Champions Cup Chess Tournament 2026
10 players participated in this 9-round tournament, held from 28 Mar 2026 to 01 Apr 2026 in Golubitskaya, Russia. 8 titled players from 4 federations. Top 10 Elo average was 2242, and top seed was Melor Bedia (🇷🇺 RUS, GM, 2441).
David Zakaryan (🇷🇺 RUS, IM, 2258) won with 7.0/9, ahead of Osman Pshmakhov (6.5) and Roman Al Nosach (6.5). Zakaryan broke clear in the final round.
The biggest upset came in round 4: Elisei Bespalov (FM, 2224) beat Melor Bedia (GM, 2441), a +217-point gap.
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How it unfolded
Top 10 · 9 roundsIM David Zakaryan led from R2 onwards, the runner-up race stayed tight.
IM David Zakaryan held the sole lead from R2 through R9 without losing it.
IM David Zakaryan drew with CM Roman Al Nosach (White).
IM David Zakaryan 3 wins (R7–R9)FM Osman Pshmakhov 3 wins (R6–R8)
Cross-table
| # | Player | Elo | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | Pts | SB | Bh | Δ Elo | Perf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇷🇺IMZakaryan, David | 2258 | * | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 7.0 | 27.75 | 38.0 | +20.2 | 2462 |
| 3 | 🇷🇺FMPshmakhov, Osman | 2332 | ½ | * | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 6.5 | 25.75 | 38.5 | +17.6 | 2402 |
| 2 | 🇷🇺CMNosach, Roman Al | 2213 | ½ | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6.5 | 24.50 | 38.5 | +97.2 | 2415 |
| 4 | 🇷🇺FMBespalov, Elisei | 2224 | ½ | 0 | ½ | * | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 5.5 | 20.75 | 39.5 | +25.8 | 2328 |
| 5 | FMGadzhiev, Ruslan | 2311 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | * | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5.5 | 19.75 | 39.5 | +1.2 | 2318 |
| 7 | 🇺🇦Kuzmenko, Yevgen | 2239 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | * | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 3.5 | 15.75 | 41.5 | -18.2 | 2167 |
| 6 | 🇷🇺GMBedia, Melor | 2441 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | * | ½ | 1 | 1 | 3.5 | 10.50 | 41.5 | -34.1 | 2144 |
| 8 | 🇩🇪Poschadel, Andreas Gregor | 2087 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | 1 | ½ | 3.0 | 9.75 | 42.0 | +18.8 | 2138 |
| 10 | 🇺🇦IMPiankov, Evgenij | 2081 | ½ | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | * | ½ | 2.0 | 8.00 | 43.0 | -4.3 | 2044 |
| 9 | 🇺🇦IMKovtun, Sergei | 2238 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | * | 2.0 | 7.00 | 43.0 | -24.0 | 2027 |
Key insights
Biggest movers and upsets — the story behind the numbers.
- 1Nosach, Roman AlCMRUS+97.26.5 pts · #2
- 2Bespalov, EliseiFMRUS+25.85.5 pts · #4
- 3Zakaryan, DavidIMRUS+20.27.0 pts · #1
- 1Bedia, MelorGMRUS-34.13.5 pts · #6
- 2Kovtun, SergeiIMUKR-24.02.0 pts · #9
- 3Kuzmenko, YevgenUKR-18.23.5 pts · #7
- R4+217 Elo gap
- R9+183 Elo gap
- R1+158 Elo gap