Andrey Evgenyevich Esipenko, born March 22, 2002, is a Russian chess grandmaster who emerged as one of the chess world's most electrifying young talents during the 2021 Tata Steel tournament. At just 18 years old, Esipenko stunned the chess world by defeating Magnus Carlsen in his very first classical game against the world champion—making him the first teenager to accomplish this feat during Carlsen's tenure as world champion.​​ Esipenko's early career was marked by exceptional youth achievements, including winning the European U10 Chess Championship in 2012, followed by both the European U16 and World U16 Chess Championship titles in 2017. His breakthrough at Tata Steel 2021, where he scored 8/13 for third place, catapulted him to global prominence. That same tournament saw him break the coveted 2700 FIDE rating barrier, reaching 2701 and earning his second grandmaster norm.​ Known for his aggressive, tactical playing style and creative approach to the game, Esipenko continued his upward trajectory with consistent performances. He peaked at a FIDE rating of 2723 in March 2022, ranking as high as #24 globally. Recent success includes winning the 2024 Qatar Masters with a 7.5/9 score, claiming $25,000 in prize money. As of November 2025, he maintains a classical rating of 2681, ranking 41st globally, while competing actively in tournaments including the 2025 Aeroflot Open and 2025 FIDE Grand Swiss. His rapid rating stands at 2626 and blitz at 2660, demonstrating continued excellence across time formats.​