3 min learnMar 20, 2026 12:23 PM IST
He would possibly’ve snuck into the chess Candidates on the final second ending third on the World Cup. However Andrey Esipenko ensured that not less than one Russian represented the plateauing powerhouse of chess, after Ian Nepomniatchi couldn’t make the grade. At Elo 2698, he’s dropped from his peak with 2723 in March 2022, however he’s ranked World No 33 (once more down from 22 in March 2022).
Esipenko nonetheless traces up at Cyprus, alongside seven others, with Individuals Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura as favourites, and Indian R Praggnanandhaa and Chinese language Wei Yi as darkish horses.
Not too long ago married at 23, and a lover of journey, Esipenko has discovered the going not-so-easy in chess, after he grew to become GM at age 16. There’s no dearth of aggressive spirit in him, as he rejoices in wins over arch rivals that he dubs “eliminating.”
In true Russian Lev Yashin-tradition, he additionally takes immense delight in his goalkeeping talents on a soccer patch of a area. In December of 2021 actually, he attended coaching with FC Rostov, and declared he was able to don the massive GigiBuff-like gloves.
“Attended the FC Rostov coaching! It was a pleasure to satisfy and speak to the pinnacle coach of the workforce Vitaly Vitalievich Kafanov and the gamers of the workforce! I additionally examined my energy as a goalkeeper,” he wrote on Insta. “…it turned out I’m able to combat for a spot on the base of virtually any membership. Good luck within the season!”
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The feedback part was crammed with followers telling “Sanya” (his nick) to watch out about not hurting his arms. “Chess gamers want stunning arms,” followers wrote, concerning the aesthetic worth of carpels that transfer chess items. Others quizzed him about what he considered the destiny of Arsenal – and if they might win Champions League, a query that continues to be related in 2026. It was additionally a chance to take barbs on the nationwide goalkeeper, and hype up membership participant Gamula.
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Within the video, Esipenko is seen diving left and proper like a professional, blocking gently hit photographs, however with good method in restoration, and getting again on ft for the follow-up rebound. His under-gloves even have foam-blocker guards on the knuckles to not break his hand when punching out the ball.
Esipenko began following FC Rostov because the time Kurban Berdyev dragged the workforce out of relegation zone within the Russian Premier League in 2014 and catapulted them into Champions League with a high defensive tactical model ultimately.
The chess challenger would strike the symbolic kick for a Rostov vs Spartak match, joking, “The principle factor is that I hit the ball in spite of everything,” after his method was known as sloppy for getting his ft tangled.
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