Jennifer welcomes Women’s International Master and former Ukrainian Champion Anastasiya Rakhmangulova to Ladies Knight. Jennifer first heard about Anastasia, who goes by “Nastia”, in the 2020 Isolated Queens tournament, an online event that Jen hosted with Alexandra Botez at the start of the pandemic. Almost two years later, Nastia began to update her Instagram followers on the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 24^th. This began with a harrowing week long stay in a Kyiv bomb shelter and then her subsequent escape to the Czech Republic. Ever since, Anastasia has been connecting and fundraising urgently and incessantly to help friends, family and members of service in Ukraine.

Jen and Nastia also touch on lighter topics, such as her favorite chessplayers, books, and future chess goals.

Follow Nastia on her Instagram profile, and find out more about her efforts to help here.

Correction: The Ukrainian  women’s team won the 2006 Olympiad, not the 2008 Olympiad (won by Georgia.)

Thanks to everyone who donated to the US Chess Fundraiser with the Kasparov Chess Foundation to help Ukrainian chessplayers. It closed out with over 33K in donations. 

Ladies Knight features music by the artist Juga. 

Jennifer Shahade is the Director of US Chess Women and the author of Chess Queens, now available and in stock at US Chess Sales.