Pogonina learned to play chess at the age of five, as her grandfather taught her the basics of the game.

[6] She finished first (with 8 points from 9 games) at the prestigious Moscow Open 2009,[7] and won the bronze medal at the Women's European Individual Championship 2009 (on tie-breaks).

[8] In 2011 Pogonina won gold medals at both the Women's European Club Cup[9] and the European Team Chess Championship,[10] as well as got silver at the Women's World Team Chess Championship.

In 2014, she played for the Russian women's team and won another gold medal at the 41st Chess Olympiad in Tromsø.

[17] Announced in 2009 that she and Peter Zhdanov will release a book titled “Chess Kama Sutra”.

[26] Her hobbies include flamenco, music, photography, travelling, sports, literature and poetry.

[30] After this 25-move victory with the Neo-Archangelsk variation of Ruy Lopez over former FIDE Women's World Champion Antoaneta Stefanova, Natalia Pogonina became co-leader in the North Urals Cup-2007 tournament.

White has to decide whether to force a draw by playing 20.Nxc5 Ra8 21.Qb7 Rb8 or to try to demonstrate the potential of the passed a-pawn, supported by two bishops, after 20.Nxc3 dxc3 which led to a position with mutual chances.

This mistake seems to be uncharacteristic of Antoaneta Stefanova who is, in general, in her element when playing complicated positions with tactical opportunities for both sides.