Winner of Continental Chess League Crowned at HSE University
The in-person superfinal of the Continental Chess League (CCL) has taken place in Moscow. The experimental project by HSE University lasted three months, bringing together 2,000 online players from Russia and 16 other countries. The strongest players were determined across eight stages. The eight finalists fought it out over three days, with the overall winner named as 18-year-old Erdem Khubukshanov, an international master who is expected to attain the title of grand master next year.
Artem Akhmetov
‘The eight finalists of the CCL were strong players. During their stages they were able to overcome grand masters and confident international masters. The format of the competition had spectators and players alike on the edge of their seats. It was a spectacular, massive, and high-profile media event. This is a testament to the huge potential of HSE University to make sport projects truly sensational,’ noted Artem Akhmetov, chief arbiter of the competition and executive director of the Moscow Chess Federation.
Spectators from all across Russia could watch the showdown between the top eight finalists on HSE’s social media pages and the official VK channel of the Continental Chess League. The final games were broadcast from the HSE media centre with commentary from famous Russian commentator Sergey Shipov, who appeared in the studio alongside Ilya Lakaev, the founder of a major chess community; and Marina Lizorkina, former member of the group Serebro.
Among the players in the superfinal were new stars of world chess as well as up-and-coming young talents.
First place went to Erdem Khubukshanov, 18, Russia (Novosibirsk), International Master, Russian champion in the under-18 and under-21 categories.
Second place went to Alexandr Triapishko, 25, Russia (Simferopol), International Master, world vice champion in the under-16 and under-18 categories.
Third place went to Roman Nosach, 13, Russia (Yevpatoria), Candidate Master of Sports.
Fourth place went to Kirill Shubin, 22, Russia (St Petersburg), International Master, Russian champion in the under-21 category.
Fifth to Eighth places went to:
Artem Pingin, 17, Russia (Ekaterinburg), International Master, Russian rapid champion in the under-19 category
Eldiyar Orozbaev, 19, Kyrgyzstan (Bishkek), International Master, 2025 Kyrgyzstani national champion
Osman Pshmakhov, 20, Russia (Krasnodarskiy Krai), Candidate Master of Sports
Kair Beristenov, 16, Kazakhstan (Astana), Candidate Master of Sports, Kazakhstani vice champion
Rafail Ayndinov
‘In terms of reach and player activity, this league can absolutely compete with the most popular online tournaments in the world. We are always on the lookout for interesting sport formats that combine sporting interest, a show format, and high audience engagement. The CCL has already achieved the desired response—the same passion, tension, and fighting tooth and nail, culminating in an amazing live final. We have received an immense amount of emotional support from the viewers and participants, who may not be the favourites in the biggest official tournaments, but are certainly the stars of online chess,’ commented Rafail Ayndinov, Head of the Intellectual Games Centre at HSE University.
The Continental Chess League highlighted the strongest online players in Russia. The overall prize fund totalled one million rubles.
Daria Melenchuk
‘We provided talented chess players with serious motivation to play. First is the financial incentive. Second is attention from the international chess and scientific communities. Third is the superfinal format with studio commentary from professional commentators, bloggers, celebrities, and journalists. This project also fulfils a social mission for the university, helping to showcase online chess players who often remain on the sidelines but who unquestionably possess great talent,’ explained Daria Melenchuk, Director of the HSE University Corporate Academy.
Learn more about how the event unfolded on the CCL Telegram channel (in Russian).
See also:
HSE University Hosts Russian Chess Grand Prix
From July 21 to 23, HSE University's atrium on Pokrovsky Bulvard hosted a stage of the Russian Chess Grand Prix—a major event bringing together over 250 participants from five countries and 44 regions across Russia. It was also attended by eight grandmasters, six international masters and 26 FIDE masters.
From Student to Pro: Making the Knight's Move
HSE University has hosted the Career Gambit student festival organised by the HSE Chess Club. The festival offered a unique platform for dialogue between students and prospective employers. Participants not only enthusiastically developed their game strategies but also engaged in discussions about careers and real employment opportunities. It turned out that playing chess is not just an intellectual competition but also an opportunity to connect, network, discuss professional interests, and explore future collaboration from a fresh perspective.
HSE Student Won European Rapid Chess Championship
Maksim Vavulin, third-year student in the HSE/NES Programme in Economics, has won a major chess competition in Katowice (Poland).
1 place
was HSE team’s result at the Chess Tournament of the XXIX Moscow Student Games. Our students won all of their seven matches, beating their fiercest competitor, MSU, by five points.
2nd Place
Second-year student in the HSE/NES Programme in Economics, Maksim Vavulin, placed second in the FIDE World Youth Under 18 Chess Championship. The championship took place in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia from September 21st through October 5th.