Estonian Honorary Grandmaster Iivo Nei passed away on Monday, July 6. He was one of the most outstanding chess players, coaches, and promoters in the history of Estonia.

Iivo Nei was among the top Estonian chess players for several decades. He became national champion eight times and won the Baltic tournament three times.

Nei made a significant contribution to the development of chess as a coach. He worked with World Champions Boris Spassky, Nona Gaprindashvili, and Maia Chiburdanidze. He worked as the director of the Tallinn Chess School for over 25 years.

From 1989 to 1996, Nei served as the head coach of the Finnish national chess team. Earlier he was a member of the coaching staff of the Soviet Union national team.

Iivo Nei and his achievements were highly valued in Estonia and internationally. In 2024, FIDE awarded him the title of Honorary Grandmaster, a special title for highly successful players or contributors to chess.

Credit: Ingmar Muusikus