British official first champion born on Valentine’s day. De Vere was taught to play chess at the age of 12 and soon became a regular visitor to the Divan. By 1862 he was too strong for Alexandre Anderssen at the odds of Knight. In 1864 he won the majority of a series of games with MacDonnel on

Armenian Grandmaster (1999). Vice World Champion U18 in 1992. Best results: Hallsberg Open 1993, 2nd; World U20 championship in 1992, 3rd-8th; Capelle la Grande 1994, 4th; Golberg Memorial GM 1998, 1st. In a match, he beat Eloi Relange 3½-2½ in 1993. Peak rating: 2530 in 1999, he was not active since 2009.

Czech Grandmaster (2007). Slovakian Champion in 2010. Czech U14 Champion in 1993 and U20 Champion in 2000. Best results: European U14 championship in 1993, 2-4th; Open Vysocina 2004, 2-4th; Pilsen Open 2004, 2th; Czech championship 2005, 5th; Brno Trade Fair 2005, 5th; Ceska Trebova RC Sport Open 2008, 1st; Matalmex Open 2009 (CZE), 1st, Decin

Italian player and chess patron. FIDE Honorary Member (1974). Treasurer and Auditor of FIDE (1947-1966) who has participated to all FIDE congresses from 1946 till his death. President of the Italian chess federation (1958-1980), In 1951 with the help of the French Marcel Berman, FIDE Vice President at that time, he composed the music of the

U.S. Grandmaster (Emeritus-1981) and author. U.S. Champion in 1944. Denker served as President of the North American Zone of FIDE and FIDE Delegate. He was on the Board of the American Chess Foundation, the United States Chess Federation, and the US Chess Trust. Best results: N.Y. State Championship 1938, 1st; N. Y. State Championship 1941,

Croatian Grandmaster (1964) who won the Yugoslav championship in 1961. Best results: won or shared first at Zagreb 1969, Bad Pyrmont 1970, Firenze and Catanzaro Open 1972 and Virovitica 1976. He was 2ndat Netanya 1969, Reggio Emilia 1971-1972, Zagreb 1972 and Birmingham 1977. In a match, his major success was a victory against Jan Timman 3-1

Serbian Grandmaster (1995). Best results: Won or shared first at Bela Crkva 1979, Bialystok 1980, Trnava 1981, Jagodina 1993 and at Belgrade Trophy in 2008. A participant in the 1990 Olympiad. Peak rating: 2530 in 1993.

Belgian problemist. A specialized in two-movers in the style of the ‘Good Companion’. Author of  All change here! with the collaboration of P.H. Williams.

Polish problemist, International Judge for Chess Composition (1956). Great composer of two-movers, he has published 300 problems which many of them got prizes. Chief editor of Szachy between 1947-1950. Author of ; ABC Szachisty, Warszawa 1966 and Taktika i strategia in 1974.

French-Monaco problemist, International Master for Chess Composition in 1980, a specialist in two and three-movers. Casa was also an OTB player who finished fourth in the French championship in 1967 and was a participant in four Olympiads under the Monaco flag.