Alexandra Kosteniuk is to represent Switzerland after being given permission by FIDE to switch from Russia following the country's invasion of Ukraine ©Getty Images

Russia's former world chess champion Alexandra Kosteniuk has revealed that she plans to play under Switzerland's flag next year after the International Chess Federation (FIDE) announced that Russian competitors can change their country of representation following their country's invasion of Ukraine.

Kosteniuk, winner of the FIDE Women's Grand Prix in Munich last month when she took part under a neutral flag, is able to represent Switzerland from January 1 next year after obtaining citizenship due to her marriage in 2002 to Swiss businessman Diego Garces.

In 2004, the two-time Russian champion achieved the Grandmaster award, the highest honour recognised by the FIDE.

Kosteniuk was a world champion at the under-12 chess championships in 1996 and held the senior title between 2008 and 2010. 

She is also a five-time European champion and also a winnerWorld Chess Olympiad three times.

Kosteniuk has also enjoyedsuccess in rapid chess, earning a World Championship title and two European Championships.

The 38-year-old, who is now divorced from Garces and re-married to Russian Grandmaster Pavel Tregubov, is currently number seven in the FIDE world rankings, behind two other Russians, Aleksandra Goryachkina isn third and Ekaterina Lahno in fourth.

The Russian Chess Federation (FSHR) had no power to veto the transition, which made it a simple procedure that allowed their athletes to represent other countries due to the ban the country received for the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. 

Alexandra Kosteniuk was the world champion in chess between 2008 and 2010 representing Russia, but will not play under Switzerland's flag from next year ©Getty Images
Alexandra Kosteniuk was the world champion in chess between 2008 and 2010 representing Russia, but will not play under Switzerland's flag from next year ©Getty Images

Alexander Tkachev, executive director of the FSHR, thanked Kosteniuk and wished her success in the future. 

"Alexandra Kosteniuk's transfer to Switzerland is already a fait accompli," he said.

"It became possible only thanks to the decision of the Council of the International Chess Federation, according to which any Russian player located in Europe can transfer from the FSR to any European federation according to the simplified procedure.

"To do this, you need to notify FIDE without asking the opinion of the FSR. 

"We say a lot of thanks to Alexandra and wish her further success."

Another leading Russian player, Andrey Kartashov, ranked 54th by FIDE, has been given permission to represent Serbia.

He is making his debut for his new country at the current European Championships, which opened in Vrnjačka Banja in Serbia on Friday (March 3).

There will still be Russian chess players willing to represent their homeland, including Polina Shuvalova, Leya Garifullina and Yana Zhapova.