Mariya Muzychuk is a Ukrainian chess player who gained the title of Grandmaster in 2015 after winning the Women's World Chess Championship. She was born on 21st September, 1992, in Lviv, Ukraine and her younger sister Anna is also a well-respected chess Grandmaster.
Muzychuk learnt chess at the age of two and started training seriously from six. Her father is a professional chess coach and nurtured both his daughters' skills. At the age of 10, Muzychuk played her first chess championship and has since achieved numerous victories in national and international competitions.
Throughout her career, Muzychuk has achieved impressive feats. She won first in the U16 Girls' section of the World Youth Chess Championship, earned the silver medal in the Women's European Individual Chess Championship, contributed significantly to Ukraine's team victories in the Women's Chess Olympiads, and won the 2014 Women's World Rapid Championship.
In 2015, Muzychuk won the Women's World Chess Championship. She qualified for the world championship by first winning the knock-out FIDE Women's Grand Prix in 2013/2014. Later that year, she received the title of Grandmaster from FIDE (the international chess federation).
Muzychuk is well known for her preparation and determination in chess, focusing on a strategy to maximize her advantages and minimize her weaknesses. She is currently among the top female chess players in the world.