The Superfinal of the 78th Russian Men’s Chess Championship

Photos by Eteri Kublashvili, Vladimir Barsky, and Olga Demidenko.

The 2025 Russian Chess Championship Superfinals concluded with unexpected results, as 16-year-old star Anna Shukhman sensationally won the women’s tournament, a victory that marks a significant milestone in her young career. Meanwhile, 22-year-old grandmaster Arseniy Nesterov celebrated victory in the men’s tournament, a triumph that solidifies his position as a rising star in the chess world.

Anna Shukhman emerged victorious in the women’s event with 7/10, a narrow half-point lead over Leya Garifullina (whom she defeated in the final round in the first game to secure her win) and Daria Charochkina, showcasing the intense competition.

Arseniy Nesterov won the title for the first time with 6.5/11, half a point clear of Daniil Dubov, Andrey Esipenko and Vadim Zvjaginsev.

The 2025 Russian Chess Championship Superfinals hosted in Moscow from 30th September to 13th October 2025 consisted of two separate events, the 78th Russian Championship and the 75th Russian Women’s Championship.

Proud winners Anna Shukhman & Arseniy Nesterov.

Event details

The venue for the most significant event in the Russian chess calendar was the famous Central Chess Club, named after M.M. Botvinnik, a legendary figure in Russian chess history. The club, located in the heart of Moscow, has been a hub for chess enthusiasts and visitors.

The overall prize fund was RUB 11 million (approximately KES 7 million or USD 130,000). The Russian champions will, in addition, receive a LADA car from JSC АvtoVAZ, the official automobile partner of the 2025 Russian Chess Championship Superfinals.

The 2025 Russian Championships Superfinals format was an 11-round all-play-all event with one rest day.