26 Oct 2025 Event Overview
The 2025 Victorian Championship was held in Melbourne, Australia, from 26 July – 18 October 2025.
It featured two main divisions:
- Premier Division: 10-player round-robin (90 minutes + 30 seconds per move)
- Reserves Division: 9-round Swiss event
Most rounds took place at the Box Hill Chess Club in Ashwood, Victoria.
🥇 Champions & Prizes
Premier Division Champion: IM Igor Goldenberg
Reserves Division Champion: CM Jesse Zafirakos
Both divisions awarded cash prizes and official state titles for their respective winners.
🎯 Highlights
- A strong field of titled and FIDE-rated players, including IMs and FMs.
- The classical time-control format produced high-quality, deeply strategic games.
- The multi-month schedule (July → October) tested consistency and preparation.
🧩 Why It Matters
Winning the Victorian Championship is one of the most prestigious chess achievements in Australia’s state circuit.
It not only brings recognition and rating gains, but also secures qualification for future elite and national events.
For Igor Goldenberg, this title cements his status as Victoria’s top classical player of 2025.
For Jesse Zafirakos, the Reserves victory marks a major career step and likely promotion to next year’s Premier Division.
🏁 Closing Notes
Congratulations to IM Igor Goldenberg and CM Jesse Zafirakos for their outstanding performances.
Their consistency, creativity, and composure made the 2025 edition one of the most competitive Victorian Championships in recent years.
Sources:
Chess Victoria
Melbourne, Australia
chessvictoriasecretary@gmail.com
https://beta.chessvictoria.org.au