Zaw Win Lay was a Burmese chess player who held the title of International Master from 1998 until his death in 2014. He won the Myanmar Chess Championship multiple times and was also successful in other international competitions. He never gained the highest rank of Grandmaster, given his limited opportunities to compete abroad. Zaw Win Lay largely played chess at home due to financial constraints, nonetheless, he was nationally acclaimed.
Zaw Win Lay previously held the record for the longest chess marathon, organized by Myanmar Chess Federation, where he played 187 games for nine days. He was also part of three Chess Olympiads representing Myanmar in 1998, 2000 and 2008. Despite failing to attain the revered rank of Grandmaster, Zaw Win Lay left a notable mark in his national chess history, having significantly contributed to Myanmar’s national chess championships throughout his career.