The late Vasily Utkin, a renowned sports commentator, died from a pulmonary embolism on March 19. His loss sent a shockwave through the Russian sports world. Utkin was best known for football commentary, yet his influence reached fans of other sports as well. Grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi, a devoted supporter of Spartak Moscow, expressed pride in knowing Utkin and recalled their conversations about football and beyond.
Recollections of a moment in time linger. Nepomniachtchi recalls a discussion sparked by Utkin about the first two games of the Carlsen-Karjakin match in 2016, a chat that began with a move toward other formats of engagement. Since then, their paths crossed sporadically through football talk and occasional exchanges. The sense of a shared passion for football remained strong, and Nepomniachtchi described Utkin as someone he was proud to know, a memory he regards as sacred.
For some reason he always supported me
Tatyana Tarasova, a celebrated figure skating coach and a respected USSR icon, offered her gratitude to Utkin. She noted Utkin’s longstanding support despite their brief acquaintance, including his vocal backing during Tarasova’s suspension from responsibilities at the Russian Grand Prix final amid Channel One sanctions.
Tarasova recalled the shock of the moment and Utkin’s eloquent commentary about the situation. He was a genuine figure in the field, a commentator who possessed qualities that defined the profession. He backed Tarasova even when their meetings were few and far between, and Tarasova has fond memories of their exchanges on various platforms, including Match TV.
I hope you feel good, Vasya
Elena Vaitsekhovskaya, an Olympic diving champion and sports journalist, admitted they often clashed on different topics. Yet these disagreements never derailed their respectful friendship. Vaitsekhovskaya described how Utkin’s strong opinions and habit of labeling topics could spark sharp debates, sometimes followed by a lighter turn toward shared memories in the kitchen of his life.
She recalled a moment of softness after a heated exchange, when Utkin, reflecting on his own birthday, offered a candid apology and suggested they meet again. Their banter could shift quickly from polemics to plans for future conversations, including a possible reunion over tea and conversation.
The two carried a recognition that even with intense discourse there was a deeper connection rooted in mutual respect and warmth. Vaitsekhovskaya offered a note of tenderness and a hope that Utkin would feel the support of friends who valued him beyond the headlines.
Rozanov, Kandelaki, Sobchak and the dynamic of public discourse
In recent years Utkin remained active in media, hosting a program called Football Club on his YouTube channel and leading the Egrisi media team. He did not rule out a return to television someday, a possibility he hinted at just days before his passing. His departure from traditional screens was marked by a high‑profile clash with Tina Kandelaki, a former top executive at Match TV.
Kandelaki acknowledged that their professional paths diverged, admitting that she could have given Utkin more attention and that their collaboration did not unfold as she had hoped. She described Utkin as an extraordinary person who lived for the limelight and desired constant engagement about his work, travel, and the latest happenings in Brazil and beyond.
Kandelaki praised Utkin’s immense talent, noting that the fabric of sports television was his life. Public figures including Ksenia Sobchak responded with critique, accusing Kandelaki of hypocrisy in a pointed, public exchange. The dialogue reflected a broader truth about the pressures and fragility of media collaborations, where admiration and tension can coexist amid intense public scrutiny.
Sobchak asserted that Utkin’s personal correspondence and comments often carried sharp judgments about the industry, and she highlighted the human cost behind the public persona. Her remarks painted a portrait of a man who inspired loyalty and sparked controversy in equal measure, leaving a lasting imprint on those who worked with him and those who watched him.
Rozanov waiting in memory, a tribute echoed in a friend’s words
One of the most poignant tributes came from football commentator Alexander Elagin, who reflected on Utkin with a heartfelt message that honored a long friendship with Yuri Rozanov, a colleague who had passed away years earlier. Elagin described Utkin as a close and cherished figure, a magnet who drew people to him with charisma, a wide horizon, quick wit, and a genuine, sometimes painful curiosity about the people he welcomed into his circle.
Elagin wrote that Utkin’s presence could be both captivating and demanding, attracting those who sought his praise while sometimes pushing away flatterers who sought only a glimpse of his glory. He affirmed Utkin’s sensitivity and vulnerability, noting that Utkin had endured betrayals and carried the weight of those experiences with a rare honesty.
The enduring truth in Elagin’s reflections was Utkin’s reluctance to speak openly about the kind of commentator he was, a sentiment that has become part of fan folklore. Yet Elagin emphasized that Utkin offered steadfast support during difficult moments and remained a guiding presence for a close circle of friends.
Elagin concluded with a sense of lasting impact, describing how Utkin charted his own path through life, leaving behind a distinctive mark on those who knew him. The tribute closed with a quiet acknowledgment that friends like Rozanov would be remembered, and that their shared conversations, whether about literature, cinema, football, or life, would continue in spirit.