TIME RUNS OUT

Losing loved ones is always very hard. As children we may not understand the grief of death but as we get older we feel the loss of loved ones more acutely. And sometimes we very keenly share the death of someone, even if we don't know them. And that was how people in Azerbaijan took the death of the outstanding young chess player, Vuqar Hasimov - keenly and close to the heart. Condolences to the family, the memories, extracts from his interviews and the list of his achievements - all this was sensitively handled by the social networks.

We were not expecting this move by Vuqar, who was always noted for his unorthodox choice of opening and surprise moves. After fighting a serious illness for two years, Vuqar was finally forced to make the final move in his final game.

Born in Baku on 24 July 1986 Hasimov, even from the age of six, began to grasp the secrets of the game of chess. After becoming champion of Azerbaijan three times (1995, 1996 and 1998), he was awarded the title of grand-master in 2002. Four times (1996, 1998, 1999 and 2000) he was a silver medallist at the European Youth Championship. In 1999 he won the Kasparov Cup and the prestigious Reggio Emilia tournament at the end of 2010.

Recently he was being treated for a brain tumour in Germany and we hoped that, having "checkmated" the illness, he would take his place in Azerbaijan's team at the Chess Olympics.

That's how it was once - after several operations Vuqar's health improved significantly and he returned to chess. He even helped Azerbaijan win silver at the European Championship in 2011. However, the championship in Porto Carras in Greece also showed that his illness was incurable. During the match with France on 7 November, Hasimov, who was playing on the second board, fainted and was rushed to hospital. With him were two of his playing colleagues in the Azerbaijani team. Realizing what was happening, the French offered a draw on all the boards.

The next day, however, Vuqar was OK and helped his team beat the Russians and he went on to play with the team in the next three rounds, wining silver medals in the championship. Unfortunately, this was his last appearance in the national side…

Prior to that, in 2007, Hasimov won bronze medals at the European Championship. Two years later Vuqar's selfless play helped Azerbaijan become the best team on the continent.

In 2013 the national team repeated this success, winning a second gold at the European Championship, but without Hasimov. All the members of the team dedicated the win to Vuqar, pointing out his spiritual support.

During his 17-year career (1995-2012) he played 984 games, winning 410, drawing 402 and losing only 172. He won 2,761 ratings points.

The last time Vuqar sat at a chess board was on 2 January 2013 at a tournament in San Sebastian, Spain. After two games he conceded to the Czech Viktor Laznicka (1 draw, 1 defeat).

In his last individual tournaments Vuqar was not the same player. Those close to him felt that his poor play was directly linked to his exhausting battle against illness.

Examinations proved that he needed urgent treatment which took him away from his beloved game. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev took personal control over the player's illness and on his instruction Hasimov underwent an operation in one of Germany's best-known clinics. All costs were met by the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan. But even qualified doctors were powerless in the face of this merciless illness and they were unable to save Vuqar…

It would be a good thing to organize an annual tournament dedicated to Hasimov's memory, attracting international grand-masters, and an awards ceremony for the winners to be held every year on Vuqar's birthday - 24 July. After all, he was always aiming higher and to be an example to the younger generation. After his victory at the European Championship in 2009 Hasimov said: "Azerbaijan can still become Olympic champions." He was always working on his game in an effort to win the chess crown. "I am proud of my country Azerbaijan which loves sport so much. We have shown we can beat anyone. But this is just the beginning," Hasimov said in an interview for R+ after the memorable championship of 2009.

Now Vuqar's team mates must make his dreams come true.

THE CHESS WORLD ON VUQAR HASIMOV'S DEATH

"It is very sad to lose such a great chess player as Vuqar Hasimov. FIDE expresses its deepest condolences to Vuqar's relatives and friends and the Azerbaijan Chess Federation."

The official FIDE website

"This is a great tragedy for the world of chess. Vuqar was a gifted chess player with great potential and a very fine man"

Silvio Danailov, President of the European Chess Union

"I am very sad to hear about the death of Vuqar Hasimov, one of the most gifted chess players I have ever met. Hasimov was always kind to me and was always smiling. I express my condolences to his family and the whole Azerbaijani chess public."

Magnus Carlsen, 16th world chess champion

"I send condolences to Vuqar Hasimov's family and friends. Despite his grave illness, he was still able to make the top ten in the ratings. I am very sad."

Garri Kasparov, 13th world chess champion

"For the world of chess one of the great grandmasters of modern times is no more. For the people of Azerbaijan he was one of the country's best sportsmen, and for his friends and colleagues one who was close to them. I personally have lost a friend who finished off the match with the Dutch team and made us the happiest people in Novi Sad! Azerbaijani chess players will continue to bring joy to their supporters with their successes, but unfortunately, what we had will never happen again!"

Zurab Azmaiparashvili, Azerbaijani captain, 2009

"Vuqar was my friend. In 2012, at the tournament at Veik-an-See we chatted every day. After I became express chess champion, I recalled his words. He said that now I would have to play for both of us. And that's what I tried to do. It is a shame what has happened…"

Sergey Karyakin, member of the Russian chess team

"This is very sad news. It is terrible when a man of such an age and with such a talent for chess passes away. I am very upset"

Levon Aronyan, member of the Armenian chess team