Participants share their experiences with this charitable intellectual project
For many, MassOn Club is not just a business club, but a community of like-minded people and friends, a platform for communication, a field for growth and inspiration—where the desire to learn more about oneself and the world goes hand in hand with caring for others, especially those in need. This project has brought together people of various professions and ages—everyone who believes that even small acts of kindness can lead to major positive changes.
Who better to tell the story of MassOn Club than the 'Masons' themselves? Here are testimonials from MassOn Club participants about how the club has changed their lives and the world around them for the better.
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Alexandra Kutergina, Photographer: "For me, it's a club of accomplished people with an active approach to life. They take charity, ecology, and the process of understanding themselves and the world seriously, yet are easy to communicate with, enthusiastic, self-ironic, and sharp-minded. It’s a friendly and comfortable community where I go to recharge with positive, life-giving energy. The time spent playing flies by and is always fun and relaxed.
You can see how some participants show up tired and tense after work—and how energized and bright-eyed they are when they leave, winners or not. For me, victory doesn’t matter; I enjoy the process, the communication, the people. Behind this light-hearted atmosphere is the colossal effort of the game organizers. It’s hard to imagine MassOn Club without the erudition and charisma of Alexey Kondrakhin, the style and poise of Polina Garanina, and the ‘Noble Nest’ of Svetlana Ratsa. I believe it’s the project creators who attract positive, interesting people: all different, yet sharing the same core human values."
Anastasia Drobysheva, Interior Designer: "I’ve known MassOn intellectual business club for a while. At first, I attended games occasionally, but over time I became an avid participant—a fan who never misses a meeting. This project gives me so much energy! I love this community of like-minded, active people interested in living, moving forward, and developing, sharing their experiences.
Add to this the knowledge, the new acquaintances, the immersion in a new topic for each game, and special guests who reveal the topic. I especially appreciate the atmosphere created by the organizers: very friendly, yet still competitive and exciting since we compete in addition to socializing. I’ve been both a team member and a captain, and it always leaves me happy, filled with a guaranteed dose of great mood to share for days afterwards. It's a drive, searching for ideas and solutions to intellectual challenges.
I really like that you don’t need encyclopedic knowledge to participate in MassOn Club games: the questions are designed so that logic and intuition help you find the answers. The most important thing is not to overthink! The game is well thought out down to the smallest details—care for the guests is felt from registration and the welcome tea through to the awarding of winners. This project has given me and many others new contacts and friends, some of whom became collaborators. MassOn Club games are a bridge between people from very different fields. I wish the project continued success and that more people with a heart for charity join. Through good intentions, kind deeds, and intellectual activity, we develop ourselves and society as a whole."
Natalia Drozdova, Web Designer, Website Specialist: "MassOn Club meetings have become a cherished tradition and an event Tyumen entrepreneurs look forward to each month. They bring joy not just through communicating with friends and making new acquaintances, experiencing the thrill of team play and victory, but also by filling life with new meaning. Charity is important and beneficial not only to recipients but to donors as well, especially when it’s done with joy and satisfaction. Helping children unites us and gives us a sense of goodness and faith in kind people. Every good deed carries creative energy and an accumulative power. Kindness and the desire to help multiply and spread like ripples on water—MassOn Club participants know this for sure! I’m grateful to Svetlana Ratsa, Polina Garanina, and Alexey Kondrakhin for the opportunity not just to have a wonderful time each month, but also to contribute, in a small way, to the great cause they created!"
Yulia Yasnova, allergist-immunologist, head of the Allergology Department at Paracelsus Clinic: "The opportunity to participate in MassOn Club games is truly a gift for me. Each game turns my Tuesday into a celebration, giving me that rare opportunity in adult life to devote two whole hours exclusively to something I simply enjoy, not to yet another boring 'must-do.' The atmosphere takes me back to childhood, when our whole family gathered in front of the TV, cheering not for the viewers but for our favorite experts from 'What? Where? When?', and my dad would shine with his erudition. Now, I dream of soon bringing my son to MassOn Club. Thank you to everyone involved in making this magic happen. I think it’s wonderful that such a joyful form of charity was born and is flourishing in our city."
Maria Povetkina, lawyer, regular club attendee and ambassador of MassOn Club: "MassOn Club is not just a game for me—it’s an important part of my life. I went to my very first meeting back in the first season and immediately fell in love! ‘Masons’ are always my priority: whatever else is happening in town, if it’s a MassOn Club Tuesday, I go to the game. I think it's the best event I’ve ever attended. First, the main goal is to help children. Second, you gain knowledge, develop, and discover something new—things you might never think about in your daily life. Alexey Kondrakhin creates amazing, thought-provoking questions that really make us grow. And the third unique feature is communication. Offline meetings are rare these days, but we have a whole community of people who want to make the world better, who connect, create, and strive for knowledge.
Thanks to the organizers: Polina Garanina, Alexey Kondrakhin, Svetlana Ratsa. By creating this project, they’ve given us the chance not just to help children but to experience target charity, when we read a letter and help a child living nearby. In fact, you come to help kids, but you actually gain so much yourself. The game teaches, pushes you forward, fills you with energy and positive emotions. Do I want to win? Of course! But the real winners here are the children we help together with the Russian Children’s Fund, while we’re already winners just by joining forces. This project is about the joy of the process and communication with interesting people who put everything aside to come to each new MassOn Club game."
Nina Kulinich, Head of Sales Department, ‘Akvarel’ Company: "I believe MassOn Club is a truly valuable tool in today’s world because it shows that anyone can do charity. Many don’t realize how easy it is to help those in need. Some don’t see the point or personal gain. But MassOn Club gives people the opportunity to participate in good deeds, connect with thoughtful, kind people, discover shared interests, create collaborations, and enjoy the intellectual game process. The energy and spirit the organizers create resonates with me deeply. The joy of participating and winning brings strong positive emotions that reach not only us, but also our families and coworkers. There are few sources of good energy today, but MassOn Club is one of them—a place where you can recharge, have fun, learn something new, compete, and contribute to the greater good. And that energy and love for the world, we pass on to society."
Egor Stepanov, Entrepreneur: "I've noticed that in Tyumen, and probably everywhere else, there is a lack of quality leisure activities for adults. MassOn Club provides a space where it's genuinely interesting to spend time and meet intriguing people. I enjoy the closed format and the people who attend the games. Each time, apart from the impression from the game, I also get a lot of pleasure from communicating with other participants. My first experience with MassOn Club was at the Winter Cup, where I was invited to join a team. To my surprise, we won first place, and I decided to keep playing and try to attend every meeting. I also subscribed to the Masons platform’s Telegram channel, where I answer questions to exercise my mind and prepare for the next tournament.
I especially appreciate that the questions focus more on logic than encyclopedic knowledge, which means no special preparation is needed. Invited guests often speak about their work or creativity, making every meeting unique. And, of course, I want to mention the charity aspect. This foundation, alongside enjoyable leisure, allows you to take part in a good cause—the Tyumen branch of the Russian Children’s Fund is trustworthy and respected. Our hosts, Polina and Alexey, are charismatic, intellectual, and talented—another highlight of the game. The excellent venue and buffet also contribute to a relaxed environment and easy networking."
Andrey Volkoedov, Director of Business Automation Bureau “I Ate the Wolf’s Bots”: "An intellectual game is a great event in itself. But when it also helps society and children, taking place in such a company, it becomes more than just an event—it’s a real occasion! I joined MassOn Club recently. It's a community of intellectuals, entrepreneurs, directors, founders, and business owners. As an entrepreneur, I enjoy being in such an environment—it develops you, gives you food for thought, and opens new opportunities. Connections and networking rule the world. MassOn Club offers the chance to get to know interesting people, gain new knowledge, and have a great time.
At one of the games, after our team won, we also participated in a detective quest, which challenged our creativity and emotions. I am glad Tyumen has such a community. Let's keep being clever and having fun together—let’s make our world a bit better and kinder."
Alexey Ogibalov, Financial Consultant, “Zetta Life Insurance”: "What does MassOn Club mean to me? It’s communication with smart people, new acquaintances, a chance to test my erudition, train my mind, and form new neural connections. It’s also charity—an opportunity to help others and do good. It’s important to remember that there are always people around who have it harder than you, and if you can, you should help. The club meetings are a tradition, a healthy habit, an internal necessity—like morning exercises. Thanks to the organizers—Polina Garanina, Svetlana Ratsa, Alexey Kondrakhin—for a project that lets you learn something new even in your own professional field, as happened to me in the game about insurance as a tool against various risks. Keep up the good work, and we’ll help you!"
Viktoriya Mamontova, PhD in Sociology, Associate Professor at Tyumen State University: “MassOn Club allows people from all walks of life—entrepreneurs and creative professionals—to realize their intellectual ambitions in a beautiful game format. What moves me most is that the project is charitable. Participation allows me to combine the urge to do good with having an interesting, intellectually stimulating time. Also, it must be said, my husband and I often play together, celebrate each other’s victories, and feel no competitiveness—rather, we support one another, making these games feel like intellectual dates. The event is aesthetically beautiful: the venue, the settings, the quiz rounds, and, of course, the organizers themselves—Polina Garanina, Alexey Kondrakhin, and Svetlana Ratsa. Beauty, intellect, and kindness—this is how I would describe these games.”
Natalia Demina, Chief Accountant: “I really like the business club’s charity format, because it’s both beneficial for the mind and helps children. I know there are similar activities where I live in Noyabrsk, but I’ve never seen such a successful combination of benefit and leisure. It’s about meeting interesting people, discussing important and surprising topics, and the element of randomness adds excitement. Every game is different because the teams are newly formed by drawing lots, and now even the captain is selected by rolling a die. When I move to Tyumen permanently, I plan not only to attend every meetup but also to join the online league. Thank you to the organizers for this exciting project, for letting us help children, and for the happy emotions we all share!”
Larisa Maksimova, Dermatocosmetologist: “I’m a regular participant. There’s a special atmosphere here, and the more I come, the more I look forward to seeing familiar faces. Meeting on game nights means forming emotional connections, not just formal ones. We’ve developed a group ethic—inside jokes, shared stories, and an emerging collective history, which is the foundation of true friendship. We’ve become a community, shaped by our demiurges—Polina Garanina, Alexey Kondrakhin, Svetlana Ratsa. I’m sure our communication will go beyond the games. What unites and keeps us together is our need to fill our lives with more than just pragmatic needs. The quality of our leisure is thanks to the organizers who’ve managed to unite those who need help with those who love intellectual charity games.”
Tatiana Rimkuvene, Psychologist, Coach, Management Consultant: “I first heard about MassOn Club through friends’ social media posts. I immediately took interest because I love mental challenges, and have adored ‘What? Where? When?’ since childhood! Thanks to the organizers—Polina Garanina, Alexey Kondrakhin, and Svetlana Ratsa—for the wonderful idea and realization of an intellectual business club. This is a unique project where transparent and effective charity is combined with the best club traditions. I highly respect the charity aspect. For me, participating in charitable events is a sensitive subject—I want to know my involvement is useful. With MassOn Club, charity is open and honest, and it’s a community of like-minded people. Many regulars are already friends, having shared victories together. Each MassOn Club game is about meeting friends! Before every meeting, I anticipate the warm atmosphere, friendly chat, and excitement of the game. But the victory is just the icing—it’s the game itself that’s the cake!”
If you would like the translation to continue from another specific place (for example, a particular person’s story or the beginning of a new section about the major tournaments), please point out the spot. Здесь продолжается перевод оттуда, где был завершён прошлый фрагмент:
If you wish to study, learn from the best! Every MassOn Club meeting is an engaging team quiz and an introduction to a 'wow-person'—someone recognized as an expert in their field. Often, these experts are also club participants representing various professions.
Inna Kuznetsova, CEO of the cleaning company Arierrа, guest expert and co-author of questions for the "Pure Mind" game: "The MassOn Club charity intellectual game is one of my favorite events, and I always look forward to it. I admire how Polina Garanina, Alexey Kondrakhin, and Svetlana Ratsa have created such an atmosphere where you compete and yet do it in an extremely friendly environment. When Alexey reads the question, as a team member, you listen to every detail and your mind starts racing. There’s only one minute for an answer, and so much drive, emotion, and adrenaline builds up, along with the pressure of responsibility... At the same time, it’s always nice to be presented as an expert. Moments like these make me realize my work in maintaining cleanliness is valued!"
Milya Ibragimova, director of the Academy of Psychological Practice, crisis psychologist, question author, and head of the judging council of the "Psychology and Life" game: "I was delighted to take part in the event. Strengthening social connections is one of the key factors in mental health. Each of you brings the idea of closeness and acceptance to life, and this is a trend worth spreading further!"
Vladimir Brynskiy (Karovets – @Majestic_72): auto blogger, auto expert, creator of CAR72.RU, co-author of "Life in Motion": "As a guest and head judge at the MassOn Club charitable intellectual game, it was my first time playing this role. I'm usually a team player and, on several occasions, our team won. This round was about cars, driving, inventions, and innovations. I developed the majority of the questions myself, inspired by personal experience and automotive history. It was exciting watching the players reason, debate, and celebrate when they got it right. After the game, many participants came up to me to thank me for the challenging questions. I learned I’m more of a player at heart, but being on the other side of the game was a valuable experience. Special thanks to everyone who organizes this event. The project helps not only to make new contacts and gain positive emotions, but it also carries a noble mission—all the entry fees go to help children. Someday, I hope every child will have a loving family. Meanwhile, the world becomes a little brighter and children much happier thanks to the MassOn Club team: Alexey Kondrakhin, Polina Garanina, and Svetlana Ratsa."