Belgian chess journalist in the Nation Belge and strong chess amateur. International Arbiter in 1952. Life member of FIDE. Chemical engineer. Lancel was probably better known to be the founder of the famous L’ Echiquier in February 1925, a monthly magazine, whose contributors are notables like Alexander Alekhine, Thomas Rayner Dawson and Savelly Tartakower. He

Ukrainian Grandmaster (1973).  Vice Champion of Ukraine in 2003. He started playing chess when he was six years old but didn’t achieve major success until he became a professional in 1966. His best year was 1973 when he finished 2nd-6th at the USSR Championship behind Boris Spassky and was equal first in Hastings with Mikhail

Russian Grandmaster (1995). Best results: 58th USSR Championship 1991, 15th; Pancevo 1989, 1st; Teheran Open 1991, 1st; Villa de Banasque Open 1999, 1st; Oberwart Open 2002, 1st; Calcutta Open 2002, 3rd. Kuzmin is known to have been the former coach of Anatoly Karpov, Alexander Morozevich, the Qatar Chess Federation and Mohamed Al-Modiahki. Peak rating: 2596

Latvian Grandmaster (1991).  Kengis was the Latvian Champion in 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1997, 2004, Estonian Champion 2001 and Soviet U26 Champion 1980. Best results: winner of Riga Open 1987, Boston 1991, Arnold Cup Gaudal 1991, Swidnica 1996, Travermude Open 1997, the Goden Kleopatra in Egypt 2003, Bogny GMI 2004, Bad Worishofen, Staufer Open,

Russian Correspondence Grandmaster (1995) living in Germany since the mid-1990s. Thirteenth World Correspondence Champion and thirteenth USSR Champion. He  convincingly won a “champion of champions” tournament, the ICCF 50 Years World Champion Jubilee, a special invitational correspondence tournament involving all living former ICCF World Champions. He scored a superb 7/8 (+6 -0 =2). Co-USSR Junior

Moldavian Grandmaster (1995). Best results: Val Thorens Open 1994, 1st; Moscow 1995, 1st; Pozarevac 1995,1st; Fahr Open (IRI) 2000, 1st; Moscow GM 2003, 3rd; Serpukhov GM in 2004, 2nd, Torch Yamal 2007 GM, 2-3rd; Moscow Vicotry Day, 2-3rd. Komliakov was a participant with the national team in the 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000 and 2004 Olympiads.

Spanish Grandmaster (1995) born in Russia. Korneev has won a lot of tournaments, he is probably the most active Grandmaster in the world by playing 200 to 300 games per year. According to FIDE, he played 80 games in a three-month period in 2007 — a record. He said in 2005: This year he had

Ukrainian Grandmaster (1994), coach and commentator. Ukrainian Champion in 1983. Best results: winner at Massy Open 1993, Bucharest GM 1994, Belgrade Trako 1995, Lyon 1995, Leeuwarden 1995, Vienna Open 1996, Reggio Emilia 1997-1998, Niksic 2000, Clichy GM 2001, Bratto Open in 2006, UAE Open 2011. Since a couple of years, Komarov plays only League games.

Bosnian Grandmaster (2015), Bosnian Champion in 2013. European Rapid Champion U18. Bachelor’s Degree, in Finance from the Dallas University. Best results: International Championship of Vojvodina 2015, 1-3rd; 81st Annual Southwest Open 2015, 1-2nd; Serbia C. Open 2016, 1st; Bosna Open 2016, 1st. A member of the national team since 2012. Peak rating: 2594 in 2016.

Ukrainian Grandmaster. Korobov studied Law at Kharkiv University. World Champion U16 in 1991, Ukrainian Champion in 2002 and 2012 and runner-up in 2004. Best results: Winner or shared first at Linares Anibal Open 2003, Prince Mohammed International (JOR) 2009, Czech Open 2009, New Years All-Ukrainian Open 2009, Czech Open 2010, Abu Dhabi Masters 2010 and