Support The Moscow Times!

Ukrainian Chess Champion Joins Team Russia

Ukrainian chess player Kateryna Lagno has left her national team in favor of Russia's, the Russian Chess Federation announced on Saturday.

Lagno, 24, won two European chess championships under the Ukrainian flag and is the 2014 women's world champion in fast chess. She is currently ranked by the World Chess Federation's as the seventh-best female chess player in the world.

According to the Russian Chess Federation, Lagno applied to represent Russia in March amid objections from the Ukrainian side. The World Chess Federation examined her request and ultimately approved the transfer.

The Chess Federation of Ukraine received a 20,000 euro ($27,000) compensation from its Russian counterpart for Lagno's transfer.

See also:

Garry Kasparov Aims for Top Chess Job

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more