In 2002, Ilia (Ilya) Averbukh was World Ice-Dancing champion (with Irina Lobacheva).

The Moscow-born husband-wife team were silver medalists at the 2002 Olympic Games, took silver at the 2003 World Championships, and won the '03 European Championship. Between 1997 and 2003, Averbukh-Lobacheva never finished lower than 4th at the annual World Championships.

Averbukh partnered with Marina Anissina in 1990 and 1992 to capture gold medals at the World Junior Championships.