About Afrodite Vazelaki

Born in Alexandria of Egypt on April 9, 1938 (Lazaros Saturday) from a Cypriot father named Anastassios Antoniou, serving the British Army, and mother from Kythira (so called Tsirigo) named Stamatia Patrikiou, teacher Greek schools of Alexandria and later Port Said, where the whole family moved. Afrodite attended public school in Ellinika Ekpaideutiria of Port Said and completed her high school education in a French school, where she studied French literature. She moved to Greece with her family, after the revolution led by Mohamed Naguib και Gamal abd el Nasser during King Farouk’ reign. In January 1966 she married Ulysses Vazelakis, graduate of the Superior Commercial School (A.S.O.E.E.). They had two children, Dimitris (October 1966) and Stamatia (October 1971). She taught herself chess, by following from afar the lessons Evangelos Yialouris gave to her daughter in the Association of Greeks from Egypt in 1983. She began playing competitive chess with the club <<Cultural Center «Dimitris Glinos»>> and assisted her team greatly in club championships, playing on the women’s board. Later, she transferred to the Association of Greeks from Egypt. Chess became her permanent hobby during her free time. She participated in numerous official events, either individual or club championships. She was a member of the women’s team that played in the European Club Championship in Germany 1998. She was the soul of the team for its younger children, always supporting them and encouraging them to play without fear, striving for better quality in their playing level. She loved children and made no distinction between them, which is why everybody wanted her around during their games. Her mere presence was enough to inspire them for a good game. She missed no chance to follow official championships and international tournaments. When a player finished a game and a board became empty, she was quick to begin a friendly game. Unfortunately, her illness began tiring her too much from 1998, although she tried to keep it secret. She rested three years later, exhausted and worn out, in the morning of Friday, July 6, 2001.