Natalia Tsodikova
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 24, 1969 |
| Spouse | Rostislav Tsodikov |
| Chess career | |
| Country | United States |
| Title | Woman FIDE Master (2018) |
| Peak rating | 2190 (January 1997) |
Natalia Tsodikova (also known as Natalya) is an American chess player. She was born in Ukraine in 1969 and migrated to the United States in 1994.[1][2] She holds the title of Woman FIDE Master, earned in 2018.[2]
Tournament results
She came in 4th in the US Women's Chess Championship in 1995 and 1996.[1] She won the Northern California Women's Championship in 2019,[1][3] and tied for first with FIDE Master Ruiyang Yan in 2025.[3] (The US Chess Federation treats Northern and Southern California as separate states.[4])
She has played in the US Senior Women's Championship, a national championship for female players 50 years or older, since it began in 2023.[5] She won the event in both 2024[6][7] and 2025.[8] In 2024 she had an insurmountable lead by the end of the 4th round (of 5);[6] she won with a score of 4.5/5 and received a prize of $4000.[9] In 2025 Tsodikova and Anjelina Belakovskaia were tied for first after 5 rounds with a score of 4/5, leading to a blitz and Armageddon playoff. After each player had won one blitz game, Tsodikova won the final Armageddon game on time despite having only 4 minutes to her opponent's 5. The two players split the first-place prize, earning $3000 each.[8]
In 2025 she was a member of the US Women's team in the FIDE World Senior Team Championship (women's 50+ category). The team received the bronze medal, and Tsodikova was the individual top scorer on board 2.[10] In 2026 she was team captain and board 2 of the US Women's team for the World Senior Team event, 50+ section, held in Durres, Albania; this event was not separated by gender. The team won the women's gold medal, given to the women's team with the highest match score.[11]
Personal life
She is married to International Master Rostislav Tsodikov[8] who also serves as her chess coach.[10] He assisted her team with preparation in the 2026 World Senior Team.[11]
While FIDE spells her name "Natalia," she prefers "Natalya."[6]
References
- 1 2 3 Lang, JJ (October 27, 2023). "1st U.S. Senior Women's Championship Preview". USChess. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
- 1 2 "Tsodikova, Natalia". International Chess Federation. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
- 1 2 "The CalChess Women's and Senior Championships have Co-Champions! Read about their exciting finishes here!". The Berkeley Chess School. April 15, 2025. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ "Chess in Northern California". CalChess. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ Kwok, Iris (November 3, 2023). "First-ever U.S. chess championship for women over 50 is happening in Berkeley". Berkeleyside. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Root, Alexey (December 16, 2024). "Natalya Tsodikova Wins 2024 U.S. Senior Women's Championship With Round To Spare". USChess. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
- ↑ O'Neill, Julie (April 2025). "Forging a Tradition: Tsodikova wins U. S. Senior Women's Championship". Chess Life: 28–31 – via pubs.royle.com.
- 1 2 3 Root, Alexey (November 17, 2025). "2025 U.S. Senior Women's Championship: Tsodikova Wins Playoff for Title". USChess. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
- ↑ "Natalya Tsodikova". SparkChess. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
- 1 2 Root, Alexey (February 28, 2025). "Path to the Podium: USA Women 50+ Team". USChess. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
- 1 2 Lang, JJ (July 2026). "Golden Age". Chess Life: 40–45.
External links
- Natalia Tsodikova rating card at FIDE
- Natalia Tsodikova rating and tournament record at US Chess Federation