 Makogonov was five-time champion of Azerbaijan from 1947 to 1952 and played in eight USSR Championships between 1927 and 1947, his best result being fourth in 1937 and a tie for fourth place in 1939. Notable tournament results include a tie for third place at Leningrad–Moscow 1939 behind Salo Flohr and Samuel Reshevsky, and second place at Sverdlovsk 1943 behind Mikhail Botvinnik, but ahead of Vasily Smyslov and Isaac Boleslavsky.In 1942, he defeated Salo Flohr in a twelve-game match held in Baku by a score of 7½–4½.He played on Board 9 in the 1945 USSR–USA radio match, beating Abraham Kupchik 1½–½.