The KazChess Masters 2025, held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, concluded with a result that few spectators—or even the players themselves—could have realistically predicted. While chess tournaments often provide tense final rounds, the conclusion of this high-level round-robin event was less of a smooth finish and more of a tactical landslide engineered by GM Alexey Sarana of Serbia.
The Unexpected Collapse of the Frontrunner
Heading into the final two rounds, the focus was firmly on Volodar Murzin. Competing under the FIDE flag, Murzin had successfully navigated the competitive field, holding a precarious half-point advantage over a determined chasing group. The conventional wisdom suggested that if he could maintain his equilibrium, the title was within reach.
However, the final 48 hours of play proved to be devastating. Murzin suffered two consecutive defeats, an event that utterly dismantled his championship aspirations. This swift and brutal reversal saw him plummet from contention directly into a tie for fifth place. It served as a stark, technical reminder that in top-tier chess, a single slip in focus can negate days of sustained effort.
Sarana`s Paradoxical Path to Victory
The beneficiary of this late-game turbulence was the Elo favorite, Alexey Sarana (2675). Sarana’s final score of 6.5 out of 9 points secured him the title by a commanding full point margin. Yet, Sarana’s victory stands out due to an unusual statistical anomaly. A tournament winner is rarely permitted the luxury of losing to both players who finished directly behind him in the final standings.
Sarana’s tournament performance was characterized by an aggressive, high-variance approach. His impressive tally of six wins was unmatched in the field, demonstrating an absolute readiness to seek complications and capitalize on tactical opportunities. This included the critical Round 8 win against the faltering Murzin, a pivotal result that directly facilitated Sarana’s ascent.
Sarana’s scorecard suggests a highly efficient, if slightly chaotic, method of victory: maximize wins against the middle and lower ranks, absorb losses against the immediate competition, and rely on superior total productivity. It is perhaps the most pragmatic—and painful—way to win a chess tournament.
The Scramble for Second Place
The turbulence at the top resulted in a dense logjam just beneath Sarana. Four players finished tied for second place with 5.5 points: GM Maksim Chigaev, GM Kazybek Nogerbek, Daniil Makhnev, and the aforementioned Volodar Murzin. The final standings reveal just how closely contested the remainder of the prize pool was, with tiebreaks determining the final order.
Kazakhstan’s own GM Kazybek Nogerbek (2538) showed remarkable resilience, notably defeating Sarana earlier in the tournament. Maksim Chigaev (Spain, 2628) also contributed significantly to Sarana`s two losses. The tight grouping of these 5.5-point finishers underscores the depth of talent present at the KazChess Masters.
Final Standings of KazChess Masters 2025 (Top 7)
| Rk. | Name | Rtg. | Nt. | Pts. | Tie Break (TB) | Performance Rating (Perf.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sarana, A | 2675 | SRB | 6.5 | 24.00 | 2727 |
| 2 | Chigaev, M | 2628 | ESP | 5.5 | 25.25 | 2646 |
| 3 | Nogerbek, K | 2538 | KAZ | 5.5 | 23.50 | 2656 |
| 4 | Makhnev, D | 2525 | KAZ | 5.5 | 20.25 | 2657 |
| 5 | Murzin, V | 2655 | FIDE | 5.5 | 18.50 | 2643 |
| 6 | Gelfand, B | 2633 | ISR | 5.0 | 20.75 | 2608 |
| 7 | Karthikeyan, M | 2662 | IND | 4.5 | 14.00 | 2562 |
Conclusion: A Lesson in Tournament Endurance
The KazChess Masters provided a compelling lesson in the demands of a closed, high-level round-robin format. While initial consistency is crucial, ultimate victory often hinges on navigating the pressure of the final rounds and exploiting the mistakes of fatigued opponents. Alexey Sarana demonstrated superior resilience and offensive capability when it mattered most, ultimately rewarding his aggressive style with a richly deserved championship title.
Benedict Kingsley 
Rupert Hartwell