World Champion Kosteniuk’s simul begins at 8 AM on Saturday, April 24 at the Crowne Plaza Melbourne Oceanfront Resort and Spa, Indialantic, FL. The entry fee is $40. The event is free for spectators. Challengers can register on-line now for the SCO and for a board at the simul via the event website, http://sco2010.eventbrite.com.

A portion of the boards for the simul will be reserved for local students.  The remaining reservations will be sold on a first come, first serve basis. GM Kosteniuk’s exhibition’s often sell out quickly, so don't wait! GM Kosteniuk will also sign her books at the event including her latest, Diary of a Chess Queen.

In announcing GM Kosteniuk’s appearance and her simultaneous exhibition at the Space Coast Open, Space Coast Chess Foundation President, Dr. Peter Koretsky said, “We are thrilled to have World Chess Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk at the Space Coast Open Chess Festival. The chess world could not ask for a more charismatic World Champion than Alexandra. She is an energetic promoter of chess and its many positive aspects, and serves as an outstanding role model for our young players. For many of our local scholastics players this will be the only time they have an opportunity to both meet and play against a reigning World Champion. We are especially honored as Alexandra will be celebrating her 26^th birthday during our festival weekend. The Space Coast Chess Foundation looks forward to partnering with Alexandra and her family to create an unforgettable experience for all who participate.”

About Alexandra Kosteniuk

Alexandra Kosteniuk is the 12^th Women’s World Chess Champion.  She learned to play chess at the age of five after being taught by her father. She earned the Women Grandmaster title in 1998 and the men’s Grandmaster title in 2004. She became the World Champion by winning a series of matches at the Women’s World Championship held in Nalchik, Russia in 2008.

Alexandra promotes chess by traveling around the world giving simultaneous exhibitions in front of large crowds. Her goal is to show the world that “chess is cool”.  Alexandra has combined her promotion of chess with fashion modeling and also played a part in a movie. She is also a prolific and popular chess journalist (books, DVDs and web) and in 2009 she was named the Chess Journalist of the Year by the Chess Journalists of America.  For more information about Alexandra, see www.kosteniuk.com and www.chessblog.com.

About the 17^th Space Coast Open and the Space Coast Chess Foundation

The Space Coast Open is sponsored by the Space Coast Chess Foundation and is Brevard County’s longest running chess tournament. The 17th Space Coast Open is open to all and is offering projected prize fund of $10,000. It will be held at the Crowne Plaza Melbourne Oceanfront Resort and Spa, 2605 N. Hwy A1A, Indialantic, FL from April 23-25, 2010.  The tournament schedule has been flexibly organized such that players may easily participate in both the tournament and the simultaneous exhibition.  Details and entry information are available at http://sco2010.eventbrite.com.

The Space Coast Open is sponsored by the Space Coast Chess Foundation (SCCF), a community supported organization dedicated to the promotion of scholastic chess in Brevard County, FL. SCCF provides sponsorship for the Brevard County Scholastics Chess Grand Prix and provides free chess sets to Brevard County schools. SCCF also subsidizes needy scholastic chess players unable to afford Chess Festival events.