GM Robert Hungaski
GM Robert Hungaski, Robert Hungaski was born on December 8th, 1987 in Stamford, Connecticut to an American father and an Argentine mother. He moved to Argentina at a very young age after his parents separated, which is where he learned to play chess at the age of six in an after-school program. He began taking chess seriously by the time he was twelve, when he decided to become a chess professional. Nevertheless, he did not neglect his formal education and, in fact, reached some of his best results amidst his academic obligations. He achieved the International Master title by the age of 18, in his senior year of high school, and his Grand Master title at the age of 24, in his senior year of college. Robert received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Connecticut in May of 2012 with a double major in Political Science and Philosophy, and a double minor in English and Middle Eastern Studies. He is also certified by the State of New York as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Robert has had extensive experience both as a player and a coach; he is a FIDE Senior Trainer, and is a regular member of the coaching squad for the US players at the World Youth and World Cadet Championships.

FIDE: 2528
TITLE: International Grandmaster

 
 
GM Nadya Kosintseva
GM Nadya Kosinteva GM Nadezhda “Nadya” Anatolyevna Kosintseva was born in Arkhangelsk, Russian in 1985, and became a grandmaster in 2011. Winner of the European Youth Chess Championship, Nadya took gold medals in 1995 (Girls Under-10, Verdun), 1997 (Girls Under-12, Tallinn) and 2000 (Girls Under-18, Kallithea). In 1998 at the World Youth Chess Championship, she took the gold medal in the Girls Under-14 event. In 2006, Nadya shared second place with younger sister Tatiana (also a grandmaster today), at the Russian women’s championship superfinal, just one and half points behind the winner. In December 2008, Nadya won the Russian Women’s Chess Championship in Moscow and placed second in this event in 2009. In 2010, she tied for 1st–7th with grandmasters Alexander Riazantsev, Vitali Golod, Leonid Kritz, Sébastien Feller, Christian Bauer, Sébastien Mazé in the 43rd Biel Chess Festival.

FIDE: 2483
TITLE: International Grandmaster

 

 

GM Leonid Kritz
GM Leonid Kritz GM Leonid Kritz was born in Moscow, Russia, in 1984. He started playing chess at age of 4, at Spartak Moscow Chess School. Kritz was Youth World Champion under 16 in 1999, and became a grandmaster in 2003, at the age of 19 years. He participated at the FIDE World Cup in 2004, and represented Germany at the Chess Olympiad 2004, and the European Team Championships 2005 and 2007. GM Kritz was co-winner of SPICE Cup 2008 - at the time, the strongest round-robin tournament in US history.

FIDE: 2612
TITLE: International Grandmaster

 

 

IM David Vigorito
IM David Vigorito IM David Vigorito was the 2007 Massachusetts Champion, as well as the state champion of New Hampshire and Nevada. He was the Champion of the Boylston (Boston) Chess Club, with a USCF rating of 2479. David played in the 2006 U.S. Championship after finishing in a tie for 3rd place at the U.S. Open in Phoenix. He is a successful chess author. His Challenging the Nimzo-Indian - and numerous other titles - have been very well received by critics and players alike.

FIDE: 2400
TITLE: International Master

 

 

GM Bryan Smith
GM Bryan Smith GM Bryan Smith grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and currently splits his time between Novi Sad, Serbia and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Some of his accomplishments include first place in the 2008 National Chess Congress, 2009 National Chess Congress, 2010 Philadelphia International, and 2011 Limpedea Cup. He was on the national champion UMBC chess team from 1999 to 2001. Bryan is the first-ever Grandmaster from Alaska! You can also find him on Facebook.

FIDE: 2474
TITLE: International Grandmaster

 

 

GM Jesse Kraai
GM Jesse Kraai GM Jesse Kraai currently resides in Berkeley, California. His most notable chess achievements are winning the Denker Tournament of High School Champions in 1989 and 1990, and competing in the US championship from 2002-2006. Jesse received his final GM norm at the Foxwoods Open 2007 and has a Ph.D in Philosophy from the University of Heidelberg. In 2013, Jesse published Lisa, a chess novel and has now returned to playing, winning in his comeback tournament, the Western States Championship in late 2013.

FIDE: 2526
TITLE: International Grandmaster

 

 

IM Bill Paschall
IM Bill Paschall IM Bill Paschall currently resides in Budapest, Hungary. Bill was the Boylston Chess Club Champion 2002, finished 1st at the Foxwoods Open 2002, Two-Time New England Open Champion, and has defeated more than 20 IGM’s in tournament play. Bill has extensive experience training both adults and children privately and in the schools.

FIDE: 2386
TITLE: International Master

 

 

 

IM Valeri Lilov
IM Valeri Lilov IM Valeri Lilov is a young chess talent from the small European country of Bulgaria. He is based in Varna, Bulgaria and has been working as successful chess coach and lecturer over the internet for more than seven years. In 2000 in Moscow, Russia, he became the European Individual School Chess Champion U10 with the record result of 6,5 out of 7. In 2005, he made a record in the history of Bulgarian chess by achieving 32 consecutive wins from national championships, which included two magnificent victories in simuls against the top Bulgarian grandmasters, Veselin Topalov and Kiril Georgiev. In 2008, he achieved his highest FIDE rating and in 2013, the title of International Master.

FIDE: 2434
TITLE: International Master

 

 

LM Dana Mackenzie
LM Dana Mackenzie LM Dr. Dana Mackenzie is a USCF Life Master, a PhD mathematician, and an award-winning mathematics and science journalist and author. LM Dana Mackenzie started playing tournament chess during the “Fischer boom” of 1971-72 and for some reason never quit. He was the champion of North Carolina in 1985 and 1987, and became a master in 1988. Mackenzie now lives in Santa Cruz, CA and runs a chess club for kids at the local library. His passion for chess and his enthusiasm for teaching is unmistakable.

FIDE: 2112
TITLE: Life Master (USCF)

 

 

IM John-Paul Wallace
John-Paul IM John-Paul Wallace is from Sydney, Australia currently residing in London, England. John-Paul was the youngest Australian Chess Champion ever at the age of 17 in 1993-94. John-Paul has also won the 2003 Pratt Foundation Australian Open Chess Championship and has represented Australia in two chess Olympiads. John-Paul is a chess journalist and a chess coach for students online and over-the-board. Feel free to contact John-Paul on johnpaulwallace@gmail.com or read more at https://wallacechess.com.

FIDE: 2398
TITLE: International Master

 

 

FM Dennis Monokroussos
FM Dennis Monokroussos FM Dennis Monokroussos is a 3-time Nevada State champion and won the Indiana State Championship in 2009. He taught philosophy at several universities, including the University of Notre Dame, and currently works as a chess coach for kids and adults, both in person and over the internet. He was coach of a team that won the 1997/8 National K-8 Championship and came within half a point of repeating the next year as well. His individual students have been successful too, and include scholastic state champions and a participant in the World Youth Games.

FIDE: 2281
TITLE: FIDE Master

 

 

GM Eugene Perelshteyn
GM Eugene Perelshteyn Eugene Perelshteyn was born in Ukraine and learned chess from his father, a FIDE Master. He moved to the United States at the age of fourteen and won the U.S. U18 Championship in 2000. Eugene earned a chess scholarship from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where he graduated in computer science. In 2002 he was awarded the Samford Chess Fellowship – given to the top American Player under 25 years old – which helped him earn the GM title in 2006. Eugene currently lives in Massachusetts, and competes mainly in New England. He is a regular contributor to ChessLecture.com, and is co-author of two books, Chess Openings for White, Explained and Chess Openings for Black, Explained, both in their second editions.

FIDE: 2542
TITLE: International Grandmaster

 

 

GM Roman Dzindzichashvili
GM Roman Dzindzichashvili Born in Tbilisi, Georgian GM Roman Dzindzichashvili won the Junior Championship of the Soviet Union in 1962 and the University Championships in 1966 and 1968. In 1970, he earned the title of IM. He earned the GM title in 1977. In 1980, he won the iconic Lone Pine tournament. He led the 1984 U.S. Olympiad team. One of his best was first place at The 53rd Hastings Chess Festival in 1977 / 1978. He won the U.S. Chess Championship in 1983 and 1989. He played a role in the film Searching For Bobby Fischer. He is a well-known theoretician and chess coach. Among his students are 3-time US Chess Champion GM Gata Kamsky, and GM Eugene Perelshteyn.

FIDE: XXXX
TITLE: International Grandmaster
 

 

IM John Watson
IM John Watson IM John Watson is a well respected chess author with over 21 books to his credit. John’s book Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy won both the BCF Book-of-the-year and the 1999 Cramer Book-of-the-year awards. John is a well respected chess trainer in the United States. His student Tal Shaked won the 1997 World Junior Championship.

FIDE: XXXX
TITLE: International Master

 

 

IM Attila Turzo
IM Attila Turzo IM Attila Turzo currently resides in Hungary. Attila was the 1998 Hungarian Junior Champion, and earned his IM title in 1997. Attila also won the First Saturday Chess Tournament in May 2004. Turzo is a professional chess coach.

FIDE:XXXX
TITLE: International Master
 
 

 
 

IM Mark Diesen
IM Mark Diesen IM Mark Diesen earned the International Master title in 1976 by winning the World Junior Championship at Groningen, ahead of such noted players as Lubomir Ftacnik and Oleg Romanishin. It was the first time an American had won the World Junior since William Lombardy in 1957. Other achievements included being Louisiana State Champion in 1986, 1987 and 1988. Diesen was a player with a positional style that made him a difficult opponent to face for even the most experienced IMs and GMs.

FIDE: XXXX
TITLE: International Master

 

 

GM Joshua Friedel
GM Josh Friedel GM Joshua "Josh" Friedel achieved the National Master rating at age 13 and gained his IM title in August of 2005. His tournament victories are many, including the 2001 Pan Am Open and the 2005 Queen City Open. Josh earned his first GM norm by winning the Berkeley Masters tournament in 2005. Josh became a Grandmaster in 2008. Josh continues to play in chess tournaments around the globe.

FIDE: XXXX
TITLE: International Grandmaster