U.S. Grandmaster (2013), Woman Grandmaster (2002) and International Master (2000).  Irena was born in Ukraine and immigrated to the U.S. in 1989.  She was the U.S. Women’s Champion 1998, 2007, 2010, 2012 2013, 2014 and 2015. She won the Pan American U16 championship in 1998, with the perfect score of  7:0. She shared first place in

Latvian Grandmaster (1992). Latvia co-champion 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1993. Best results: Won or shared first in Travna C 1988, Werfen Open 1989, Calcutta 1992, Geneva 1993, Capelle la Grande 1994, Villalba Open 1995, Passau Open 1996, Oberwart Open 1998, Harmonie Groningen 2003, Legnica GM 2004. Kiel Open 2005, Hamburg International 2008, Boeblinger

Argentine Grandmaster and coach (2008) living in South Africa. Panamerican U20 Champion in 2005. Best results: Mar del Plata 2004, 1st; Cuellera 2006, 1st; XIII Pro Am 2006, 1st; Villa Marteli 2007, 1st; Copa 155 Buenos Aires 2007, 1st; Sants Hostafrancs Open 2008, 1st; San Sebastian Open 2009, 1-5th; Hilton Schachfestival Basel 2010, 1-3rd; Neckar-Open

French player, author and composer. Champion of Paris in 1911 and vice champion of France in 1926. He was the winner of one of the shortest games of chess (which was fiercely denied by the loser) against his countryman Gibaud in Paris in 1924 (1.d4 Nf6, 2.Nd2 e5, 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. h3? Ne3 0-1).

Louis Charles de La Bourdonnais was born in the Isle Bourbon (La Reunion) in 1797 into a wealthy family. His grandfather, Bertrand-Francois Mahe de La Bourdonnais (1699-1753), was the governor of Mauritius (La Reunion) and a French naval commander. He was sent to the Lycee Henri IV in Paris, where in 1814, he learned chess.

German Diplomat, chess historian, theoretician and one of the  famous member of the ‘Berlin Pleiades’ under Ludwig Bledow. He never played in a tournament or in a formal match but in a serie of offhand games he beat Howard Staunton in 1844 and 1853, few times Adolf Anderssen between 1845 and 1850 and Johann Löwenthal

German player, chess theoretician, composer and journalist. One of the founders of the Western German Chess Union (1861). Organizer the Leipzig Congress of 1894. Winner of German Congresses at Dusseldorf in 1862, 1863 and 1864, Aachen 1868, and the Congress of the Western German Union at Hamburg in 1868. One of the founders and the

Ukrainian Grandmaster (1987). Ukraine Champion in 1980, 1981 and 1986. Best results: Baku 1983, 2nd-3rd; Sokolsky Memorial 1985, 1st; Tallinn 1985, 1st-4th; Lvov 1986, 1st-3rd; Tashkent 1986, 1st-6th; Tallinn 1987, 2nd-3rd; Frunze 1987, 1st; Minsk 1988, 1st-6th; Budapest 1989, 1st; Pula 1989 and Forli Open 1989, 1991 and 1992, 1st; Snekkersteen 1992, 1st; Alushta 1994,

Dutch International Master born in Poland. Dutch Champion in 1936. He was the second best Dutch player after Max Euwe in the 1930s. Best results: Winner in Rotterdam 1931, Amsterdam in 1936 and Amsterdam Vara in 1939. Also third in Hastings in 1938. Landau lost matches to Géza Maróczy (+0 –3 =0) in 1930, Akiba

Danish Grandmaster (1956) who was living for many years in Argentina. He was awarded the first Chess Oscar in 1967. Larsen learned to play chess at the age of six and at the age of 12, he joined the local chess club. He improved his playing skills constantly, especially when he left for Copenhagen to