Luca Shytaj
{{Short description|Albanian-Italian chess grandmaster and virologist (born 1986)}}
{{Infobox chess player
|name = Luca Shytaj
|image = Shytaj,Luca 2019 Radenci.jpg
|caption = Luca Shytaj, Mitropa Cup 2019
|birthname = Iart Luca Shytaj
|country = {{ublist|Albania (until 2007)|Italy (since 2007)}}
|birth_date = {{Birth-date and age|3 February 1986}}
|birth_place = Tirana, Albania
|death_date =
|death_place =
|title = Grandmaster (2018)
|worldchampion =
|rating =
|peakrating = 2507 (September 2011)
|FideID = 812633
}}
Iart Luca Shytaj (born 3 February 1986) is an Albanian and Italian chess grandmaster and virologist.
Chess career
Born on 3 February 1986, Shytaj won the Albanian Chess Championship in 2003. He earned his international master (IM) title in 2006, and won the Italian Rapid Chess Championship in 2009.[https://en.chessbase.com/post/a-long-term-cure-for-hiv-in-the-offing-270713 A long-term cure for HIV in the offing?] ChessBase He achieved his first grandmaster (GM) norm at the Arctic Chess Challenge in August 2009, his second during the 2016/17 Chess Bundesliga season, and his third at the Mulhouse Festival in July 2018. He was awarded the title in October 2018.[https://ratings.fide.com/title_applications.phtml?details=1&id=812633&title=GM&pb=53 89th FIDE Congress 2018, 26 Sep - 6 Oct, Batumi, Georgia] FIDE He is the 14th Italian player to achieve the title of GM.[http://www.scacchierando.it/titoli-e-norme/luca-shytaj-grande-maestro/ Luca Shytaj Grande Maestro!] Scacchierando.it[https://www.oasport.it/2018/07/scacchi-luca-shytaj-e-diventato-il-14-grande-maestro-italiano2/ Scacchi: Luca Shytaj è diventato il 14° Grande Maestro italiano] OA Sport
Shytaj represented Albania at the 36th and 37th Chess Olympiads, and Italy at the 38th Chess Olympiad.[http://www.olimpbase.org/players/cg4qg2wc.html Shytaj, Luca] OlimpBase
Scientific career
Shytaj received a bachelor's degree in biology from the Sapienza University of Rome, and a master's degree in genetics and molecular biology from the same university. His Ph.D. thesis, which resulted in a functional cure of AIDS in macaques,{{cite journal |last1=Shytaj |first1=IL Shytaj IL |last2=Chirullo |first2=B |last3=Wagner |first3=W |last4=Ferrari |first4=MG |last5=Sgarbanti |first5=R |last6=Corte |first6=AD |last7=LaBranche |first7=C|last8=Lopalco |first8=L|last9=Palamara |first9=AT |last10=Montefiori |first10=D |last11=Lewis |first11=MG |last12=Garaci |first12=E |last13=Savarino |first13=A |title=Investigational treatment suspension and enhanced cell-mediated immunity at rebound followed by drug-free remission of simian AIDS |journal=Retrovirology |pages=10:71 |year=2013 |volume=10 |pmid=23866829 |doi=10.1186/1742-4690-10-71 |pmc=3748827 |doi-access=free }} was named as one of the three best presentations at HIV Dart 2012, an international conference on drug development processes in antiretroviral research.Shytaj IL, Chirullo B, Della Corte A, Norelli S, Ferrari MG, Montefiori D, Labranche C, Lewis MG, Garaci E and Savarino A. Auranofin, Buthionine Sulfoximine and Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy Induce Post-Therapy Control of Viremia in Chronically SIVmac251 Infected Rhesus Macaques, HIV DART, San Diego,California, USA, 4-7 December 2012 (oral presentation). As of 2017, Shytaj works at Heidelberg University.[https://www.rnz.de/sport/regionalsport_artikel,-Sport-Regional-Heidelberger-Berufs-Schachspielerin-Eigentlich-mag-ich-Schach-nicht-_arid,290811.html "Eigentlich mag ich Schach nicht"] Rhein Neckar Zeitung
Personal life
Shytaj was born in Tirana. He moved to Italy with his parents at age six, and he became an Italian citizen in 2007. He married German GM Elisabeth Pähtz in September 2015.[https://www.schachbund.de/news/elisabeth-paehtz-hat-geheiratet.html ELISABETH PÄHTZ HAT GEHEIRATET] German Chess Federation They separated in 2018.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{chessgames player|id=86865}}
- {{fide|id=812633}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shytaj, Luca}}
Category:Albanian chess players
Category:Albanian emigrants to Italy
Category:Chess Olympiad competitors
Category:Italian chess players