{{Short description|Russian chess grandmaster (born 2002)}} {{Family name hatnote|Evgenyevich|Esipenko|lang=Eastern Slavic}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox chess biography | name = Andrey Esipenko | image = AndreyEsipenko23.jpg | caption = Esipenko in 2023 <!-- Personal information --> | birth_name = Andrey Evgenyevich Esipenko | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|2002|03|22}} | birth_place = Novocherkassk, Russia | death_date = | death_place = <!-- Chess career --> | country = {{ubl|Russia (until 2022, since 2025)<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20250415012644/http://ratings.fide.com/profile/24175439 FIDE Profile as of April 15, 2025] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20250504061046/http://ratings.fide.com/profile/24175439 May 4, 2025]</ref>|FIDE (2022–2025)}} | title = Grandmaster (2018) | peakrating = 2723 (March 2022) | peakranking = No. 24 (March 2022) | FideID = 24175439 }} '''Andrey Evgenyevich Esipenko'''{{efn|{{langx|ru|Андрей Евгеньевич Есипенко|Andrey Yevgenyevich Yesipenko}}.}} (born 22 March 2002) is a Russian chess grandmaster. He won the European U10 Chess Championship in 2012, and both the European U16 and World U16 Chess Championship in 2017. He qualified for the Candidates Tournament 2026.
Together with 43 other Russian elite chess players, Esipenko signed an open letter to Russian president Vladimir Putin, protesting against the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian people.<ref>[https://www.chess.com/news/view/stop-the-war-44-top-russian-players-publish-open-letter-to-putin "'Stop the war.' 44 Top Russian Players Publish Open Letter To Putin"], Chess.com, 3 March 2022</ref>
==Chess career== ===Early career=== Esipenko was born in Novocherkassk in Rostov Oblast<ref name=putin>{{cite web|url =https://en.chessbase.com/post/guess-who-came-to-encourage-the-national-olympiad-teams|title =Guess who came to encourage the Russian Olympiad teams?|first =Frederic|last =Friedel|website =ChessBase|date =21 September 2018}}</ref> to a Russian family. He started playing chess when he was five years old.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url =https://www.chess.com/news/view/junior-speed-chess-championship-sarana-esipenko-preview|title =Junior Speed Chess: Sarana-Esipenko preview|first =Peter|last =Doggers|website =Chess.com|date =13 June 2019}}</ref> Esipenko became European U10 Chess Champion in 2012. He earned his FIDE master title in 2013. He secured all of his grandmaster norms by late 2017 and was awarded the title by FIDE in April 2018.<ref>{{cite web|url =https://ratings.fide.com/title_applications.phtml?details=1&id=24175439&title=GM&pb=51|title =1st quarter Presidential Board Meeting 2018|publisher =FIDE|author =Staff writer(s)|date =2018}}</ref>
From 30 May to 10 June 2017, he took part in the 2017 European Individual Chess Championship. He scored 6½/11 (+4–2=5).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chess-results.com/tnr280959.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=11&turdet=YES&flag=30&wi=984|title=European Individual Chess Championship 2017 - Final Ranking after 11 Rounds|author=Staff writer(s)|publisher=Chess Results|date=19 July 2017}}</ref> His {{chessgloss|performance rating}} was 2618.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://chess-results.com/tnr280959.aspx?lan=1&art=9&fed=RUS&turdet=YES&flag=30&wi=984&snr=161|title=European Individual Chess Championship 2017 - Player info|author=Staff writer(s)|publisher=Chess Results|date=19 July 2017}}</ref> He won both the European U16 and World U16 Chess Championship in 2017.<ref name=putin/>
He competed in the 2017 World Rapid Chess Championship in December, scoring 7½/15 for a performance rating of 2622.<ref>{{cite web|url =http://riyadh2017.fide.com/rapid-standings/|title =FINAL Standings Rapid OPEN|author =Staff writer(s)|publisher =FIDE|date =28 December 2017}}</ref> During the tournament he played a queen {{chessgloss|sacrifice}} against Sergey Karjakin, which Leonard Barden said may be "the move of the year".<ref>{{cite web|url =https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/dec/29/vishy-anand-surprise-world-rapid-victory|title =Veteran Vishy Anand secures surprise title at world rapids in Riyadh|first =Leonard|last =Barden|website =The Guardian|date =29 December 2017}}</ref> He scored 11½/21 in the World Blitz Chess Championship, placing 41st out of 138.<ref>{{cite web|url =http://riyadh2017.fide.com/open-blitz-standings/|title =FINAL Standings Blitz OPEN|author =Staff writer(s)|publisher =FIDE|date =30 December 2017}}</ref>
In February 2018, Esipenko participated in the Aeroflot Open. He finished fifty-seventh out of ninety-two,<ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.chess-results.com/tnr322070.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=9|title =Aeroflot Open 2018 A|author =Staff writer(s)|publisher =Chess Results|date =28 February 2018}}</ref> scoring 4/9 (+1–2=6).<ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.chess-results.com/tnr322070.aspx?lan=1&art=9&fed=RUS&snr=49|title =Aeroflot Open 2018 A: Esipenko Andrey|author =Staff writer(s)|publisher =Chess Results|date =28 February 2018}}</ref> In March 2018, he competed in the European Individual Chess Championship. He placed forty-eighth,<ref>{{cite web|url =http://chess-results.com/tnr295754.aspx?lan=1&art=1&rd=11&turdet=YES&flag=30|title =European Individual Chess Championship 2018|author =Staff writer(s)|publisher =Chess Results|date =28 March 2018}}</ref> scoring 7/11 (+4–1=6).<ref>{{cite web|url =http://chess-results.com/tnr295754.aspx?lan=1&art=9&fed=RUS&turdet=YES&flag=30&snr=90|title =European Individual Chess Championship 2018: Esipenko Andrey|author =Staff writer(s)|publisher =Chess Results|date =28 March 2018}}</ref>
===2019–present=== Esipenko competed in the Tata Steel Challengers in January 2019, placing second with 8½/13 (+5–1=7).<ref>{{cite web|url =https://chess24.com/en/read/news/tata-steel-2019-13-carlsen-s-magnificent-seven|title =Tata Steel 2019, 13: Carlsen's Magnificent Seven|first =Colin|last =McGourty|website =Chess24|date =28 January 2019}}</ref> In March, he participated in the European Individual Chess Championship. He placed 16th with 7½/11 (+6–2=3) and qualified for the Chess World Cup 2019.<ref>[http://chess-results.com/tnr404992.aspx?lan=1&art=9&fedb=GER&fed=RUS&turdet=NO&flag=30&snr=69 European Individual Chess Championship 2019: Esipenko Andrey] chess-results</ref> At the Chess World Cup, Esipenko defeated former FIDE world champion Ruslan Ponomariov in round one.<ref>{{cite web|url =https://www.chess.com/news/view/2019-fide-chess-world-cup-round-1-day-2|title =Navara, Naiditsch, Ponomariov, Wojtaszek Early Victims At FIDE Chess World Cup|first =Peter|last =Doggers|website =Chess.com|date =13 September 2019}}</ref> Paired against Peter Svidler in round two, Esipenko drew the classical games but was eliminated in the rapid tiebreaks.<ref>{{cite web|url =https://www.chess.com/news/view/2019-fide-chess-world-cup-round-2-tiebreaks|title =FIDE Chess World Cup: Giri Through In Armageddon|first =Peter|last =Doggers|website =Chess.com|date =16 September 2019|access-date=3 October 2022}}</ref>
In January 2020, Esipenko participated in the Gibraltar Masters. He was sole leader after six rounds with 5½/6,<ref>{{cite web|url =https://www.fide.com/news/338|title =Gibraltar Masters 2020: Esipenko leads halfway through|website =FIDE|date =27 January 2020|access-date=3 October 2022}}</ref> and ultimately shared first on 7½/10 for a performance rating of 2809. In a four-way playoff for the title, Esipenko was eliminated in the semi-finals by eventual tournament winner David Paravyan.<ref>{{cite web|url =https://en.chessbase.com/post/gibraltar-2020-round-10|title =David Paravyan wins Gibraltar Masters in thrilling playoff|first =Carlos Alberto|last =Colodro|website =ChessBase|date =31 January 2020|access-date=3 October 2022}}</ref>
Esipenko competed in the Tata Steel Masters in January 2021. In round eight, he defeated World Champion Magnus Carlsen in their first game at a classical time control.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tata Steel 8: Esipenko crushes Carlsen {{!}} Firouzja top|url=https://chess24.com/en/read/news/tata-steel-8-esipenko-crushes-carlsen-firouzja-top|access-date=2021-01-26|website=chess24.com|language=en}}</ref> Carlsen opted for the Sicilian Defence, Scheveningen Variation to which Esipenko chose the aggressive 8.g4 line inspired by the Keres Attack.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fide.com/news/915|title = Tata Steel 2021: Firouzja shoots ahead}}</ref> This was Carlsen's first loss to a teenager (at standard time controls) since 2011,<ref>[https://theweekinchess.com/chessnews/events/83rd-tata-steel-chess-2021/esipenko-scores-a-thumping-victory-over-carlsen-in-tata-steel-round-8 Esipenko scores a thumping victory over Carlsen in Tata Steel Round 8], The Week in Chess, 24 January 2021</ref> and his first loss to a sub-2700 rated player since 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url =https://www.chess.com/news/view/2021-tata-steel-chess-tournament-round-8|title =Tata Steel Chess 2021: Esipenko Shocks Carlsen as Firouzja Grabs Sole Lead|first =Peter|last =Doggers|website =Chess.com|date =25 January 2021}}</ref> Esipenko finished the tournament in third place, with 8/13 (+4–1=8) for a performance rating of 2815.<ref>[https://de.chessbase.com/post/jorden-van-foreest-gewinnt-das-tata-steel-turnier Jorden van Foreest gewinnt das Tata-Steel-Turnier] ChessBase</ref>
Esipenko participated in the Chess World Cup 2021. He defeated Thai Dai Van Nguyen,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doggers |first=Peter |title=FIDE World Cup R2.3: Dominguez, Firouzja Out On Wild Armageddon Day |url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2021-fide-world-cup-round-2-tiebreaks-armageddon-firouzja-sindarov |website=Chess.com}}</ref> Nijat Abasov,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doggers |first=Peter |title=FIDE World Cup R3.2: Caruana Knocked Out |url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2021-fide-world-cup-round-3-day-2-caruana-jumabayev |website=Chess.com}}</ref> and Daniil Dubov<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doggers |first=Peter |title=FIDE World Cup R4.3: Carlsen, Ivic Among Final 16 |url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2021-fide-world-cup-round-4-tiebreaks |website=Chess.com}}</ref> to reach the fifth round, where he was knocked out of the tournament by Magnus Carlsen on blitz tiebreaks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doggers |first=Peter |title=FIDE World Cup R5.3: Carlsen Beats Esipenko In Epic Tiebreak |url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/2021-fide-world-cup-round-5-tiebreaks-carlsen-esipenko |website=Chess.com}}</ref>
Esipenko also participated in the 74th edition of the Russian Chess Championship, held from 9 October 2021 to 20 October 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.chess.com/it/events/2021-russian-championship-superfinal |title = Russian Championship Superfinal 2021 |author = |language= |date = 2021 |publisher = chess.com |accessdate = January 10, 2023 }}</ref> He finished fifth place on tiebreaks, with a score of 5.5/11.
In 2022, Esipenko participated in the 2022 Airthings Masters.<ref>[https://en.chessbase.com/post/airthings-masters-2022-preview] ChessBase</ref> In the preliminary stage, he finished 4th with 24 points, thus qualifying for the quarterfinals where he beat Eric Hansen 3-1.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.chess.com/news/view/airthings-masters-2022-day-5 |title = Airthings Masters Day 5: Nepo, Carlsen, Artemiev, Esipenko Win |author = AlexYermo |language= |date = February 24, 2022 |publisher = chess.com |accessdate = January 10, 2023 }}</ref> He then proceeded to the semifinals, where Ian Nepomniachtchi defeated him by a score of 2.5-0.5.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/feb/25/chess-carlsen-overcomes-covid-as-russias-no-1-shares-anti-war-message |title = Chess: Fide cancels Moscow Olympiad as Carlsen beats Covid to reach final |author = Leonard Barden |language= |date = February 25, 2022 |publisher = theguardian.com |accessdate = January 10, 2023 }}</ref>
Through February and March 2022, Esipenko played in the FIDE Grand Prix 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.fide.com/news/1641 |title = FIDE Grand Prix: Esipenko replaces Andreikin in Berlin |author = |language= |date = March 18, 2022 |publisher = fide.com |accessdate = January 10, 2023 }}</ref> In the first leg, he placed second in Pool A with a 3.5/6 result.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://fide.com/news/1654 |title = FIDE Grand Prix Berlin – Round 1 Recap |author = |language= |date = March 23, 2022 |publisher = fide.com |accessdate = January 10, 2023 }}</ref> In the third leg, he finished last in Pool A with a result of 1.5/6, finishing 16th in the standings with four points.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.chess.com/article/view/fide-grand-prix-2022 |title = FIDE Grand Prix 2022: All The Information |author = CHESScom |language= |date = April 4, 2022 |publisher = chess.com |accessdate = January 10, 2023 }}</ref>
In February 2023, Esipenko competed in the first edition of the WR Chess Masters in Düsseldorf, where he tied for 5th place with 5 other players, scoring 4/9 (+1–2=6).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who plays against whom and when? |url=https://wr-chess.com/pairings-and-results |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=wr-chess.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>
In March 2023, Esipenko competed in the European Individual Chess Championship, where he placed 8th with a score of 8/11 (+5–0=6).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chess-Results Server Chess-results.com - European Individual Chess Championship 2023 |url=https://chess-results.com/tnr712575.aspx?lan=1&art=9&fed=FID&turdet=YES&flag=30&snr=8 |access-date=2023-03-26 |website=chess-results.com}}</ref> This gave him a spot in the Chess World Cup 2023.
In December 2024, Esipenko won the Qatar Masters after drawing GM Arjun Erigaisi in the final round, finishing in sole first with a score of 7.5/9.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doggers (PeterDoggers) |first=Peter |date=2024-12-12 |title=Esipenko Wins Qatar Masters; Arjun Misses Chance To Catch Caruana In FIDE Circuit |url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/esipenko-wins-2024-qatar-masters |access-date=2024-12-15 |website=Chess.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
In November 2025, he participated in the FIDE World Cup 2025, where he advanced to semifinals after defeating Pouya Idani, Nijat Abasov, Aleksey Grebnev, Vincent Keymer, and Sam Shankland. He was defeated in the semifinal tiebreaks by Wei Yi, but advanced to the third place match, where he beat Nodirbek Yakubboev and thus qualified to the 2026 Candidates Tournament.<ref>{{ Cite web | title=Tournament Bracket |url=https://worldcup2025.fide.com/tournament-bracket/ | date = 23 November 2025}}</ref>
Esipenko participated in the Candidates Tournament 2026. He scored 4.5/14 (+0−5=9) and finished last in a field of eight players.<ref name=":0" />
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{FIDE|24175439}} * {{Chess.com player|andrey-esipenko}} <!-- * {{Chess.com member|Andreikka}} --> * {{Chessgames.com player|id=138628}} * {{365Chess.com player|Andrey_Esipenko}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Esipenko, Andrey}} Category:2002 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Russian chess players Category:21st-century Russian sportsmen Category:Chess Grandmasters Category:FIDE flag chess players Category:Sportspeople from Novocherkassk Category:World Youth Chess Champions