Andrey Esipenko became the Russian chess champion for the first time
The participant of the FIDE Candidates Tournament Esipenko guaranteed himself victory in the penultimate round of the superfinal, having played a draw with one of the closest pursuers Paravian
Andrey Esipenko became the Russian chess champion for the first time, having won the superfinal in Rostov-on-Don ahead of schedule.
In the penultimate round, Esipenko drew David Paravian and became inaccessible to his pursuers.
24-year-old Esipenko after 10 rounds seven points, Evgeny Naer, Paravian and Pavel Poncratov — 5.5 points.
Esipenko in April took last place in the tournament of applicants. In 2025, the grandmaster took the bronze of the World Cup. In 2024 and 2025 he became the second in the championship of Russia.
Women before the last rounds Leia Garifullin and Ekaterina Goltseva scored 7.5 points, Anastasia Bodnaruk – 7.
Chess players who took places from the first to the fifth will receive the right to play in the FIDE World Cup 2027, women will receive the vouchers of the three best chess players.
