Vesna Rožič, March 23, 1987 – August 23, 2013

Vesna's treatment for peritoneal cancer was initiated in Slovenia, where
she received two cycles of systemic chemotherapy. But that was not enough
to cure the disease. Her family contacted the Medias Klinikum GmbH, Burghausen,
Germany, regarding further treatment. To help defray the costs – between
15,000 and 20,000 Euros – for this final for this final attempt to
save her life we appealed
to our readers, who contributed generously from all over the world.
Former World Champion Garry Kasparov even volunteered to play a fundraising
simul on Playchess.
Unfortunately all efforts were in vain. The cancer was too advanced and
this brave and wonderful girl passed on Friday, August 23, at the age of
26 years and five months. She will not be forgotten.

Vesna Rožič, born March 23, 1987 in Ljubljana, was a Slovenian
WIM who won the Slovenian Individual Championship for women in 2007 and
2010. She played for the Slovenian national team from 2001 to 2004 in four
European U18 championships, and for the Slovenian women's national team
in six Mitropa Cups (2005, 2006 , 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012), winning it
for Slovenia in 2005 and 2006 and taking second place in 2007, 2009, 2010
and 2012. In 2006 she won the individual gold medal for her 6.0/9 on board
one. In addition Vesna played for Slovenia in four European Championships
(2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011 ) and four Chess Olympiads (2002 , 2008 , 2010
and 2012).

Since April 2006 Vesna had the title Women's International Master. Her
rating of 2260 put her in second place after Anna Musytschuk in the Slovenian
women's list. Her highest rating was 2308 in July 2008.