GM Zaw Win Lay passed away on 3 October 2014 in Mandalay, Myanmar. He is the one and only GM as well as first GM & IM of Myanmar. He is 51 years old father of two daughters. He started playing chess since 10 years old and achieved the victories very quickly. He rose to the international attention after the grandmaster tournament in Bali, Indonesia (2000). He won Myanmar National Chess Championships 4 times and represented Myanmar National Team on several occasions. Before his final departure due to diabetes and high blood pressure, he played his last tournament, Mandalay Region Chief Minister's Cup Chess Tournament 2014 (29 Sep - 4 Oct 2014)