Soviet chess player awarded the title of Grandmaster (1950) and International Arbiter 1953. Salo Flohr was born in Horodenka, Russia on November 21st, 1908.  Orphaned during the First World War, the former citizen of the Russian Empire went to what was to become Czechoslovakia.  He took up residence in Prague and spent his teens as

American problemist who was a Life Master of the United States Chess Federation. Fink’s first problem was published in 1908; from then until 1922 he published more than 300 problems and won around 40 prizes. In his lifetime he had over a 1000 problems published and won more than 40 prizes in all. Fink was

Armenian Grandmaster and coach (1993). Armenia Champion in 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1994 and 2005. Best results: Winner at Aegina in 1993, Katowice Open in 1993, Petrosian Memorial in 1994, Budapest Elekes Memorial in 1999, Abu Dhabi 1999, 2005 and 2006. A member of the national team between 1992 and 2004, he won

Romanian Grandmaster (1965), Romanian Junior Champion 1957 and winner of the Romanian championship in nine occasions since 1960. World Junior Champion in 1963. Best results: 1st Hastings 1967–68, equal 1st Reykjavik 1972, 2nd Helsinki 1972, 1st Orense 1973, 1st Torremolinos 1974, equal 1st Vratza Zonal 1974, 1st Istre 1975, 1st Netanya 1976, 1st Philadelphia and

Georgian Grandmaster (1993). President of the Georgian chess federation since 2008. The organizer of the 2018 Olympiads. Best results: won or shared first at Warsaw Open 1989, San Sebastian Open 1991, Tbilisi GM 1991, Baden-Baden 1991, Cuxhaven Open 1993, Linares Open 1997 and Bad Worishofen in 1998. Also 2nd at Podolsk 1992, Goodricke Open 1994,

French International Master (1980). French Champion in 1978 and 1982. Senior French Champion in 2013 and 2015. Best results: Ales 1981, 1st; Paris Ulm 1983, 1st; Andorra Open 1985, 1st; Meudon 1987, 1st. The author of few chess books including the famous Guide des Echecs with Alain Biénabe (1993, 2009).

Israeli Grandmaster born in Ukraine who immigrated to Israel in the 1990’s. Coach. First equal at the 2003 Israeli Championship. Best results: Yerevan 1981, 1st; Kiev 1989, 2nd; Tel Aviv 1992, 3rd; Capelle Open 1993, 2-6thst; Oberwart Open 1993, 1st Czerniak Memorial 1997, 1st; Quebec Open 1997, 2nd; Lisbon Open 1999, 1st; Cran Montana Open

Azerbaijani Grandmaster (2002). Azerbaijan U10 champion in 1995 and 1996, U12 in 1998 and U20 champion in 2001, Azerbaijan co-champion 2001. Vice World U10 champion in 1996, co-European U12 championship 1998, 3rd equal World U20 championship 2003, 4th World U12 in 1997. Best results: Acropolis 2005, 1st; Istanbul festival 2006, 2nd; Abu Dhabi Open 2006,

Russian Grandmaster (2013) who won become the Russian Junior Champion in 2012. Best results: European U10 Championship 2007, 2nd; World Youth Stars tournament in Kirishi in 2012, 3rd; Trieste Open 2013, 1st; Russian Higher League 2016, 1st; Vladivostok 2016, 2nd. A member of the Russian team at the 2012 World Youth Under-16 Chess Olympiad where he

Serbian Grandmaster (1951). Gligoric learned to play chess in early childhood. He lost his parents before the War, and the president of the Belgrade Chess Club took him to his place, and later they left to Montenegro on the German invasion. In 1939 he participated in Yugoslavian Amateur Championship for the first time where he