Maxim Vavulin is a Russian chess Grandmaster who was born on April 25, 1995 in the city of Novorossiysk. He earned his International Master in 2009 and Grandmaster in 2013. He has competed in many chess competitions in Europe and Asia and has represented Russia in several high-profile tournaments.

Vavulin won the Russian Rapid Grand Prix stage in 2015. In 2016, he finished first in the World University Chess Championship. Later that year, he participated in the Chess World Cup, receiving a wildcard invitation as the World University Chess Champion. Although he was eliminated in the second round, his participation helped establish his international reputation.

In 2018, Vavulin won the Russian Rapid Grand Prix again, and placed first at the St Louis Winter Classic B-group. He has demonstrated a thoughtful style of play and is known for his ability to win in unfavorable positions.

In addition to his chess career, Vavulin is a graduate of the Moscow State Institute of Radiotechnics, Electronics and Automation (MIREA), where he studied economics. He balances his chess career with his professional career in economics.