The Lovebirds Of Chess

Valentine's Day is a day some people either love or hate. Some people get a date and have a joyful day, while others have no "rizz", and remain single. But we are not here to talk about how nobody went out with me at school prom, we are here to look at some chess players who did manage to do what is impossible for me!

Hikaru Nakamura + Atousa Pourkashiyan

Pavel Tregubov + Alexandra Kostenuik

Alexander Grischuk + Kateryna Lagno

Hikaru Nakamura + Atousa Pourkashiyan:

Starting out with our most recent couple, we have GM Hikaru Nakamura and WGM Atousa Pourkashiyan! Both of these players are top-level, both being at the top of their country at one point. In October of 2023, Pourkashiyan announced on her Instagram, that they had their marriage, and were now husband and wife. 

Let's start off by looking at Hikaru Nakamura. He has broken many records, starting from when he was a young age. Before he was even 14, he had already broke the records for:

• Youngest Player to beat an International Master in a Rated USCF game: 10 years, 0 months
• Youngest Player to beat a Grandmaster in a Rated USCF game: 10 years, 117 days
• Youngest International Master: 12 years, 7 months, 6 days 

On Atousa Pourkashiyan's end, in the year 2000, she won the World Youth Chess Championship, in the U12 division.  She has participated in 9 different chess olympiads and has won 3 different Asian Chess Championships, all in varying age groups.

One of Hikaru Nakamura's greatest accomplishments is becoming the USA Champion. In 2005, he fought hard, and achieved 7/9 points in order to go into tiebreaks, and end up winning. Oh wait, I forgot to mention. He has done this 4 other times as well! He is the 5 time USA Chess Champion, winning it in 2005, 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2019.

But he is not the only one in this relationship who has been a country champion. Atousa Pourkashyian first became the Iranian Women's Champion in the 2007-8 Championship. But she was not done with winning this, topping her husband by winning a whopping 6 more times after this, before changing her federation to the USA in 2022.

Nakamura and Pourkashiyan have even had the chance to play each other before! In November 2021, during on of Chess.com's Titled Tuesday event, they played this game against each other:

It was no shock that Nakamura ended up coming on top here, as he is the reigning Blitz World Champion, and has been for many years.

Hikaru Nakamura and Atousa Pourkashyian appear to be a great couple, as during interviews they have said nothing but good things about each other. I wish them good luck in their future together, but now, let's look at the next couple!

It's great to have found such a lovely lady!

-Hikaru Nakamura

Pavel Tregubov + Alexandra Kostenuik

The next couple is Grandmaster Couple, Pavel Tregubov and Alexandra Kostenuik! They married in 2015, where at the time, they both lived in Russia. They were already Grandmasters for 10+ years each, and so it is likely they met at a tournament.

Tregubov and Kostenuik are one of the highest-rated couples on earth. Most chess powerhouse marriages have their combined rating somewhere between 4700-5000, but this is one of the few with a 5000+ combined rating!

Another impressive feat, is that both of them are among the highest rated players in their respective countries, Kostenuik being 7th, and Tregubov being 13th. This is not too surprising, by the fact that their peak ratings were both around the 2600 mark.

It was not too long ago that Kosteniuk and Tregubov had the chance to play each other. In 2023, during the Espot B-Cup 2, they both fought their way to the finale. It was there that these two lovebirds got to see whose side of the bed the trophy would be placed next to.

Both of these players have been champions at some point in their careers. Pavel Tregubov held the title of European Champion in the year 2000. But perhaps even more impressive, is his wife's champion reign. From the years 2008-10, Alexandra Kosteniuk held the title of Women's Chess Champion, being the top in the whole world!

Pavel Tregubov and Alexandra Kosteniuk's marriage seems to have gone well the past nine years of their relationship, and best of luck to them on their future together!

Alexander Grischuk + Kateryna Lagno:

One of the most popular Chess Couples is Alexander Grischuk and Kateryna Lagno. These powerhouses have been married for around a decade, and have had 3 children together. Grischuk has stated that they are planning on teaching their children the art of chess.

Grischuk and Lagno are by far the highest-rated chess couple. Their combined rating is a huge 5274, higher than most grandmasters' ratings doubled. Even more impressive, is their peak ratings. Kateryna Lagno's highest rating was an impressive 2563, but her husband blows that out of the water, with his being 2810! For perspective, only 14 players EVER have broken the 2800 barrier, and Grischuk is one of them.

Both of these players have had their shot at being the greatest in a region. Kateryna Lagno was the 2-time European Women's Champion, and Alexander Grischuk was the Russian Champion in 2009, and a 3-time Blitz Champion. Another accomplishment by Grischuk, is that he earned all three of his Grandmaster Norms required to earn that title, in only 1 year.

One of the most impressive achievements from the two involve one of the largest tournaments on Earth. Kateryna Lagno has qualified twice for the Women's Candidate Tournament, where the winner plays to be the Women's Champion. Alexander Grischuk has also had his hand in competing in the Candidates Tournament, qualifying 5 times over 13 years! 

Unfortunately, not everything that happens to these two are positive. In the 2023 FIDE World Cup and Women's World Cup, these two both were doing pretty well. But then, in the same round, they both shockingly got eliminated. This was a surprise to many, and a lot of people expected them to make it far. 

Obviously, with both of them at the elite level, they are bound to play each other eventually. The first time they played was in 2015, where they both fought hard, and the game ended in a draw.

Alexander Grischuk and Kateryna Lagno have had a great chess career together for the past few years, and it is looking like it will remain that way. Best of luck to both of them on their future, and on teaching their kids chess!

Thank you for reading this blog! I had to work really hard to finish in time, so I appreciate you reading it! Maybe next year I will get a date....