Vugar Gashimov facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vugar Gashimov |
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Gashimov in 2011
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| Full name | Vüqar Qasım oğlu Həşimov |
| Country | Azerbaijan |
| Born | 24 July 1986 Baku, Azerbaijan SSR |
| Died | 11 January 2014 (aged 27) Heidelberg, Germany |
| Title | Grandmaster (2002) |
| Peak rating | 2761 (January 2012) |
| Peak ranking | No. 6 (November 2009) |
Vugar Gashimov (born Vüqar Qasım oğlu Həşimov; July 24, 1986 – January 11, 2014) was a famous Azerbaijani chess grandmaster. A grandmaster is the highest title a chess player can get. He was especially good at blitz chess, which is a very fast type of chess game. At his best, Vugar Gashimov was ranked No. 6 in the world in November 2009.
He won several big tournaments. These included the Acropolis International in Athens in 2005. He also tied for first place at the Cappelle-la-Grande open in both 2007 and 2008. In 2010–11, he won the important Reggio Emilia tournament.
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Early Life and Beginnings
Vugar Gashimov was born in Baku, Azerbaijan, on July 24, 1986. His father was a retired army colonel. He worked for the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan.
Chess Career Highlights
Vugar Gashimov had a very successful chess career. He played in many important events around the world.
Major Tournament Wins
In 2010, Gashimov won the Reggio Emilia chess tournament. This was a big win for him. He also tied for first at the Cappelle-la-Grande open in 2007 and 2008. He won the 2008 event because of a tie-break rule.
Playing for His Country
Gashimov played for Azerbaijan in the Chess Olympiads. These are big team chess tournaments. He played in 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008.
He was part of the Azerbaijani team that won the gold medal. This happened at the European Team Chess Championship in Novi Sad in 2009. His teammates included other strong players like Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Teimour Radjabov. Before that, they won a bronze medal in 2007.
In 2010, Vugar did not play for his country. This was at the Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk. He had a disagreement with the national chess group at that time.
Gashimov's Unique Chess Style
Vugar Gashimov was famous for his fast chess skills. He was known as a very strong blitz chess player. This means he could play excellent chess games very quickly.
He also helped bring back a chess opening called the Modern Benoni. An "opening" is the first few moves in a chess game. This opening was not very popular before. But Vugar used it to get great results. He even beat top grandmasters with it.
His Life Outside Chess
Vugar Gashimov enjoyed many other activities. He liked football, table tennis, and pool. He was also a big fan of movies starring Jackie Chan. His older brother, Sarkhan, helped manage his chess career. Sarkhan was also a good chess player himself.
His Passing and Tributes
Vugar Gashimov's Death
Vugar became unwell in 2000. Doctors found he had a serious health condition, and later, a brain tumor. He received treatment in Heidelberg, Germany. Sadly, Vugar Gashimov passed away on January 11, 2014. He had not played chess since January 2012. He was buried in the Alley of Honor in Baku, his hometown.
Reactions from the Chess World
Many chess grandmasters and sports people shared their sadness. Teimour Radjabov, a close teammate, said he was very, very sad.
Nigel Short called Gashimov "a brilliant player and great guy." Former world champion Garry Kasparov was "deeply saddened." He found it amazing that Vugar reached the top ten in the world. This was especially true because of the health challenges he faced.
Magnus Carlsen said Vugar was "one of the most talented and original players I've met." He remembered Vugar as always friendly and smiling. Many other famous chess players also shared their tributes. These included Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Hikaru Nakamura.
A minute of silence was held at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament. This also happened at all chess tournaments in Baku in January 2014.
The Azerbaijani President, Ilham Aliyev, also spoke. He said Vugar Gashimov helped Azerbaijani sports a lot. He made a huge contribution to chess in Azerbaijan. He brought fame to the country with his amazing wins.
His Lasting Legacy
To honor Vugar, the first Gashimov Memorial tournament was held. It took place in Şəmkir in April 2014. Many top players took part, including Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana.
On July 24, 2014, a monument was placed on his grave in Baku. This was done to remember him.
Notable Tournament Wins
- Reggio Emilia chess tournament 2010, 1st place
- Cappelle la Grande, tied for 1st in 2007 and 2008 (won on tie-break in 2008)
Notable Games
- Vugar Gashimov vs Gata Kamsky, Baku Grand Prix 2008
- Vugar Gashimov vs Andrei Volokitin, Poikovsky Tournament 2008
- Vugar Gashimov vs Alexander Grischuk, Elista Grand Prix 2008
- Vugar Gashimov vs Alexander Beliavsky, Gibtelecom 2009
- Alexander Grischuk vs Vugar Gashimov, Amber Tournament (Rapid) 2010
Images for kids
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Gashimov in 2011
See also
In Spanish: Vugar Gashimov para niños
