Volodymyr Vusatiuk IM

Volodymyr Vusatiuk - The International Master Unveiled

In the vast kingdom of 64 squares, where pawns boldly march and kings sneakily lurk, there exists a warrior known by the formal title of International Master — Volodymyr Vusatiuk, or as the chess world fondly calls him, Gumugama.

From humble beginnings in blitz battles to tactical jousts in rapid games, Volodymyr has danced through time controls like a rook on an open file. His blitz rating peaked impressively at 2353 in September 2024, showcasing a deadly knack for quick calculation and nerve.

Known for a near-poetic endgame finesse—he plays long games, averaging 72 moves to victory, proving patience is truly a virtue on the board. Despite a tilt factor of 7 (because even masters lose their cool sometimes), his comeback rate of 91.72% turns many losing positions into thrilling victories. When down a piece, don’t count him out; he clinches wins nearly 44% of the time after such setbacks.

Volodymyr’s opening repertoire is shrouded in mystery—aptly classified as “Top Secret” for most of his 296 appearances—though he does flirt with the Caro-Kann Defense, especially the Two Knights Attack, where his win rate holds steady at around 50%. Occasionally, he spices things up with variations of the Sicilian and Alapin Sicilian, earning perfect scores in rare showdowns.

When asked about his favorite hour to play, he cheekily replies, “8 AM sharp—because who doesn’t love crushing foes before breakfast?” And the stats back it up: a flawless 100% win rate at that early hour.

His attitude toward opponents is... selective. Some suffer a 100% defeat record against him, while others have ruthlessly exposed his defenses. His favorite archrivals include orly1986 and adziugan, whom he has faced multiple times with varying fortunes.

Recent Adventures

In his latest tournament escapade on May 27, 2025, at the Early Titled Tuesday Blitz, Gumugama showed his trademark resilience and tactical awareness, securing wins against formidable opponents like ab-lsv and aidannoo in sharp Caro-Kann battles, ending with graceful resignations – because why waste time when victory's in sight?

Of course, every hero faces setbacks. A recent loss came after a tough Nimzo-Indian clash, lost on time — a gentle reminder that even International Masters sometimes mismanage the clock amidst their cerebral storms.

Off the board, Volodymyr’s playful spirit might just inspire a new chess variant – perhaps “Blitz and Giggles” – where speed and humor collide. Until then, the 64 squares remain his proving ground, where Gumugama’s mantra reigns: think sharp, move faster, and never forget to enjoy the game.