The World Champion (2021): cast, story & where to watch
2021 · Film · ★ 6.5
Released in 2021, The World Champion is a drama film directed by Alexey Sidorov, running about 145 minutes.
What it’s about. Some sporting victories are about more than just claiming a title. Some of them go down in history. The film follows the most dramatic and legendary showdown in the history of chess – the match between Anatoly Karpov, then world champion, and Viktor Korchnoi, a recent emigrant from the USSR. In this battle between two outstanding chess players, a duel of personalities under immense psychological pressure, the stakes are incomprehensibly high.
Who’s in it. The World Champion stars Victor Dobronravov as Sergey Maksimov, Viktor Sukhorukov as Viktor Baturinskiy, Konstantin Khabenskiy as Korchnoi and Anatoly Kot as Igor Zaytsev, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 6.5/10, The World Champion has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The World Champion page.
If you liked it. Fans of The World Champion tend to enjoy The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, Schindler's List and The Godfather Part II.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The World Champion (2021)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for The World Champion change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is The World Champion worth watching?
- The World Champion holds an audience score of 6.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The World Champion?
- The World Champion stars Victor Dobronravov, Viktor Sukhorukov, Konstantin Khabenskiy, Anatoly Kot and Ivan Yankovsky.
- When was The World Champion released?
- The World Champion was released in 2021, with a runtime of about 145 minutes.