A tragic event took place in September 6 in Palanga (Lithuania), famous master of chess from Saint-Petersburg Genrikh Chepukaitis died suddenly at night.

He was a champion of Russia among seniors, participant 13 City championships during 44 years (1960 to 2004), legendary foreman in blitz, - repeated champion of Leningrad in bullet chess.

More over Chepukaitis won open championships of Moscow, where all general elite of blitz always assembled.

Genrikh Chepukaitis has never been grand master in "serious" chess. But he won grand masters in blitz. Regularly and inevitably, in spite of the respectable age. Such great chess players as Victor Kortschnoj, Bobby Fischer and Michail Tal had to give up in sets with Chepukaitis.

The chess meant a lot for Genrikh Chepukaitis, but even if to reject all his professional achievements and try to look at this man as a person, - it became clear, that Genrikh Chepukaitis was a kind, charming man with magnificent sense of humour, who always could interest audience. It does not matter how huge it was. Besides non-standard chess creativity, Genrikh Chepukaitis wrote original articles both publications in the newspapers and magazines, and one of his favourite affairs in leisure-times was to recite laconic, bright and aglint with the humour poems...

Genrikh Chepukaitis was coach of GM Chess School all the time. And we all together grieves deeply about this event. We lost not only gifted chess player, but also an outstanding man. We will miss you, Genrikh...