IM/WGM Elena Tairova, 1991–2010

WGM Elena Tairova just passed away last March 16 in Russia. She's just 18. ChessBase reports that Elena died from an undisclosed illness.

WGM Elena Tairova has died at the age of just 18. Born on 28 August 1991, Tairova became a WGM at just 14 years of age, and a full IM the following year. She won a succession of European and World girls’ junior titles, and in 2006 was the Russian women’s under-20 champion. That same year, and again the following year, she was runner-up in the Russian women’s superfinal.

Rumours of ill-health first surfaced in early 2008, when she missed several tournaments, but she recovered and returned again to tournament successes. However, in late 2009, she fell ill again, and was unable to take her place in the latest Russian women’s superfinal in December 2009. She passed away on 16 March 2010, a grievous loss to Russian women’s chess.

May you Rest In Peace Miss Elena.