A Russian online poker star was found dead in her Moscow home last week after she was reportedly electrocuted by a hair dryer while taking a bath.
Liliya Novikova, 26, went by the username “liay5” on online poker websites. She also regularly appeared on the streaming platform Twitch, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
She also has a following on Instagram.
“During the initial examination, traces of an electrical injury were found on the victim’s body,” an official said, reported the Russian state-run news agency TASS, the ABC reported.
Just heard news of Liay Novikova (Liay5) passing away. Poker and Twitch lost a great ambassador today. Really sad.
— Jaime Staples (@jaimestaples) June 12, 2019
Incredibly sad to hear Liay ‘liay5’ Novikova passed away due to a home accident. She had such a good influence on the poker/twitch community through her hard work and efforts. I’ve always admired all the many different things she did. What a tragic loss, and so young ???????? RIP
— Lex Veldhuis (@LexVeldhuis) June 12, 2019
Her body was found by a neighbor, according to the report.
“Relatives became agitated when the girl stopped responding to phone calls and asked her neighbor to check on her … She found the girl’s body,” the ABC quoted a law enforcement source as saying.
Her death was also announced on her official VK page. VK is a Russian social media network.
“Leah passed away. Yesterday. Accident. She is no more. She left us,” the translated post said.
A number of fans paid tribute to her on Twitter.
Photos posted to her Instagram account showed her posing outside just days prior to her death.
Novikova was a graduate from the Bauman Moscow State Technical University and was also a design engineer, The Independent reported.
Her “outstanding intellect and deep mathematical knowledge” helped her win poker games, the paper also reported.
Novikova also reportedly died about four days before her 27th birthday.
