Good bye Elena Tairova

Good bye, Lena, we will miss you!

Dear friends,

I just found out on chessmoscow.ru that the very talented 18-year old Elena Tairova passed away on the 16th of March.

Elena was one of the brightest young chess stars of Russia. In 2006 and 2007 Elena twice took silver medals in the Russian women's Superfinal and joined the Russian national team. Her FIDE rating was 2455. She had made fantastic progress between 2005 and 2007, going up 200 ELO points in 2 short years.

At the beginning of 2008 Elena got sick and missed a few important chess tournaments, but she came back to professional chess in 2009 winning the Women's Russian Higher League and taking silver in the Russian Championship among Girls U-20. I spoke with Elena last August and was sure she would have many nice victories in the years to come.

Saddened by this terrible news, let's thank Elena for the beautiful chess games she gave us and to the world, and let's pray for her family and friends.

Posted by Alexandra Kosteniuk

Women's World Chess Champion

www.chessblog.com

Women Chess Kaleidoscope

Here are a few women's chess tournaments that are taking place right now or just have finished.

Shen Yang (on the photo) with 9 points out of 11 became the women's champion of China. Second was Zhao Xue with 8.5 points. Third place took Tan Zhonqyi. Hou Yifan that was playing in the men's championship took 3.5 points out of 11 and shared 11-12 place.

The higher league of the Women's Russian Championship just ended and the top 5 finalists quliafied for the Russian Superfinal that is planned for December 2009. First place with 7.5 out of 9 went to Elena Tairova. I'm very happy for Elena, who recovered from a serious illness and came back even stronger than before. Elena Zaiats got second place with 7 out of 9. Valentina Gunina, Tatiana Stepovaia and Maria Manakova shared 3rd to 5th places with 6 out of 9.

The Women's Chess Championship of Uzbekistan came to its end. Nafisova Mumina took first place with 10,5 out of 11.
From June 4th till June 12, 2009 in Tbilisi in the Nona Gaprindashvili Chess Palace (Georgia) an International Open Women Chess Tournament dedicated to the name of the legendary Georgian chess-player, quintuple world champion, nine-fold Olympic champion and four times Chess Oscar holder, Maya Chiburdanidze takes place. After 3 rounds Mariya Muzychuk and Bela Khotenashvili are in the lead with 3 out of 3. 57 women chess players are taking part in this competition.

Posted by Alexandra Kosteniuk
Women's World Chess Champion
www.chessblog.com

Gunina wins Russian Championship U-20!

Valentina Gunina today became the new Russian champion among girls under 20. The championship took place in Dagomys, Russia from April 29 to May 9, 2009. Valentina took clear first place with 7,5 out of 10, thanks to her win in the last round against Elena Tairova, who was leading before that with 7 points.

I played with Valentina for the Russian National team in the First World Mind Sports Games in Bejing in October 2008.

I congratulate Valentina on this success and wish her all the best in the coming World Championship Girls U-20 which should take place in Argentina at the end of this year. I was also very happy to see the come-back of Elena Tairova who didn't play competive chess for a few months due to health problems. Despite her loss to Valentina in the last round Elena took second place.


Posted by Alexandra Kosteniuk
Women's World Chess Champion
www.chessblog.com

Photo source: Chesspics