Classic

In 1990s Russia, the billiard masters club raises funds to build a luxury retirement home for their teachers. They ask Savitsky for a $20,000 share, and he grudgingly provides it. He then orders his goons to seize the couriers and steals the entire sum.

Savitsky betrays the arrangement and has his men attack the couriers, stealing the entire sum. The surviving courier vows to reclaim the money and take it back to Moscow, fueling a new conflict. The theft hardens attitudes on all sides as plans tighten.

The surviving courier proposes to retrieve the money by force for his Moscow superiors. Those authorities instead decide to outwit Savitsky rather than risk a direct confrontation. The plan shifts from violence to a calculated chess game.

The capital informs Savitsky’s city that a master player called the Classic will visit to challenge him for $150,000. Savitsky decides to play along, but intends to cheat to secure victory at any cost. The two sides prepare for a high-stakes duel under watchful eyes.

To obtain the prize money and protect his criminal network, Savitsky signs a loan with ominous consequences. If he fails to repay, he will be forced to surrender his entire operation. The looming debt adds pressure to win at any cost.

An elderly player named Gorsky arrives with his bodyguard Yuri, claiming to be a famous writer who can afford such a bet. His cue skills and knowledge of classic literature convince Savitsky that he is the Classic. Savitsky accepts the challenge and prepares to test his luck.

Savitsky and Gorsky agree on strict duel rules, including a loss on refusal. Monarch, a known crime lord, is named as the arbiter of the match. The stage is set for a brutal, no-holds-barred showdown.

Savitsky's hitmen cripple Gorsky's right arm and attack his fiancée to derail him. Meanwhile, Lily is dispatched to seduce Yuri and snoop on their plans. The assault intensifies the sense that Savitsky will stop at nothing.

Lily's undercover maneuver reveals that Yuri will play in Gorsky’s stead using a magnetic ball system controlled by remote. Savitsky believes he can neutralize the gimmick, securing an apparent victory. The information heightens the tension as the true contest unfolds.

Gorsky confirms that Yuri will take the match in his place, and Monarch allows it. Savitsky manages to disarm the magnetic system, appearing to blunt Yuri’s advantage. The audience grows restless as the contest looms.

In the morning, Yuri plays and wins flawlessly, revealing his true identity as the Classic. Monarch is impressed enough to award the prize and then departs. The revelation exposes Savitsky’s attempted cheat to everyone.

With the ruse exposed, Gorsky reveals a hidden revolver and demonstrates ambidexterity, disarming the would-be pursuers. The two escape together toward Moscow. Savitsky is left to reckon with his mounting debts.

In Moscow, the luxury retirement home for the teachers is opened soon after the duel. The club’s elders are celebrated as the project comes to life. The new facility marks a bright turnaround from the earlier crime-fueled conflict.

The film closes with Vasiliy, the club's oldest and most respected player, being awarded the honor of the first party. He begins with a perfect move, despite his shaking hands. The moment embodies the club’s enduring spirit.