The names of the players who will take part in the XXIII Russian Renju Championship have become known:

1. Dmitry Epifanov (Moscow, VIII dan)
2. Konstantin Nikonov (Elektrostal, VII Dan)
3. Oleg Fedorkin (Mytishchi, VII Dan)
4. Sergey Artemyev (St. Petersburg, VI Dan)
5. Maxim Karasev (Nizhny Novgorod, VII Dan)
———————————–
6. Victor Balabay (St. Petersburg, VI Dan)
7. Pavel Salnikov (St. Petersburg, VII Dan)
8. Denis Fedotov (Podyuga, VI Dan)
9. Vladimir Filinov (St. Petersburg, VI Dan)
10. Anastasia Oborina (Podyuga, V dan)
11. Pavel Makarov (Moscow, VII Dan)
12. Ilya Katsev (St. Petersburg, II dan)
13. Anton Golomarev (Yakutsk, V dan)
14. Irina Metreveli (Podyuga, V dan)
15. Roman Kryuchok (Podyuga, VI Dan)
———————————–
16. Alexander Mikhailov (Moscow, VII Dan)

The composition of the championship each year is determined as follows: 6 people who took 1-6 places in the previous championship retain the opportunity to play in the next championship, 9 places are played in the All-Russian tournament (the first league), which takes place in early November. Another place is played in a sponsorship contest. If there are several applications for sponsorship, the winner is the player with the highest rating. This year the ex-champion of Russia (2003) Alexander Mikhailov (VII dan) won the sponsorship competition. Thus, 16 players take part in the Russian Championship.

This year, 5 people retained their seats, and in the first league 10 places were played, due to the fact that Roman Kryuchok, who took the 6th place last year, refused it and took part in the All-Russian tournament. Taking the tenth place, he went to the championship of Russia as the first spare.
It is noteworthy that this year there was only one spare (Viktor Barykin from Volgograd refused to participate). In the past year, for example, three spare ones passed, and four years before last.
Another interesting feature is the participation in this major league of Anastasia Oborina, who previously preferred to fight for medals in the women’s championship of Russia, held in the same time frame.

The XXIII Championship of Russia in Renju will be held from 14 to 22 February in Suzdal.