Francesca Maria Kosteniuk enters the world

6/21/2007 – She was born 11 weeks before term, weighing only 1.46 kilos (3 lbs. 3 oz.). At two months this preemie, daughter of world's fifth ranked female player, GM Alexandra Kosteniuk, and husband Diego Garces, is doing fine. In fact she has her own web site, with extensive picture and text reports on her daily progress.

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Francesca Maria

A Champion's Baby Diary

"My name is Francesca Maria," says the site on its intro page. "I was born on April 22, 2007, a 29-week premature baby (preemie), weighing only 1.46 kilos (3 lbs. 3 oz.). I post here some news about me as I grow up. The freshest news is at the top. If you want to read about my birth and up to my first month, click here and start reading from the bottom of that page."

Alexandra Kosteniuk and Diego Garces, with Frencesca Maria

Mother and daughter doing fine

A Francesca Maria comic strip on the home page

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