Career
She was awarded the title of Woman International Master in 1964. Maaja Ranniku participated to many Estonian Championships, winning the women"s title 10 times (1961, 1963, 1967, 1973, 1981, 1982, 1984, 1987, 1988, and 1991). At the 1964 women"s Candidates Tournament, played in Sukhumi, she placed 6th in a field of 18 players.
In 1992 she played with the Estonian team at the 30th Chess Olympiad in Manila, scoring 6½ points out of 11 games played.
She had many good results in international tournaments:
1969: first place at Budapest
1971: first place at Braşov
1973: second place at Vrnjačka Banja
1978: third place at the women"s zonal tournament in Frunze
A photograph of her is published here.