Dina Belenkaya Biography: Age, Parents, Boyfriend, Net Worth, Sister, Husband

Dina Vadimovna Belenkaya also known as Dina Belenkaya is a Russian-Israeli chess player, Woman Grandmaster (WGM), Twitch streamer, YouTuber, and chess commentator.

Renowned for her competitive achievements and engaging online content, she has made significant contributions to the chess community by making the game accessible and entertaining through her streams and commentary.

Profile

• Full Name: Dina Vadimovna Belenkaya
• Stage Name: Dina Belenkaya
• Born: December 22, 1993
• Age: 31 years old
• Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
• Nationality: Russian-Israeli
• Occupation: Chess Player, Twitch Streamer, YouTuber, Chess Commentator
• Height: 5 feet 6 inches (1.68 m)
• Parents: Asya Kovalyova (mother), Vadim Belenky (father)
• Siblings: Asya Belenkaya (sister)
• Spouse: None
• Children: None
• Relationship: Single
• Net Worth: $1 million to $1.5 million USD

Early Life and Education

Dina Belenkaya was born on December 22, 1993, in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to her mother, Asya Kovalyova, a children’s chess coach for over 30 years who notably trained Grandmaster Anish Giri, and her father, Vadim Belenky.

Growing up with her sister, Asya, Dina was introduced to chess at age three by her mother and began competing at five.

She started working with FIDE Master Andrey Praslov at age 10, honing her skills at her mother’s chess club.

Dina attended a private school in Saint Petersburg, but specific details about her formal education are limited, as her focus was primarily on chess from a young age.

Her early exposure to the game in a supportive, chess-centric family laid the foundation for her professional career.

She moved to Israel in 2022, aligning with her switch to the Israeli chess federation.

Career

Dina Belenkaya’s chess career began with her first FIDE rating of 1872 in 2007 at age 13.

She won the Russian Women’s Championship First League in 2011 at 17, scoring 8/9 with a performance rating of 2543, defeating players like Maria Fominykh and Daria Charochkina.

She earned the Woman FIDE Master (WFM) title in 2010 and the Woman Grandmaster (WGM) title in 2016 after securing norms at the Open International d’Echecs d’Avoine (2014) and Festival International de Condom (2015, 2016) in France, where she also earned all three required International Master (IM) norms, needing only a 2400 rating for the IM title.

Her peak FIDE rating was 2364 in February 2019.

Notable achievements include winning the St. Petersburg Women’s Championship four times (2015, 2018, 2020, 2021) and a bronze medal at the 2014 Avoine tournament with a performance rating of 2557.

She represented St. Petersburg at the Russian Women’s Team Championship (2015–present) and the European Chess Club Cup, earning a team silver in 2015.

Since 2020, Dina has streamed chess on Twitch under “dinabelenkaya,” amassing over 87,000 followers, and co-manages the “TheBelenkaya” channel with her sister, Asya.

Her YouTube channel, started in 2020, has over 515,000 subscribers and 420 million views, featuring chess tutorials, match analyses, and collaborations with players like Andrea Botez.

She is a regular commentator for Chess.com, covering events like Titled Tuesday, Arena Kings, and the 2021 Women’s Speed Chess Championship.

Awards and Nominations

• Won Russian Women’s Championship First League (2011).
• Won St. Petersburg Women’s Championship (2015, 2018, 2020, 2021).
• Won Bronze Medal, Open International d’Echecs d’Avoine (2014).
• Won Bronze Medal, Moscow Open B Women’s Division (2017).
• Won Bronze Medal, Russian Cup for Women (2017).
• Earned Woman FIDE Master title (2010).
• Earned Woman Grandmaster title (2016).
• Nominated for Best Chess Streamer, The Streamer Awards (2023).

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @dinabelenkaya
• Facebook Handle: Dina Belenkaya
• Twitter Handle: @DinaBelenkaya
• YouTube Channel: Dina Belenkaya
• TikTok Handle: @thebelenkaya

Personal Life

Dina Belenkaya, 31, is single and has no children.

Based in Israel since 2022, she maintains a private personal life, focusing on her chess and streaming career.

She is close with her sister, Asya, with whom she collaborates on social media content, and her mother, Asya Kovalyova, who remains a significant influence.

Dina got a puppy in December 2022, which she frequently features online.

A Star Wars enthusiast, she also began training in MMA in 2022, sharing her journey on Instagram.

She has spoken about facing gender-based challenges in chess, including inappropriate comments, and advocates for inclusivity.

Net Worth

Dina Belenkaya has an estimated net worth of $1 million to $1.5 million USD.

Her income is derived from chess tournament winnings, Twitch streaming, YouTube ad revenue (approximately $850,000 from 420 million views before taxes), and sponsorships with platforms like Chess.com.