Title: Champions of Chess in SCO and BRICS nations
In a spectacular display of skill and determination, 16-year-old Arina Aleshina from Chelyabinsk, Russia, clinched the top spot at the Superfinal of the international chess tournament for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS nations. This victory in the women's D category marks Aleshina's first international tournament win and sets the stage for a promising future in the world of chess.
The Superfinal, held in Moscow, attracted participants from various countries, including Brazil, India, France, Egypt, Nepal, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Armenia, among others. Aleshina's closest rival was Tatiana Abramova from Tyumen, who scored 4.5 points. The Brazilian chess player Taiyana Ferreira finished third with 4 points.
Aleshina's journey to the Superfinal began in the All-Russian Education Trade Union chess tournament, where she emerged victorious in the category for those born in 2009, representing the Chelyabinsk region. The tournament series, which spanned from December 2024 to June 2025, featured participants from various years of birth categories, including boys and girls born from 2010 to 2016 and younger. Other winners in different categories included Fedor Bondarev, Renata Saifutdinova, Nikita Zhigan, and Husnorakhkhon Husnitdinova, representing regions like Orenburg, Crimea, Uzbekistan, and Perm. The international delegation's winner was Andre Diamant from Brazil.
In the Superfinal, Aleshina demonstrated her competitive prowess, scoring 7 out of 9 possible points. This impressive performance is a testament to her training at Chelyabinsk SSOR-9 under the guidance of international grandmaster Tatiana Shumyakina.
Aleshina's victories in the Superfinal and the Russian championship are a clear indication of her strong competitive skills. Despite the challenging competition, she remains optimistic about her future in chess, aiming to improve her rating in upcoming tournaments.
The Superfinal also set a world record, with 9,620 games played simultaneously on the Mychess platform, a fact announced by Zoya Arnatskaya, president of the "Step into the Future" charity fund.
Looking ahead, Aleshina is expected to participate in three prestigious tournaments this year: in Nizhny Tagil, the Russian team championship in Lipetsk, and the classical chess championship in Ufa. She is eager to continue developing her skills and abilities in chess and has expressed her enthusiasm about competing on the international stage.
During the Superfinal, Aleshina found the walk around Red Square with her teammates to be a memorable experience. Her ability to communicate with competitors from Brazil and India during the tournament, using her knowledge of English, further underscores her international competitive experience and her bright future in the world of chess.
Sports, beyond just chess, were also a part of the Superfinal. The tournament saw participants from various countries, competing in the Mychess platform, which set a world record for 9,620 games played simultaneously. Aleshina's optimism about her future in sports stems from her plans to participate in three prestigious tournaments this year, showcasing her international competitive experience and bright future.
