Volodar Murzin made headlines close on the heels of D Gukesh in December 2024. Two weeks after the Indian emerged the youngest-ever world champion in the classical format, the Russian became the second-youngest in rapid.
Things changed fast. Gukesh hardly stayed at home in 2025, lost count of how many tournaments he played, suffered a dip in terms of ratings, but still retained his place in the top 10 in classical. Murzin is not even in the top 100 in rapid rankings.
The 19-plus is in Kolkata for Tata Steel Chess India. “I lost almost 40 ranking points because I didn’t do well in the two events I played last year,” Murzin said in a chat with RevSportz after the draw of the rapid and blitz event. “That’s all I played in 2025. I took part in the German league (as a professional), but in terms of tournaments, it was two.”
That is too insufficient a number for a player to get better. Speaking about this to him and his coach, Mikhail Kobalia, leads to a reality which is different from the landscape of Indian teenagers. According to them, problems related to funds and resources, internal and external politics run deep into the Russian system and impede the progress of players.
“There are not many rapid and blitz tournaments for top players in the circuit. That’s a problem in itself,” noted Kobalia. “And due to political reasons, it’s not possible to get entries everywhere. When it comes to funds, he (Murzin) gets nothing from the federation.”
Things have come to such that they have started thinking about switching federations, which means representing another country. Many chess players from Russia and other countries of the former Soviet bloc have taken that route in search of greener pastures.
“It’s difficult to carry on like this if I have to become a stronger player. I need money for that. But I have not received assistance (from the establishment),” said the youngster. Asked about the way out of this, he didn’t think twice. “You have to change federations.”
The coach was quick to point out how different it is in countries where winners in top-level chess are treated as national heroes. “The President of Uzbekistan called up their player (Javokhir Sindarov) after he won the World Cup (in Goa last year). We saw the reception he got.”
If Kobalia is to be believed, his ward’s experience was different. “His mother approached the federation for assistance, to play, train, travel and everything else,” he said. “She has four daughters as well. The federation felt he (Murzin) is not deserving enough and said no.”
The reward for success can be different due to multiple factors. Sindarov got a state reception. Gukesh and Divya Deshmukh became national icons and got showered with honours and opportunities. Another world champion of the same age is playing a waiting game, where his turn hardly comes.
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