It’s been one year since we lost a son, a brother, and a friend. Danya was a beautiful and unique soul. He was a valued member of the Charlotte chess community and the global chess community, but to me, he was so much more than that. He was a part of my life. I miss the puns we would exchange, the trash talking during blitz, the political discussions, the edgy jokes, and all the random places our worlds overlapped. He was far more cultured than most people ever got to see. There are few people I have felt such a connection with on a mental level, and him not being here will always be something missing from my life. His death left a void which will never fully be filled, but I will always remember him for the positive difference he made in my life. We cannot bring him back, but as we move forward, we can make sure everything done in his name is done the right way: for the players, for the game, and for the community he loved and gave so much of himself to. For today, I’m signing off with two of his 2000s favorites on repeat, Ja Rule’s “Down A** Bi**h” and Nelly’s “Dilemma” (yes, really). Maybe I’ll even play 100 games of bullet.