nikolai Azarov, the 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.

And, of course, some autographs signed by the new World Champ!

Selected TV reports

• Press Conference
• National TV Channel 1+1
• National TV Channel Ukraine (starting time 9-40)
• Kharkiv regional TV channel ATN
• Kharkiv regional TV news

Brief biography

Anna Ushenina (born 30.08.1985, Kharkiv) is an International Women Grandmaster, International Master, honored master of sports of Ukraine and a member of the national women's team of Ukraine.

On 01.11.2012, with an Elo of 2452 she is the 38th rated female player in the world. She achieved her highest rating, 2502, on 01.07.2007.

Top 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 prize winner 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 Krasnoturyinsk and international chess festival «Moscow Open» among women tournament "C" (Russia, 2008);
• Winner of International Women Grandmaster Tournament "12th 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).