There is no denying that Alena Kudriashova is a great competitor in the ladies Russian National chess competition. However, her recent defeat at the hands of Viswanathan Anand in the first round of the tournament in MoneCarlo, Mongolia has shaken the pride and determination in her game to an apparently unstoppable degree. Not only did she lose her chance at the grandmasters’ championship, but she also showed that she is out of her depth even at the modest age of 33. For many reasons, this is very troubling for many women of her status and even for those who think of her as relatively young, hoping for a breakthrough after years of being ignored or dismissed by other competitors in the same category.
Many chess enthusiasts are of the opinion that age is a starting age for competitive chess. However, Alena Kudriashova clearly surpassed the limits of her age, a point that many strong competitors do not reach until they are well into their thirties. This does not necessarily mean that she lacks the talent and potential to become a world class player, but at the same time some feel that the lack of competition is holding her back. This does not mean that she lacks a level of commitment to her sport that would make her a great partner for many years to come. In fact, it might be the opposite, as having spent many years developing an all-round game might be exactly what is keeping Alena Kudriashova from becoming the best player in the world.
It is also understandable that Alena Kudriashova is not as available to the public as many other top players. For example, the world is abuzz with the ongoing Miss Universe pageant, with each contestant vying for beauty secrets which Alena Kudriashova knows. Moreover, there is hardly any footage of her on television due to the fact that most telecasting events are usually prearranged and covered by one or more of the main sponsors. Finally, despite the great deals that are paid to professional photographers to capture Alena Kudriashova at these important events, many of them have not been able to capture the true beauty of this woman. It is not easy to find the right image of a woman who has won the world over at such a young age. Yet, there is no doubting that Alena Kudriashova has the passion and commitment to her sport that will see her excel in any sport provided she is given the opportunity.