Chuvilaev skated seriously from the age of five and switched to pairs at 11. He began competing internationally with Olga Semkina in 1994. The pair placed seventh at the 1995 World Junior Championships, held in Budapest in November 1994. They won gold at the 1995 Czech Skate, silver at the 1996 Nebelhorn Trophy, and bronze at the 1997 Winter Universiade.