Aleksandr Dronov has passed away

Tuesday, December 12, 2023: Aleksandr Dronov died

Dear ICCF friends

It is with deep sadness that we have been informed of the passing of Aleksandr Dronov (1946-2023), three times Correspondence Chess World Champion and ICCF Hall of Fame inductee in 2021.    

Our thoughts and condolences go out to Aleksandr's family and friends during this difficult time.
He will be greatly missed and his memory will forever remain in in the annals of correspondence chess history.

Eric Ruch
ICCF President

The following biography was kindly provided by Andrey Pavlikov.

Three-time world champion in correspondence chess Aleksandr Dronov (1946-2023) passed away on December 7, 2023.
Aleksandr Dronov was born in Moscow in 1946. He began playing chess in 1961 at the age of 15. Until 1987, he played only in OTB tournaments.Since 1987, Aleksandr Dronov began playing correspondence chess, where he achieved outstanding success.

In the 90s, he was already one of the strongest Russian correspondence chess players, and he began to represent Russia in international tournaments.In 2003, he was awarded the title of ICCF International Master, and then in 2005 the title of Senior International Master and the title of International Grandmaster of the ICCF. In the 2000s, Dronov started his way for the title of World Correspondence Champion.
Having qualified for the Candidates Tournament in 2006, he won it brilliantly and reached the final of the 22nd World Championship. The main intrigue of the competition was the participation of the two-time World Champion from the Netherlands Joop van Oosterom. The championship ended in 2010 and the winner was Aleksandr Dronov.

In 2014, he managed to repeat his success, winning the final of the 27th World Championship.
In 2018, Dronov became the World Champion for the third time, winning the 29th World Championship.
At the end of the 29th World Championship final the history of correspondence chess had known only two players to become two-time World Champion. These were Tynu Oim and Joop van Oosterom.
Aleksandr Dronov became the very first three-time World Champion. This is an absolute record. He remains a true legend of correspondence chess who achieved incredible results.