I am heartbroken by Danya’s passing. We both grew up in the Bay Area, and I looked up to him from a young age. I vividly remember our first blitz games when I was nine, he was kind and generous with his advice afterward. Years later, I ran into him on a flight home from the Reykjavik Open. I nervously approached him, but his warmth and willingness to talk immediately put me at ease. As my chess career continued, we played countless blitz games, and I credit a large part of my improvement to those battles. Danya’s kindness, wisdom, and love for the game left a lasting mark on me. I offer my sincerest condolences to his family and loved ones. We will all miss you dearly.