Houska married Norwegian chess player Arne Hagesaether on 14 March 2009 at the Ice Chapel in Alta, Norway.
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The following year saw her take the Women's Commonwealth Championship, held in London in conjunction with the Mind Sports Olympiad.
Iweta Rajlich and Arianne Caoili were listed as participants but unable to attend; their scheduled opponents, Jovanka Houska and Ju Wenjun, were given byes through to the second round.