John Bryant

FM John Bryant, the step son of GM Enrico Sevillano, has been steadily gaining experience and rating points over the past few years. Although he lost to Mexican GM Manuel Leon Hoyos in an armageddon-style playoff at the 2012 U.S. Open Championship, Bryant was offered an invitation to the 2013 U.S. Championship as the highest-finishing U.S. player.
 
John currently resides in Tehachapi, Calif., but will be returning to the University of Dallas at Texas where he plays on their first-rate chess team.
 
His tournament highlights include clear first at Lina Grumette Memorial Day Classic '10 (LA) and a tie for first at the Capablanca Memorial '10 in northern California.
 
His favorite chess book is Secrets of Chess Tactics by Mark Dvoretsky, and outside of chess, he enjoys martial arts, philosophy and basketball. His favorite players include Capablanca, Mikhail Tal, Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov.