Games - Almira Skripchenko

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Almira Skripchenko (born 17 February 1976) is a French chess player who has achieved the FIDE Woman Grandmaster title. She won the second European Open Women's Chess Championship in 2001.

In 2004 she won the North Urals Cup, the second international super-tournament for female chess players. Held in Krasnoturinsk, the 9-round single round robin tournament featured ten of the strongest female players in the world. Skripchenko finished a half point ahead of Maia Chiburdanidze, the former Women's World Champion, and also defeated her in their individual encounter.

Born in Kishinev (today Chisinau, Moldavia) in 1976, Almira Skripchenko has settled in France where she has lived since 1996. She became a French citizen in 2001. Daughter of pedagogues, both chess coaches, Almira started playing chess when she was 6 years old.

In 1992, Moldovia became indenpendent from Russia. This meant that Almira could take part for the first time in World championships. She was immediately crowned at the Under 16, before winning hands down in 1993 the bronze at Under 18. In 2001, at 25 years old, she celebrated her biggest success ever, winning the individual ladies European championship. She was at this time chosen «best sportsman in 2001 in Moldavia» and decorated with the Order of National Merit in her native country.

Living in Paris and playing for France since 2002, Almira Skripchenko became one of the nicest ambassadors of the european chess. She is the only woman in the history to have played the men french individual championship (2002, 2003). In 2004, she also won the ladies French championship. With teams, she won the national title (men) in France with NAO Chess Club (2003, 2004) and in Germany with Werder Bremen (2005). Three ladies national titles are also in her career victories which she earned with Baden-Oos in 2003, 2004, and 2005.

Almira Skripchenko took part in the last 7 Olympiads (with Moldavia, then with France), each time at the first board. In 2004, she won the strongest ladies closed tournament in Krasnoturinsk (Russia). She is also member of the ACP Board (Association of Chess Players).

Known for her stunning good looks, she is regarded by many to be the most beautiful of female Grandmasters.

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