De Firmian Nicholas Ernest (26.07.1957)

American Grandmaster (1985), Nick has a degree in physics from the University of California, Berkeley.  Coach.
Three times US Champion 1987 (tied with Joel Benjamin), 1995 (tied with Patrick Wolff and Alexander Ivanov) and 1998.  De Firmian played in several interzonals and was a member of the national team between 1984 and 2000.

Best results: won or shared first at Hamar international 1983, Gausdal Open 1983, Copenhagen Open 1983, San Francisco and US Open in 1986, Long Beach in 1989, Reykjavik open in 1990, Farum in 1993, Gausdal open in 1994, Stockholm in 1998, San Francisco in 1999, Göteborg Open 2005, Stockholm Open 2009, Bermuda Open 2006 and 2010.

He was involved in the IBM Deep Blue team prior to the match with Garry Kasparov in 1997.
Author, he edited few Modern Chess Openings editions (13th and 14th).

Peak rating: 2610 in 1999.