It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World

On Saturday, April 9, 2016, Kiev National Academic Theatre of Operetta hosted the 10th “Heroes of Sports Year Awards Ceremony”. Former Women’s World Chess Champion Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk was awarded the Oscar for Best Sportswoman “Together with Olympians (non-Olympic sports)”.

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk. Photo: Oleg Batrak/SPORT bigmir)net.

On the same occasion, Mariya Olehivna, who was accompanied to Kiev by her mother Natalia, gave an interview to sport.segodnya.ua, in which he talked about her life before and her life after the Women’s World Chess Championship match with 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) from China. In spite of defeat, Mariya Olehivna did not lose her good mood. “As for the match, nothing so tragic happened. Next Women’s World Chess Championship tournament should likely take place just before the end of the year, and I and my sister will do our best to get the crown back”. Then she unveiled the secret of her new wardrobe: “I went shopping with my mom and my sister. I hope the audience appreciated it”. She cannot escape the shadow of regret for having had to renounce her sweetness weaknesses: “During the match I didn’t have any time for anything but chess. I had to concentrate on every game. Yet I know that the town staged a variety of highlighting events. For instance, there was a Chocolate Festival. I love chocolate so much, that’s one of my weaknesses. I want to praise the ‘Lviv Chocolate Festival’, I’m crazy about it. I enjoy it as often as I can”. Asked about her future plans, she’s confirmed that both her and her sister will take part in the third stage of the Women’s Grand Prix in Batumi, Georgia, from 19 April to 3 May 2016. Mariya Olehivna’s mom, too, is caught in the fairy tale. She recalls Mariya Olehivna’s coronation procession in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia. The magic crown. “It was made of plastic, and I always feel ashamed to show Mariya Olehivna’s crown”, Mrs. Natalia Muzychuk said. And finally, the mother of all questions to Mariya Olehivna –– Did you already decide how to spend your prizemoney? The answer is never: “Well, I’ll tell you, I haven’t yet received my prizemoney, so I don't think about it”.

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk walking with her mother Natalia in Kiev. Photo: sport.segodnya.ua