US Grandmaster (1998) born in Turkmenistan. Best results: Winner at Moscow B in 1996, Golberg Memorial in 1997, Emory Castle Grand Prix 2001, South West Open 2002, (co) World Open 2003, Texas State Championship 2001, 2002 and 2003. Retired from active chess he is coaching chess in Texas since 2002. Peak rating: 2600 in 1998.

Croatian Grandmaster (1975) and chess journalist. His first good international result was an equal eleventh at the very strong Zagreb tournament of 1965. In 1968 he was equal first with Ivkov at Malaga, and in 1969 at Constanta, he was equal fourth/15. In 1970 came one of his best tournament results when he was fourth

Serbian Grandmaster. Serbian U12 Champion. Won or shared first at Budapest Elekes 1999, Vrsac 2001 and Reykjavik Open 2004, Open Karposh 2011 (FYROM), Open BOSNJACI 2011 (CRO). Also second at Budapest FS and Subotica 1999, Zadar Open 2003, Ptuj Open 2008, Ikaros Chess Festival 2008, Nova Gorica 2011, Skopje Karpoch Open 2011 and Zlatni Rat

Slovakian Grandmaster (2007). European U16 Champion in 2000, Slovakian Champion in 2000, co-champion in 2006 and runner-up in 2007. Best results: Slovakian U12, U14, U16 and U20 Champions; Open Scottish Chess Championship 2009, 3rd; Slovakian Open championship 2011, 1-3rd. A participant in the Olympiads since 2000. Author of Beat the KID (2008). Best ELO: 2577

Romanian Grandmaster. Writer. Marin learned the moves at age five, he became the Romanian Student Champion in 1985, which was his first important accomplishment as a young player. A three-time Romanian Champion (1988, 1994 and 1999). Marin has represented his country in ten Olympiads, winning the bronze medal at board 1 at Thessaloniki Olympiad in

Philippine Grandmaster (2004). Coach in Singapore. Asian Junior Champion 1993, Philippine Junior Champion in 1993 and 1994. Best results: Philippine Open championship 1993, 1st; World U20 1994, 3-6th; Singapore GM 1994, 1st; Philippines Championship 2002, 2nd-4th; AGEAN GM 2004, 2nd; Kuala Lumpur Open 2005, 2nd-8th. A participant in the 2002 Olympiad. Inactive player since the

Romanian Grandmaster (2007). Romanian Champion 2010 and 2011 runner-up. Best results: Pontevedra Open and Ortiguera Open 2004, 1st; Pedrido Memorial (ESP) 2006, 1st; Romanian Chess 2006, 3rd; Alarino Open 2006, 1st-3rd; Villeneuve Tolosane 2006, 1st; Memorial “Mirko Srajber” 2008, 1st; Statu Mare Open 2011, 2-5th; Baia Mare Open 2011, 1st. Best ELO: 2545 in 2011.

Slovakian Grandmaster (2006). Best results: Lazne Bohdanec 1996 and 1997, 1st; Tatry Open 2001, 1st; Wiener Master 2003, 1st; Presov (CZE) 2004, 2nd, Pressburg Open 2010, 1-2nd. A participant in the 2002 and 2004 Olympiads. Best ELO: 2512 in 2005.

Russian Grandmaster (2007). Best results: Russian U20 Championship 2004, 3rd; Novosibirsk Championship 2004, 1st; Russian Student Championship 2005, 2nd-4th; Dubna GM 2005, 1st; Stone Flower GM (RUS) 2006, 2007, 1st; Commonwealth Championship (IND) 2010, 1st; Memorial Izmailov Petr Memorial (RUS) 2011, 1-4th. A member of the Russian team which won the 2008 World University Chess

Russian Grandmaster (1999). Best results: Sochi 1986, 1st; Krasnodar 2003, 3rd. Not active since the end of 2009. Best ELO: 2477 in 2005.