- Yuliya Sabadyshyna, Люди Твого міста: Марія Музичук про шахи і любов до Львова (City People: Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk’s love for chess and Lviv), Tvoemisto.tv, September 30, 2015
City People: Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk’s love for chess and Lviv
Maria Olehivna Muzychuk is called Ukrainian chess Queen.
She was born and raised in Stryi, but in the heart she belongs to Lviv.
In her 23 she is an International Grandmaster and the fifteenth Women’s World Chess Champion.
Interviewed by Yuliya Sabadyshyna for Tvoemisto.tv, Maria Olehivna Muzychuk spoke about who taught her to play chess, how many hours a day she devotes to chess, how to celebrate a victory and go through a defeat, and when a child should learn the moves.
The “Chess” Family Muzychuk
Very soon my parents decided that chess should have been my life’s work. And so it happened. Mom and Dad played chess very well and they are Honoured Coaches of Ukraine. They mainly work with children as coaches in youth sports schools. I have a sister, Anna, two-and-a-half years older than me. Just like me, she is an International Grandmaster. My parents taught us to play chess at the same age: first my sister, and then me.
I started very early to play chess, at two years. Obviously, in this age I hardly understood anything. Honestly, I don’t even remember how it happened. My parents told us that it was something that caught my eye and distracted me. I was about 10 years old when I seriously took up chess. Since then I studied it regularly several hours each day.
We rarely play each other in the family circle. It’s not so interesting. With my sister perhaps I can play a blitz game to decide who should wash the dishes (laughs). More often, we take part in official tournaments, where there is a real competition.
Maria Olehivna Muzychuk is called Ukrainian chess Queen.
She was born and raised in Stryi, but in the heart she belongs to Lviv.
In her 23 she is an International Grandmaster and the fifteenth Women’s World Chess Champion.
Interviewed by Yuliya Sabadyshyna for Tvoemisto.tv, Maria Olehivna Muzychuk spoke about who taught her to play chess, how many hours a day she devotes to chess, how to celebrate a victory and go through a defeat, and when a child should learn the moves.
The “Chess” Family Muzychuk
Very soon my parents decided that chess should have been my life’s work. And so it happened. Mom and Dad played chess very well and they are Honoured Coaches of Ukraine. They mainly work with children as coaches in youth sports schools. I have a sister, Anna, two-and-a-half years older than me. Just like me, she is an International Grandmaster. My parents taught us to play chess at the same age: first my sister, and then me.
I started very early to play chess, at two years. Obviously, in this age I hardly understood anything. Honestly, I don’t even remember how it happened. My parents told us that it was something that caught my eye and distracted me. I was about 10 years old when I seriously took up chess. Since then I studied it regularly several hours each day.
We rarely play each other in the family circle. It’s not so interesting. With my sister perhaps I can play a blitz game to decide who should wash the dishes (laughs). More often, we take part in official tournaments, where there is a real competition.
Her gifted youth in chess
I rarely attended school lessons, I always followed an individual program plan, so distinct tests were handed over before and after my chess tournaments. Teachers were indulgent to me, because they understood how important it was for me. I have to thank them all. My victory in the Ukrainian Girls Chess Championship Under-10 gave me the opportunity to participate in the World Youth Chess Championship. It gave me strenght and whatever.
I was listening for hours to my sister’s tales about her trips abroad to various chess tournaments. I was listening, and thinking: “When will I go too?”. Eventually it happened. I’m glad I could too. I had never been abroad before, so I felt incredibly happy. Since then I always struggled to play as much as possible, with a “full immersion” in all tournaments, both national and international.
I rarely attended school lessons, I always followed an individual program plan, so distinct tests were handed over before and after my chess tournaments. Teachers were indulgent to me, because they understood how important it was for me. I have to thank them all. My victory in the Ukrainian Girls Chess Championship Under-10 gave me the opportunity to participate in the World Youth Chess Championship. It gave me strenght and whatever.
I was listening for hours to my sister’s tales about her trips abroad to various chess tournaments. I was listening, and thinking: “When will I go too?”. Eventually it happened. I’m glad I could too. I had never been abroad before, so I felt incredibly happy. Since then I always struggled to play as much as possible, with a “full immersion” in all tournaments, both national and international.
The “five or six hours” and how to escape
The feeling of true chess delight depends on the results. We must win in order to encourage ourselves to work more thoroughly. I study chess every day, for five or six hours. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough time to cultivate all my various interests. Although I love to read, spend time with friends, listening to music. It relaxes me.
When you play chess, you must be wholly concentrated. So you have to conciliate yourself before of playing. Everyone has his own recipe. I, for example, used to take a 20-minute walk. And after the game... it depends on the result. When you win, then, of course, you feel euphoric and you’re in a good mood. I want to stay in the company, and I would talk and talk. When you lose, of course, you need time to be alone and nobody to bother you. After losing a game I “disappear” for ten minutes and then I’m usually able to appear again. Defeat was clearly frustrating, but I’m not one of those people who get crazy after losing a game.
The feeling of true chess delight depends on the results. We must win in order to encourage ourselves to work more thoroughly. I study chess every day, for five or six hours. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough time to cultivate all my various interests. Although I love to read, spend time with friends, listening to music. It relaxes me.
When you play chess, you must be wholly concentrated. So you have to conciliate yourself before of playing. Everyone has his own recipe. I, for example, used to take a 20-minute walk. And after the game... it depends on the result. When you win, then, of course, you feel euphoric and you’re in a good mood. I want to stay in the company, and I would talk and talk. When you lose, of course, you need time to be alone and nobody to bother you. After losing a game I “disappear” for ten minutes and then I’m usually able to appear again. Defeat was clearly frustrating, but I’m not one of those people who get crazy after losing a game.
Her emotions after the coronation and the title of “Lviv Citizen of the Year”
After winning the World Championship I had a lot of emotions. I can’t even describe all of them! I remember after the last move had been played, everyone started hugging me. There were a lot of cameras all around. People came and congratulated, called for interview. Earlier, I also had a lot of interviews. But when I arrived in town after the World Championship, I saw so many cameras, as never seen before. I’m grateful to all those who gave me a surprise. A lot of people. An avalanche of flowers. Such unforgettable emotions!
Immediately after the World Championship many Lviv citizens recognized me down the street, they approached, welcomed me. Pleasant, unexpected, like everything. I remember I was walking down the street, when a woman stopped me and asked me: “Are you the World Champion?”. I answered yes. And she said: “God, such a joy! Congratulations”.
It was delightful to be awarded with the title of “Lviv Citizen of the Year”. For me it’s important. When I lived in Stryi, I already knew I should have been adapting myself to life in town. It has been a long time since I felt like I belong to Lviv. I studied five years at the Lviv State University of Physical Culture. I am accustomed here and I love the town. I like Liberty Avenue and Market Square. They used to be my favourite places, where I often walk and spend time with friends.
After winning the World Championship I had a lot of emotions. I can’t even describe all of them! I remember after the last move had been played, everyone started hugging me. There were a lot of cameras all around. People came and congratulated, called for interview. Earlier, I also had a lot of interviews. But when I arrived in town after the World Championship, I saw so many cameras, as never seen before. I’m grateful to all those who gave me a surprise. A lot of people. An avalanche of flowers. Such unforgettable emotions!
Immediately after the World Championship many Lviv citizens recognized me down the street, they approached, welcomed me. Pleasant, unexpected, like everything. I remember I was walking down the street, when a woman stopped me and asked me: “Are you the World Champion?”. I answered yes. And she said: “God, such a joy! Congratulations”.
It was delightful to be awarded with the title of “Lviv Citizen of the Year”. For me it’s important. When I lived in Stryi, I already knew I should have been adapting myself to life in town. It has been a long time since I felt like I belong to Lviv. I studied five years at the Lviv State University of Physical Culture. I am accustomed here and I love the town. I like Liberty Avenue and Market Square. They used to be my favourite places, where I often walk and spend time with friends.
The World Chess Championship in Ukraine and a new Women’s Champion from Lviv
After the World Championship in Krasnaya Polyana, I had a meeting with Petro Oleksiyovych Poroshenko, during which I expressed the wish that the Women’s World Chess Championship match was held in Ukraine. The President gave me credit for the idea. I’m confident that Lviv has all the credentials for holding in the best possible way the Women’s World Chess Championship match scheduled for March 2016.
Then I’d notice the other good news for our town — Nataliya Igorivna Buksa from Lviv became World Girls Chess Champion Under-20. So, congratulations. I followed her tournament. Especially her last game. On various occasions Nataliya Igorivna refused a draw because in that moment such a result would not have secured her the first place. She kept playing at the cost of slightly worsening her position, but she made the correct volitional decision. Nataliya deserved to win.
After the World Championship in Krasnaya Polyana, I had a meeting with Petro Oleksiyovych Poroshenko, during which I expressed the wish that the Women’s World Chess Championship match was held in Ukraine. The President gave me credit for the idea. I’m confident that Lviv has all the credentials for holding in the best possible way the Women’s World Chess Championship match scheduled for March 2016.
Then I’d notice the other good news for our town — Nataliya Igorivna Buksa from Lviv became World Girls Chess Champion Under-20. So, congratulations. I followed her tournament. Especially her last game. On various occasions Nataliya Igorivna refused a draw because in that moment such a result would not have secured her the first place. She kept playing at the cost of slightly worsening her position, but she made the correct volitional decision. Nataliya deserved to win.
The Lviv chess “crowd”
Lviv chess school is known worldwide for its excellence. It produced more than 20 Grandmasters. Very few towns throughout the world can claim such high achievement. In fact, all players I know in town are Grandmasters. Occasionally we meet together, play blitz games on the way to chess club, or rather – just on the way...
We had a chess club in Lviv, but as it happens the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv “expropriated” us. At one time we regularly gathered there for playing tournaments. When I lived in Stryi, and tournaments were in Lviv, I joyfully bore an hour and a half to Lviv. I wanted so much to play here! Unfortunately, our club has been “expropriated”. Sometimes we still gather there, but now it’s just a room.
Lviv chess school is known worldwide for its excellence. It produced more than 20 Grandmasters. Very few towns throughout the world can claim such high achievement. In fact, all players I know in town are Grandmasters. Occasionally we meet together, play blitz games on the way to chess club, or rather – just on the way...
We had a chess club in Lviv, but as it happens the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv “expropriated” us. At one time we regularly gathered there for playing tournaments. When I lived in Stryi, and tournaments were in Lviv, I joyfully bore an hour and a half to Lviv. I wanted so much to play here! Unfortunately, our club has been “expropriated”. Sometimes we still gather there, but now it’s just a room.
When a child should start to play chess
Many parents ask me when a child is ready to start the daily workout. Much depends on the character of the child. Children usually are patient, persistent, emotional, and very restless. Within two months, you should already have noticed certain attitudes: whether she/he likes it, whether she/he is able to calculate in advance.
If, before the age of 5-6 years years, the child show the skills and gifts, you should push her/him to seriously take up the study of chess. In a few years – who knows – she/he could even become World Champion!
Interview by Yuliya Sabadyshyna
Photos by Andrey Polikovsky
English translation by I, Robot
Many parents ask me when a child is ready to start the daily workout. Much depends on the character of the child. Children usually are patient, persistent, emotional, and very restless. Within two months, you should already have noticed certain attitudes: whether she/he likes it, whether she/he is able to calculate in advance.
If, before the age of 5-6 years years, the child show the skills and gifts, you should push her/him to seriously take up the study of chess. In a few years – who knows – she/he could even become World Champion!
Interview by Yuliya Sabadyshyna
Photos by Andrey Polikovsky
English translation by I, Robot
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