From Pain to Victory: Volodar Murzin’s Unforgettable Journey to World Champion

“Becoming a world champion was my childhood dream.” - Volodar Murzin

When 18-year-old Volodar Murzin finished his final game at the World Rapid Chess Championship, he had no idea that he had just made his childhood dream a reality. The handshakes and congratulations came fast, but he wanted to double-check everything before jumping to any conclusions.

When the realization set in that he was the new world champion, his joy surged, and that moment — in New York City — became one of the most unforgettable of his life. Five years prior, the internet had shared a video of him, just 13 years old, crying after blundering his last game at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships. Now, that same footage was circulating once again, but this time the narrative was different: from a painful loss to a spectacular win.

Photos by ChessBase India (left) and Michal Walusza / FIDE (right)

For Volodar, whose life had been filled with more struggles than most people will ever experience, becoming world champion wasn’t just a career achievement. It was a testament to his perseverance, his ability to rise above life’s hardships, and his relentless dedication to his dream of becoming a chess champion.

After returning from the World Rapid and Blitz Championships, we had the opportunity to catch up with Volodar and hear about his journey to the title, his favorite games, and how he managed to stay unbeaten through two consecutive World Rapid Championships. We also touched on his personal life and how the unwavering support of his mother allowed him to pursue his passion for chess, even as he endured an incredibly abusive upbringing.

The Beginning of the Journey: Overcoming Early Struggles

Volodar’s chess journey began by pure coincidence. One day, while staying after school for extracurricular activities, he happened to pass by the chess room and saw some kids moving pieces on a chessboard. “To be honest, I didn’t even know what it was back then,” Volodar recalled. “But I really liked it, so I asked my mom to enroll me in the club.” 

However, things weren’t that easy. His father was vehemently against it, calling chess “the devil’s game.” And even when his mother supported his passion and decided to take Volodar and the eldest of his sisters to the chess club, it turned out that the club was already full of boys and only accepted girls at that time. So while his sister joined, Volodar had to learn the game elsewhere.

Luckily, his grandfather, who was a second-rank player (equivalent to around 1800 rating), was eager to teach him. Volodar quickly outgrew his grandfather’s lessons, but their time together was formative, with his grandfather still following Volodar’s progress and supporting him to this day.

However, chess competitions soon became a matter of survival soon. While for most children, playing was the fun part in chess, for Volodar it was a battleground. Every time he lost, it wasn’t just the disappointment of failure he had to bear, but the brutal physical punishment imposed by his father. The game became a relentless struggle to avoid losing, as the consequences at home were severe.

Following the ignorant comments on the internet that suggested his father’s abusive approach was somehow the key to his success, Volodar decided to open up about the abuse he endured. In interviews with championat.com and ChessMaster, he revealed the grim reality of his childhood — from a young age, he was subjected to regular beatings, forced to train for hours beyond what was normal, sometimes until 4 AM, and endured verbal threats both before and during his games. 

After four years of suffering and mistreatment, Volodar’s life took a pivotal turn when he received an invitation to join Sergey Nesterov's Prof Chess Club in Khimki, following his victory at the European Youth Championship. This invitation became a way out for Volodar and his siblings, who had endured the abuse alongside him. Their mom made the difficult decision to leave their home in Nizhny Tagil, taking Volodar and his eldest sister to a service apartment in Khimki, where they found a measure of safety. Later, she also managed to bring the two younger daughters to join them, and although the apartment was small, it provided them with the security and peace they had long been deprived of.

Photo from the personal archive of Volodar Murzin 

“I believe parents should generally support their children, even when they don't succeed. Sometimes children go through stagnation and have no good results. This is when they need support the most, because they're children and do not understand well enough why they fail. So parents' support is especially important at such moments. And to children, I would advise them to never give up. It just takes time to succeed. Their results and success also depends on their parents' support.” - Volodar Murzin on how parents and children should react to chess competitions.

Two Years of Lost Opportunity

After moving to their new apartment, Volodar began training intensively with his new coach, GM Mikhail Kobalia, whom he had met during his successful World Youth Championship run. But just as things were finally starting to look up, he faced an unexpected turn of events.

In a twisted attempt to exert control over Volodar’s life and to demand payment for his own rent, Volodar’s father imposed a ban that prevented him from leaving Russia as a minor to compete internationally. For 14-year-old Volodar, this was a devastating shock, especially since he was so close to qualifying for his third and final GM norm. While the rest of the world was emerging from the Covid-19 lockdown and returning to over-the-board tournaments, Volodar found himself unable to participate in any of them.

Despite being restricted from traveling and competing internationally, Volodar didn’t give up on his training. However, the absence of strong international tournaments made it hard to stay motivated. “It was hard without tournaments; there were moments when I felt completely defeated,” he admitted. “Training is important, but you also need practice to apply what you’ve learned. It was a very difficult period, and there were times when I honestly didn’t know how I could keep going. But somehow, we pushed through it.”

Eventually, with the help of his coach Mikhail Kobalia, Volodar’s mother managed to lift the ban, and he could return to the international circuit. Those two years without competition, at an age when young players experience some of the most rapid growth in their careers, had cost him valuable opportunities. Yet, he was able to get back on track.

Photo by Lennart Ootes / FIDE

A Stellar Performance At The World Rapid And Blitz Chess Championships

Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Praggnanandhaa, and Jan-Krzysztof Duda are some of the impressive names Volodar had to face and defeat in the World Rapid Championship. Despite the intense competition, Volodar finished the event undefeated, with 7 wins and 6 draws, achieving an impressive performance rating of 2881 and gaining nearly 50 Elo points.

"Some luck was involved, of course," Volodar reflected on his victory. "For example, against Praggnanandhaa, I had a losing position, but he made a mistake. That game played a big role in my final standings. Also, my time management helped. Out of 13 games, I had a time advantage in at least 9 or 10. I just played calmly."

One of the standout moments of the tournament was his stunning win against Fabiano Caruana — a victory that Volodar considers his personal favorite.

Another key factor in his success was Volodar’s use of the London System, a solid and reliable opening that proved to be especially effective in faster time controls. As Volodar explained, playing rapid and blitz requires a clear and simple plan, avoiding unnecessary complications. He attributes much of his unbeaten streak in two consecutive World Rapid Championships to this opening:

"When I was preparing for the World Rapid and Blitz Championship in Samarkand, I already had the idea to play the London system. I used it this year as well. To me, it's an ideal opening for rapid and blitz because White has a straightforward plan, and Black can easily get into trouble if they don’t know how to respond correctly… Sure, many players now know how to react and equalize, but even so, you can still pose problems for Black with it."

Photo by Michal Walusza / FIDE

While his triumph in the Rapid event was extraordinary, Volodar wasn’t done yet. In the Blitz event, he continued his strong performance, making it to the knockout stage as one of just eight players out of nearly 200 participants. In the knockout rounds, he faced his compatriot and two-time World Championship challenger, Ian Nepomniachtchi, who ultimately defeated Volodar before going on to share 1st place with Magnus Carlsen.

“I knew I didn’t have much experience, especially in the knockout format. I was hopeful, but honestly, I was pretty nervous,” Volodar admitted. “Plus, I had to play against Ian, who is such an experienced fighter, and also a fellow Russian. I think if I’d faced someone else, I would’ve had a better chance, probably.”

Despite his defeat, Volodar’s performance was remarkable. He earned around 25 rating points and a $20,000 prize. Here’s a look at one of his favorite blitz victories:

The Road Ahead and A Message for the Fans

Volodar's remarkable performance at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships not only earned him a prestigious title and financial reward, but also opened the door to a wealth of exciting opportunities. Invitations to major tournaments are now flooding in, including the ongoing AL-BERUNIY Masters event, the prestigious Biel Chess Festival, and top club championships in Italy and France. With such an exciting future ahead, 2025 is shaping up to be a year of tremendous growth and achievement for the young champion.

"I’m very grateful for all the support I’ve received," Volodar shared, reflecting on his growing fanbase. "It’s really heartwarming to see people cheering me on, and I appreciate it more than words can say."

As he looks toward a packed schedule in 2025, Volodar remains focused on further success. His journey — from a young boy who faced unimaginable hardships to becoming a world chess champion — stands as a powerful reminder of the strength found in perseverance, talent, and unwavering support.

The world will certainly be watching as this young champion continues to carve his path in the world of chess.