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GM Volodar MURZIN

Russia

Born on July 18, 2006, in Nizhny Tagil

Elo std: 2658
Rapid: 2637
Blitz: 2657

GMT: –
MTO: –
 
Biography
Volodar Arturovich Murzin was born on July 18, 2006, in Nizhny Tagil, a city in Russia’s Ural Mountains. His early life was marked by significant hardship due to an abusive father, whose violent behavior—including physical punishment for losses and forced training sessions until the early hours—cast a shadow over his childhood. At age seven, Volodar developed an interest in chess spontaneously during a trial lesson at a school club. Initially hesitant, the coach asked him to learn the pieces and rules, a task his father assisted with despite later using chess as a tool for control. Volodar balanced chess with soccer until his family’s circumstances shifted dramatically.
In 2017, at age 11, after winning the European Youth U12 Championship, Volodar and his mother, Ekaterina, along with his four sisters (Agata, Adelina, Ruzanna, and Rimma), fled over 1,000 kilometers to Khimki, near Moscow, escaping his father’s abuse. The family settled into a modest 50-square-meter two-room apartment, starting anew with minimal resources—sometimes lacking even food or beds. Supported by the Prof Chess Club in Khimki and coach Grandmaster Mikhail Kobalia, who began training him in 2017, Volodar’s talent flourished. Despite a ban imposed by his father preventing international travel as a minor, his mother’s determination and private sponsorship sustained his career. Now 18, Volodar has severed ties with his father and emerged as one of Russia’s brightest chess talents.
Chess Successes
Volodar Murzin’s chess career is a story of resilience and rapid ascent, culminating in his status as a grandmaster and the 2024 World Rapid Chess Champion. Here are his key achievements:
  • Early Achievements: Volodar’s talent surfaced early. In 2016, at age 10, he won the European Youth U10 Championship. In 2018, he claimed the U12 title at the same event in Riga, drawing with Jakub Chyzy in the final round to secure victory, marking him as a prodigy.
  • Titles Progression:
    • FIDE Master (FM): Earned in 2017 at age 11, a testament to his swift progress.
    • International Master (IM): Achieved in 2019 at 13, just two years later, following strong performances in international tournaments.
    • Grandmaster (GM): Attained in 2022 at 16, three years after his IM title, with norms from consistent high-level play, including the Russian Higher League.
  • National Successes:
    • 2020 Russian Junior Championship: Won his first national title on December 8, 2020, at age 14, establishing himself among Russia’s top young players.
    • 2023 Russian Junior Championship: Shared first place with Arseniy Nesterov, scoring 6.5/9 (4 wins, 5 draws, 0 losses), securing his second junior national title.
  • World Rapid Chess Champion 2024: Volodar’s crowning achievement came on December 28, 2024, in New York. At 18, he won the World Rapid Chess Championship with an unbeaten 10/13 (+7 =6 -0), defeating Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, and R. Praggnanandhaa. His penultimate-round win against Praggnanandhaa, featuring a stunning king march, and a final-round draw against Karen H. Grigoryan clinched the title. He became the second-youngest rapid world champion in history, behind Nodirbek Abdusattorov (17 in 2021).
  • Other Notable Performances:
    • Chess World Cup 2021: Seeded 151st, he reached the second round before losing to Vladislav Artemiev in a tiebreak, a strong showing at 14.
    • Julius Baer Challengers Chess Tour 2021: Finished 4th, competing against top young talents.
    • Russian Championship Superfinals 2022: As the lowest-rated player (2541), he placed 3rd-5th, outperforming expectations.
    • Sharjah Masters 2023: Tied for 35th with 4.5/9 (1 win, 7 draws, 1 loss), gaining experience in a competitive field.
    • World Blitz Championship 2024: Finished 8th in the Swiss stage, qualifying for the knockout rounds, where he lost to Ian Nepomniachtchi in the quarterfinals.
Volodar’s style is dynamic and fearless, reflecting his ability to thrive under pressure—a trait forged by his challenging upbringing. Despite limited support from the Russian Chess Federation, which he and Kobalia have criticized, his successes stem from family resilience and private backing. At 18 in 2025, the new Rapid World Champion will be keen to take a decisive step towards the top at Biel Chess Festival.