Alexander Tkachev: “There was no doubt for a second where the first Asian Club Chess Champions League in the history of Russia should take place”.
The Asian Club Chess Champions League is at the finish line. There are only two rounds left, which will determine the strongest Asian club team in 2025. This tournament is being held in Russia for the first time, and Khanty-Mansiysk has become a venue for prestigious competitions. Alexander Tkachev, Executive Director of the Russian Chess Federation, called the holding of the Asian Club Chess Champions League in Russia a historic event.
Khanty-Mansiysk has held the title of the world chess capital for many years. Since 2005, 19 international tournaments have been held here. This year Ugra Chess Academy is hosting the Asian Club Champions League. Since June 17, eight teams from six countries have been fighting for the title of the strongest. The winners of the zonal competitions of the Asian Chess Federation participate in the competition – clubs from India, China, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and, of course, Russia. Our country is represented by three chess “squads”: the «Ugra team», the «Ugra Chess Academy youth» team, and the leader of the rating, the «CPRF sports club».
In an exclusive interview, Alexander Tkachev, Executive Director of the Russian Chess Federation, assessed the level of preparation of the teams and spoke about the organization of the tournament in Khanty-Mansiysk.
– Why do you consider hosting the Asian Chess Club Champions League a historic event for the country?
– “The game of kings has deep roots in our nation. The Chess Federation of Russia will soon celebrate its centenary, yet the first recorded games date back to Ivan the Terrible’s reign. This tournament marks a historic milestone: for the first time in the competition’s history – and for the first time in Russian chess history – the Asian Chess Club Champions League is being held on our soil.
– During the opening ceremony, you stated that when deciding where to host the league in Russia, you never hesitated about the location. Why?
– The decision-making protocol was clear: the Chess Federation of Russia (CFR) submitted our bid to the Asian Chess Federation, received approval, and once Russia was confirmed as host nation, we needed to designate the specific venue to welcome Asia’s top grandmasters. There was zero doubt: Khanty-Mansiysk and the Ugra Chess Academy were the unequivocal choice. For over two decades, Ugra’s Sports Federation has amassed unparalleled expertise in hosting international tournaments! The crowning achievement remains the World Chess Olympiad – still regarded among the best-organized events in chess history, despite 15 years having passed. Back then, Khanty-Mansiysk hosted athletes from hundreds of countries worldwide.
Another decisive factor was the unequivocal position from regional leadership and the dedicated professionals executing the events – specifically, the team at Ugra Chess Academy led by Director Alexander Parkhomenko, alongside representatives of the Ugra Chess Federation and its President Vasily Filipenko. Their demonstrable commitment to hosting elite tournaments made the choice of venue a foregone conclusion.
– Following the topic: how do you assess the level of these particular competitions?
– The level of organization is really impressive: everything is done clearly and professionally. An almost perfect space has been created for the tournament. Why is it almost perfect? There are always prospects for improvement. Having reached the top, we risk facing stagnation and regression, so moving forward must continue constantly!
A chess tournament commences with its opening ceremony much like a theater production begins from the cloakroom. Your ceremony absolutely captivated me through groundbreaking directorial vision and inventive solutions. This was something extraordinary – unlike anything I’ve witnessed before!
– Who would you consider the main favorites?
– We’ve gathered exclusively Asia’s strongest clubs — that’s the very essence of a Champions League! All participants are winners of zonal qualifying stages. The elite of the elite have converged in Khanty-Mansiysk! Statistically, the KPRF Sports Club stands out with its formidable strength and reputation— especially as reigning Russian Champions since May. However, history reminds us that individual ratings never guarantee team success. Chinese and Indian teams traditionally deliver exceptional results. My personal dream? Seeing three Russian teams share the pedestal!
The tournament follows a 7-round round-robin format: 2 points per team win, 1 point for a draw, 0 for defeat. Current standings place the KPRF team and the Ugra Chess Academy team atop the leaderboard, with the Airports Authority of India rounding off the top three.
You can view the highlights of the past games in the official community of the Ugra Chess Academy on the social network «VKontakte», as well as on the websites: chess-results.com and lichess.org.
Source: Ugra Chess Academy
Media contacts: 8 967 886 0287, Vladimir Gilev