Dutch chess composer. International Master for Chess Composition (1975) and International Judge for Chess Compositions (1958). Since 1917, he published about 600 problems. A world’s leading authority on chess literature. Author and publisher of nearly 40 books devoted to chess compositions. Bibliophile. In 1948, donated his prestigious chess book collection (more than 7000 items) to

Swiss player, also a doctor of medicine. He studied at Geneva, Munich, and Heidelberg, obtaining his medical doctorate at Zurich in 1909. He specialized in dermatology and venereology at Bern, becoming Ausserordentlicher Professor in 1917 and director of the university dermatological clinic, his work concerning immunity research in dermatology and syphilology. Best Swiss chess player

English Grandmaster (1978) and Solving Grandmaster. Ph.D in Mathematics (at 20). Author and publisher. World Champion in Chess Solving 2004, 2007 and 2010. European Junior Champion in 1975. British Champion in 1980. Best results: won or shared first at Amsterdam B 1975, Budapest 1978, Hastings 1979-80, Manchester 1980, Helsinki and Wiesbaden 1981, Wijk aan Zee

Soviet chess and draughts player, the only Master of Sports in Chess 1950 and Draughts 1949, International Master 1954. He was the coach of the Soviet team during the period of 1948-74 but was not allowed to travel abroad until his 40’s. Five times he was the winner of the Kazan championships and of the

American player born in England. Businessman. First British Champion (1904). Moved to Portland, Maine and then in 1893-94 to Brooklyn which became a more permanent home.  As a boy, joined the Brooklyn Heights Social Chess Club. His active chess career was quite short and can be identified as being merely a decade starting in 1895. 

Russian Grandmaster. Russian Champion in 1998 and 2007. Morozevich is also an excellent Go player. Best results: Lloyd Bank Open London 1994, 1st; Pamplona 1994, 1st; FIDE World Championship 1995, 4th; Melody Amber 2002, 1st; Biel GM 2003, 2004 and 2006, 1st; Pamplona 2006, 1st; Bosna Open 2008, 1st; Russian Higher League championship 2011, 1st; Saratov Governor’s

German Grandmaster (1998). Ph.D. in mathematics in 2002 at the University of Hamburg. Vice champion of Germany in 1997. Peak rating: 2558 in 1999. The author of Fundamental Chess Endings (with Frank Lamprecht, 2001) and Secrets of Pawn Endings (with Frank Lamprecht, 2000), How to Play Chess Endgames (with Wolfgang Pajeken, 2008), Magic of Chess

U.S Grandmaster born in Iran. Iranian Champion 2001. MBA degree from the Rawls College of Business. He graduated from Sharif University of Technology with the B.Sc degree in Chemical Engineering. Best results: Iran championship 2003, 3rd; Kish GM 2005, 1st; Paris championship 2006, 2nd; Tehran Chess Ramadan Cup 2008, 1st; Iran Ch 2009, 2nd; Thailand Open 2009, 2nd; Rethymno 2009, 2nd; Sardaran Cup

Polish Grandmaster (2002), World U12 Champion in 1996. Best results: won or shared first at Cannes Open in 2000, Lviv Summer 2002, Budapest FS 2003 Bajada de la Virgen (ESP) 2003, North American Open 2005, World Open 2005, Magistral Elgoibar (ESP) 2007, La Laguna Open 2010, Reykjavik Open 2011. Also second in Montreal 2006 and in

Russian Grandmaster (2012) Best results: winner or shared first at Yfo Championship 2013; Dresden Open 2016; Mersin Open 2016; Karpos Open 2017; Bosna Open 2017; 2nd Paytakht Cup 2017; 4th Torneo de AjedrezCiudad Arica (CHI) 2017. Peak rating: 2660 in 2017.