[2] Tikhonov first competed with partner Irina Saifutdinova for the Soviet Union and, after the dissolution, for Russia.

They won the bronze medal at the 1989 World Junior Figure Skating Championships for the Soviet Union.

[2] He teamed up with Japanese pair skater Yukiko Kawasaki and competed with her representing Japan.

They competed internationally together, winning the bronze medal at the 1993 NHK Trophy and placing 15th at the 1994 World Championships.

[2] He started to miss competitive skating and when Maria Petrova's coach called, he agreed to compete with her.

Petrova and Tikhonov announced they would retire after the 2006 Worlds, but at the request of the Russian Skating Federation they later agreed to remain eligible for another year.