Tic tac toe python (made >1h)

ttt.py

def create_row():
  return { "left": " ", "center": " ", "right": " " }

def create_board():
  return { "up": create_row(), "center": create_row(), "down": create_row() } 
  

board = create_board()
def print_board():
  print("")
  print("The board now looks as following:")
  print("")
  
  print("╭           ╮")
  print("  " + board["up"]["left"] + "   " + board["up"]["center"] + "   " + board["up"]["right"] + "  ")
  print("    ┼   ┼    ")
  print("  " + board["center"]["left"] + "   " + board["center"]["center"] + "   " + board["center"]["right"] + "  ")
  print("    ┼   ┼    ")
  print("  " + board["down"]["left"] + "   " + board["down"]["center"] + "   " + board["down"]["right"] + "  ")
  print("╰           ╯")
  
  print("")

player = "X"
def player_input(question):
  return input("[Player " + player + "] " + question + " > ")
def switch_player():
  global player
  player = "X" if player == "O" else "O"

rows = ["up", "center", "down"]
columns = ["left", "center", "right"]
def ask_for(input_type, answers):
  answer = ""
  
  while not answer in answers:
    answer = player_input("Please enter the " + input_type + " to cross")
    if not answer in answers:
      print("The answer must be one of " + ", ".join(answers) + "!")
      
  return answer
  
def winner_in_serie(serie):
  if serie == "XXX":
    return "X"
  if serie == "YYY":
    return "Y"
  return False

def check_win_col(col):
  col_state = board["up"][col] + board["center"][col] + board["down"][col]
  return winner_in_serie(col_state)
  
def check_win_row(row):
  row_obj = board[row]
  row_state = row_obj["left"] + row_obj["center"] + row_obj["right"]
  return winner_in_serie(row_state)

def check_win_diag():
  # Dont check only in the modified col & row, as that would be computionally more intensive, contrary to sinple row and col checks
  diag1_state = board["up"]["left"] + board["center"]["center"] + board["down"]["right"]
  diag2_state = board["up"]["right"] + board["center"]["center"] + board["down"]["left"]
  return winner_in_serie(diag1_state) or winner_in_serie(diag2_state)
  
def check_win(col, row):
  return check_win_col(col) or check_win_row(row) or check_win_diag()
  
def game_loop():
  while True:
    column = ask_for("column", columns)
    row = ask_for("row", rows)
    if board[row][column] != " ":
      print("This case is already taken! Please chose another one.")
      continue
    board[row][column] = player
    print_board()
    winner = check_win(column, row)
    if winner:
      print("And therefore, we have a winner! Congratulations, Player '" + winner + "'!")
      break
    switch_player()
  
game_loop()