Vugar Gashimov (Azerbaijani: Vüqar Həşimov; 24 July 1986 – 10 January 2014) was one of the leading chess players from Azerbaijan. He was a noted player of blitz chess . He won at Athens 2005 (Acropolis International).

He was the winner of the Cappelle-la-Grande open 2008. In 2010/11 he tied for first with Francisco Vallejo Pons at Reggio Emilia and won the event on tie-break.

Biography

Gashimov was born on July 24, 1986 in Baku. He was the son of a retired army colonel who served at the Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan.

When Gashimov fell ill in February 2000, doctors diagnosed epilepsy.

While receiving treatment against a brain tumor in a hospital in Heidelberg, Germany, Gashmimov died on the night of 11 January 2014.

Career

In 2010, Gashimov became winner of Reggio Emilia chess tournament.

Playing style

Gashimov was known as a particularly strong blitz chess player.

Team competitions

Gashimov played for Azerbaijan in the Chess Olympiads of 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008.[11] He played in the gold medal-winning Azerbaijani team at the European Team Chess Championship in Novi Sad in 2009, alongside Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Teimour Radjabov, Rauf Mammadov and Gadir Guseinov, previously winning bronze medal in 2007. In 2010, however, he was not representing his country at the Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk due to a conflict with the national chess federation and former team coach Zurab Azmaiparashvili.

Personal life

He was known to enjoy soccer, table tennis and pool. He was also an avid fan of Jackie Chan movies. Influenced by his childhood hero, the Russian chess grandmaster Yurin Yurin, the late Vugar considered changing his name to Vugar Vugar, but his mother forbade him.

Notable tournament victories

• Reggio Emilia chess tournament 2010, 1st

Notable games

• Vugar Gashimov vs Gata Kamsky, Baku Grand Prix 2008, Spanish Game: Closed Variations (C84), 1-0
• Vugar Gashimov vs Andrei Volokitin, Poikovsky Tournament 2008, Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation (B96), 1-0
• Vugar Gashimov vs Alexander Grischuk, Elista Grand Prix 2008, Sicilian Defense: Najdorf, Poisoned Pawn Variation (B97), 1-0
• Vugar Gashimov vs Alexander Beliavsky, Gibtelecom 2009, Spanish Game: Closed Variations (C84), 1-0