It's now possible to play and take lessons from any place of the

The grandmaster Alexandra Kosteniuk, a champion not only of chess but of the human spirit, once proclaimed with wonder and vision: “It’s now possible to play and take lessons from any place of the world. The concept of physical distance doesn’t exist in the online world, and that is so cool!” Though her words sparkle with modern simplicity, their meaning resounds like an ancient truth reborn: that the boundaries which once separated human minds are falling away, and a new era of unity through knowledge has dawned. Her marvel is not only at technology, but at the expansion of human connection, the weaving together of countless hearts and intellects across the globe.

In the manner of the ancients, let us look beyond the literal, and see the symbol within. When Kosteniuk speaks of the disappearance of distance, she speaks not merely of computers and cables, but of the triumph of the mind over matter. For centuries, humanity has been divided by oceans, mountains, languages, and borders — each a barrier to the exchange of wisdom. But now, through the unseen threads of the digital realm, a thought born in one corner of the world can inspire another half a planet away in the blink of an eye. This is no small revolution; it is the fulfillment of an old dream — the dream that knowledge, like light, should travel without restraint.

The origin of her insight comes from her own experience as a teacher and ambassador of chess. Once, to study under a master required travel, expense, and privilege. A young player in a small village could dream of greatness, but without access to guidance, that dream might fade. Yet now, the barriers have fallen. Through the online world, anyone with the will to learn can find instruction, play with masters, and grow in skill and wisdom. Kosteniuk herself has taught and played across continents, sharing her art with students who might never have stood in the same room as her. Thus, her wonder is not of the machine, but of human progress, of how the spirit of learning has found new wings.

Consider, as an echo of her revelation, the story of Hypatia of Alexandria, the ancient philosopher who once gathered scholars from distant lands to share knowledge in the famed Library of Alexandria. Her dream was to unite the world’s wisdom under one roof, to make knowledge a living bridge between cultures. Yet her vision was bound by time and geography — when the library fell, so too did that fragile network of enlightenment. Today, Kosteniuk’s words remind us that the library has been rebuilt, not in stone, but in light. The Internet is the new Alexandria, its shelves infinite, its doors open to all. What Hypatia once dreamed, the modern world has made real.

There is also humility in Kosteniuk’s joy. For she marvels not at her own mastery, but at the democratization of knowledge — that the game she loves, once confined to halls of prestige, now belongs to everyone. This is a profound shift, for it reveals that learning, once the treasure of the few, is now the birthright of the many. Yet with this gift comes responsibility: to use it not for vanity, but for understanding; not for division, but for unity. The online world may erase distance, but it also tests our discipline — for the same tool that can uplift the spirit can also scatter it in distraction. The wise will use it as a ladder to higher things; the foolish, as a mirror that traps them in their own reflection.

O seekers of truth, take this lesson as your own: distance is no longer your excuse. The walls that once confined your learning have fallen. You can study from the masters, converse with thinkers, and share your gifts with the world — all from the space you inhabit now. Yet remember that access is not the same as understanding. To learn deeply still requires patience, humility, and focus. The Internet may connect you to knowledge, but only discipline and curiosity can make it yours.

And so, let Alexandra Kosteniuk’s words stand as a torch for all who live in this boundless age. Rejoice in the freedom of connection, but do not forget the sacred purpose of it: to grow in wisdom, to build bridges, and to elevate the human spirit. The end of distance is not merely a convenience — it is a call to compassion, a summons to unity. Use this power to teach, to listen, to create, and to share. For if you do, you will fulfill the prophecy her words contain — that through knowledge and connection, humanity shall bring sanity, light, and harmony into the vast environment of the universe itself.