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CNN Live At Daybreak

Chess Queen Making Chess Cool

Aired February 26, 2002 - 06:57   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Finally on DAYBREAK, here's a story that just might change the way you think about chess. Comes to us from Moscow and our bureau chief there Jill Dougherty.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF (voice-over): If this is your image of chess, middle aged guys sitting for hours at a table, frozen in concentration, figuring out their next move, think again.

This is the new face of chess, 17-year-old Alexandra Kostenyuk, known to her friends as Sasha. Three years ago, she became the youngest women's chess grandmaster ever. This winter, she came in second at the Women's World Championship. Now she's on a one-woman crusade to spread the word that chess is cool.

ALEXANDRA KOSTENYUK, CHESS GRANDMASTER: I like it because I can win and I can be better somebody so I think it's cool.

DOUGHERTY: Sasha began playing chess at age 5. It was soon clear she was a whiz at it.

(on camera): Can you beat everybody in the room?

KOSTENYUK: I will try.

DOUGHERTY (voice-over): Chess is still a far cry from snowboarding, but Sasha says it's becoming a more visual and active sport like this five-minute blitz game. Taking a cue from American golf star Tiger Woods, Sasha physically trains for chess.

(on camera): So what sports are you doing?

KOSTENYUK: I run, I swim.

DOUGHERTY: Sasha has even come out with her own book just translated into English entitled "How I Became a Grandmaster at Age 14." It's filled with her personal history, advice on the game, even her own poetry.

(voice-over): Chess could use a makeover, Sasha says. She wants it to become as popular as tennis or basketball. And if it takes becoming this brainy sport's sex symbol, Sasha Kostenyuk is ready.

Jill Dougherty, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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