Player Profile: Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk

Full Name: Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk  

Peak FIDE Rating: 2563 (July 2015)  

Active Since: 2004  

Federation: Ukraine  

Player Description: In the year 2015, a 22-year-old Ukrainian chess player had just stunned the world by defeating the formidable Russian Woman’s Grandmaster Natalia Pogonina with incredible tactics and relentless precision. Mariya Muzychuk’s victory wasn’t just a personal triumph; Through it, the world recognized the rise of this baby-faced assassin who would annihilate your position through her tactical prowess. 

The chess world is famous for producing grandmaster siblings. The Polgar sisters, Khadilkar sisters, and Rameshbabu siblings are all incredibly decorated siblings in chess; however, the list remains incomplete without mentioning the Ukrainian chess sisters Mariya Muzychuk and Anna Muzychuk. Born in the year 1992, Mariya is the younger sister of Ukrainian Grandmaster Anna Muzychuk, whose own career is also extremely ornamental. 

Just like her elder sister, Mariya Muzychuk’s formal chess training started at the tender age of two. A duo of chess coaches as parents and a grand master elder sister meant Mariya did not have any other choice but to carry forward the family legacy. And that she did with style by achieving the Women's Grandmaster title at the age of just 12, also clinching the grandmaster norm just 10 years later. Her career has been full of individual and group successes over the board. 

Mariya is known for her tactical prowess. She can turn the tide in her favor from an inferior positional standing through cheeky tactics. Her unpredictable gameplay makes her a joy to watch and a nightmare to face. In openings, just like her sister, Mariya prefers to go for a King's pawn opening for white. While playing for black, she prefers either a Sicilian setup or a semi-Slav. 

Career Scorecard:  

World Championship Cycle Appearances: 2015 (Champion), 2016 (Candidate), 2018 (Candidate), 2023 (Candidate)  

National Championships: Ukrainian Women’s Champion (2012, 2013)  

Olympiad Medals: Gold (2022), Silver (2018), Bronze (2012, 2014, 2016) 

Tournaments Won: Women’s World Chess Championship (2015)

Memorable Games:  

1. Mariya Muzychuk vs. Koneru Humpy (2015 World Championship) – Mariya played with the white pieces and started the match with her signature E4, which turned into a scotch game of classical variation. Mariya marched her king’s pawn forward to decisively seize black’s position. In the face of relentless pressure Humpy’s defense crumbled and finally a beautiful queen sacrifice from Muzychuk sealed Humpy’s fate leading to her resignation from the match. 

2. Mariya Muzychuk vs. Nona Gaprindashvili (2012) - On this occasion, Muzychuk started with a rare D4 opening which turned into a Sicilian defense: Smith Morra gambit variation. During the middle game, Muzychuk traded her rook for a bishop to open up the black position and hunted her king to the corner of the board with a mate on the horizon which prompted Nona’s resignation. 

Both of the matches showcased Muzychuk’s incredible tactical prowess and aggressive gameplay, which more often than not favors her.