Dutch Grandmaster (2002). Dutch U16 Champion in 1991. Best results: Sonnevanck B 1995, 2nd; Leeuwarden and Den Hague 1998, 2nd; Den Haag 1999 and 2000, 1st; Bussum 2000, 1st; German U20 Championship 2004, 2nd and Banyoles Open and Harlem BDO 2005, 1st, Cusco 2006 (PER), 1st. Harmen is retired from international chess since the end

Russian Grandmaster (1993) who was living for some time in Russia. Soviet U26 Youth Champion (shared) in 1991. Best results: won or shared first at Herson 1991, Budapest 1992, Hania and Komotini 1993, Biel Open 1995, Wien Open 1996, Biel Open 1997, Berlin 1998, Geneva, Graz, Ano Liosia Open 1999, Fraenkishe Open 2000, Lisbon 2001,

Uzbek Grandmaster (1997). The 16th World Champion (2004), Asian Champion 1998, second in World U20 championship in 1999 and second in the Commonwealth championship in 2003. Best results: winner at Essen 2001, Pamplona 2002/2003, Vlissingen Open 2003, Neckar Open 2004 and shared first in Fajr Open in 2011. He also shared first place with Anatoly Karpov

Chinese Women Grandmaster (2008). Chinese Women’s Champion in 2012 and the Asian Women’s Champion in 2013.Vice champion of China in 2010, vice champion of Asia Women Individual in 2009. Huang Qian is married to Chinese Grandmaster Bu Xiangzhi. Best results: Vice champion of China in 2010, vice champion of Asia Women Individual in 2009 and winner of Zhonghai Huashan Cup

Strong Swiss chess players/brothers in the first half of the 20th century. Paul, 10.09.1887-25.10.38, Zurich.  Paul Johner was Swiss Champion six times between 1908 and 1932. In 1908, 1928 and 1932 he shared the title with his brother Hans. Best results in the international tournaments: Copenhagen 1916 and 1924, 1st-2nd; Berlin 1917, 1st-2nd; Gothenburg 1920,

American player born in Belarus (then Russian Empire) who immigrated to the USA in 1896. Jaffe was one of the strongest players in America between 1905 and 1930. Jaffe worked as a weaver in the silk mills of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania until 1910 when he became a professional chess player. At the First

Chess player born in Finland, Jaenisch was an assistant professor of mechanics. In the army,  he was commissioned in the Engineers and he rose to the rank of Major. In 1838 he began to write a book on chess openings and two years later, in 1840, he left the army “because he loved chess so

Ukrainian Women Grandmaster (1976). Honored Master of Sports of the USSR (1990) Mathematician. World Senior Women’s Champion in 2002. USSR Women’s Champion in 1972 and Vice-Champion in 1971, 1973 and 1974. Ukrainian Women’s Champion in 1967 and 1977. Semi-finalist Women’s Candidate in 1974, losing to Nana Alexandria (2,5-5,5). Best results: Budapest 1975, 1979 and 1985,

German Grandmaster (1980) born in Russia (Yusupov). German Champion in 2005, World Junior Championship in Innsbruck 1977. Jussupow moved to Germany at the beginning of the 1990’s. A participant in six USSR Championships from 1979 to 1988, his best achievement was in 1979 when he came second after Efim Geller. Best results:  Amsterdam 1978, 1st; Esbjerg

British world-famous historian and co-author of the Oxford Companion of Chess with David Hooper (1984), a standard work of reference on chess history. Editor of Chess Students’ Quarterly, Chess Reader (1950s) and Quotes and Queries column in the British Chess Magazine. Also the author of Alekhine-Nazi Article, Chess Columns – A List (2003), Guinness Chess – The