Natalia Pogonina (born March 9, 1985) is  a chess grandmaster and one of the best female chess players in the world. Since 2004 she has been a member of Team Russia and is the reigning Olympic Chess Champion and Russian Women's Chess Champion.

Woman Grandmaster (WGM), three-times European champion (U16, twice U18), bronze prize winner at the World Championship (U18) and European Women's Championship, winner of the gold medal at the 1st International Mind Sports Games, co-winner of the 2008 Student World Championship and Russian Superfinal-2010, and #1 at multiple prestigious international tournaments (2005 – Bykova Memorial, 2007 – Rudenko memorial, 2009 – Moscow Open, etc.). Ranked as 3rd most successful female chess player in the world in 2009 by the Association of Chess Professionals. In 2011 Natalia became the only chess player in the world to simultaneously win the Eurocup and European Team Chess Championship and in 2013 - the only person to hold the individual and team Russian Champion titles. She was runner-up at Women's World Team Chess Championship-2011 and earned the bronze medal in 2013.

As of 2010 Natalia's FIDE rating was over 2500 – a mark that is associated with the title of a male Grandmaster.

Natalia is the reigning Olympic Chess Champion (gold medals for both team and individual performances) and Russian Women's Chess Champion.

Natalia is also widely known as a person of great physical and spiritual beauty. She is open, sincere, always smiling, optimistic, friendly and willing to help other people. This (as well as her extraordinary chess-playing abilities) brings her fans from all over the world and makes her a role model for everyone interested in chess.

Being a smart and versatile person whose life is not limited to chess, Natalia has obtained an MA in Law degree at the Saratov State Academy of Law. Her numerous hobbies include fashion, flamenco, singing, music, photography, sports, travelling, literature & poetry.

Top secret: Natalia is working on a book called “Chess Kamasutra” which teaches chess using analogies from sex, and vice versa. You will be the first to find out the official release date as soon as it is determined!

As an experienced web-surfer, Natalia visits Pogonina.com daily and would be happy to hear your feedback regarding the website, her games; any suggestions, questions, or just warm words. Natalia, a photogenic girl with fashion-model looks who appears on the TV and in other media, is also open for proposals regarding promoting products of “chess-friendly” companies.

Feel free to contact Natalia by signing the Guestbook, or by sending an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
 

 

	11. Written by Natalia on 21:19 22 èþíÿ 2009 ã.
	Congratulations Hoang Thi Nhu Y - thanks, hope you're also going to receive lots of positive emotions from chess and become a grandmaster!

	12. Written by Hoang Thi Nhu Y on 21:13 24 èþíÿ 2009 ã.
	Congratulations Hihi.Thanks you too :D.I hope so .I will try my best to become a grandmaster :D

	13. Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it on 09:37 05 èþëÿ 2009 ã.
	Question Natalia,    Ok your smile disarmed me for a few months. About how many hours a day have you averaged studying and playing chess in the last, say, 5 years?

	14. Written by Natalia on 10:46 05 èþëÿ 2009 ã.
	Question Thanks once again, John. I don't have a consistent schedule: sometimes I don't study or play chess for a few days, while sometimes I get excited and spend half a day on it, or even more.

	15. Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it on 23:03 12 èþëÿ 2009 ã.
	Congratulations Congratulations, and great web site! I hope to hear of your great endeavors in chess, and also hope to achieve near your level of amazing success one day.

	16. Written by Natalia on 23:13 12 èþëÿ 2009 ã.
	Congratulations Thanks Jorge, and may your wishes come true!

	17. Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it on 06:58 29 èþëÿ 2009 ã.
	Congratulations pozdravlyayu !!!i eshe klutchem uspeham mne budet ochen priyatno esli ti na svyaze budesh wot moy msn zapeshi This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it !!

	18. Written by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it on 07:31 14 àâãóñòà 2009 ã.
	Can`t Take My Eyes Of You... Hi, Pogonina...  Go to my chess blog and meet me.  Everyday you can find me here on:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it     See you in the future.    "Viriatovitch" http://www.viriatovitchchess.blogspot.com

	19. Written by Natalia on 11:30 14 àâãóñòà 2009 ã.
	Can`t Take My Eyes Of You... Thanks, Antonio! I enjoyed your last post even before you wrote to me! :-) http://pogonina.com

	20. Written by Timo on 19:57 06 ñåíòÿáðÿ 2009 ã.
	Can`t Take My Eyes Of You... Hi, Natalia,    why don't you take part in the Women WM in China?!    BTW, I regard you as the top3 most beautiful WGM worldwide!     best  Timo