The Field

GM BENJAMIN FINEGOLD

GM Finegold’s first major tournament win came in 1989 when he finished in a first-place tie at the U.S. Junior Closed Championship. In 1991, Finegold won his first major, international, Swiss-paired tournament in Antwerp, Belgium at just 21 years old. In 1993, was awarded the Samford Chess Fellowship. Finegold has offered outstanding commentary for several of the Club’s elite events.

GM ASHWIN JAYARAM

Jayaram was born in 1990 and is part of the Indian federation where he is ranked 30 nationally. His current FIDE rating is 2477. In June 2013, though he tied for 13th place in the Grand Europe Albena Chess Tournament in Bulgaria, finishing as the best Indian player in the field. Later, he tied for first place in the 51st National Challengers Chess Championship in India.

IM AMAN HAMBLETON

Aman is an International Master currently living in Montreal, Canada where he is a part-time coach and streamer at www.twitch.tv/chessbrah. He made his mark on the International Chess Scene in 2012 when he gained more than 250 ELO in less than a year, and achieved his International Master title in 2013. He was a member of Canada’s Olympic team in 2014.

IM AKSHAT CHANDRA

Akshat is the highest ranked junior rapid chess player in the country, and is among the leading junior blitz players in both online and on-board chess. He is the 2015 K-12 U.S. National Champion in both classic and blitz forms of the game. In 2013, Akshat won the K-9 Super Nationals Championship, the Under-18 North American Youth Championship, and achieved his international master title as well. Akshat’s biggest achievement was winning the 2015 U.S. Junior Closed.

IM ATULYA SHETTY

Atulya Shetty is an American chess FIDE Master from Michigan. He was the United States Chess Federation K-12 national champion in 2013. He was the US amateur team champion in 2012. He has played youth chess championships in Greece and the Republic of Georgia. (Wikipedia)

IM NAZI PAIKIDZE

Nazi captured the 2016 U.S. Women’s Championship title after her second attempt; she had a strong debut performance in the 2015 U.S. Women’s Championship, tying for second with an undefeated score of 7.5/11. Since transferring to the U.S. Federation in November 2014, she has risen to the fifth highest rated woman in America. Paikidze has won four European Youth Chess Championships and medaled in the World Youth Chess Championship an astounding six times, including two gold-medal finishes.

IM CYRIL PONIZIL

Ponizil was born in 1991 and is part of the Czech Republic federation where he is ranked 13 nationally. His current FIDE rating is 2504.

GM PRIYADHARSHAN KANNAPPAN

Kannappan was born in 1993 and is part of the Indian federation where he is ranked in the top 25 players nationally. His current FIDE rating is 2520.

IM TANIA SACHDEV

Sachdev is a former National Champion and former Asian Champion. She is currently the No. 3 ranked woman nationally and a Red Bull Athlete. Sachdev is also a National Arjuna Award Winner. Her current World rank is No. 42 with a rating of 2431.

WGM TATEV ABRAHAMYAN

Tatev Abrahamyan started playing chess at eight after her father took her to the 1996 Chess Olympiad in Yerevan, Armenia. Currently the third highest rated female in the U.S., she has represented the United States in four Olympiads and two World Team Championships since 2008.

FM DOUG ECKERT

Eckert is a member of the U.S. federation and his current FIDE rating is 2174. He is currently ranked in the top 350 players in the U.S. and has written a book on his favorite chess openings. Eckert also sits on the board at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis.

FM JOSHUA COLAS

Colas was born in 1998 and is ranked in the top 150 players in the U.S. His current FIDE rating is 2347. He holds the record as youngest-ever African-American Chess Master (preceded by Justus Williams); 2013 New York State High School Chess Champion; USCF All-American: 2010-2013.

FM GAURI SHANKAR

He has won 27 International junior chess medals at the age of 14 and has also drawn and defeated many International Masters and Grandmasters during his chess career. His current elo rating is 2310. Recently, he defeated Grandmaster Alex Lenderman and drew Victor Mikhalevski in the 2010 Chicago Open Championship. (Wikipedia)

FM KONSTANTIN KAVUTSKIY

Kavutskiy was born in 1992 and is part of the U.S. federation where he is ranked in the top 150 players. His current FIDE rating is 2344. His first book, Modernized: The Open Sicilian, was published in February 2015.

FM SETH HOMA

Homa was born in 1988 and is part of the U.S. federation where he is ranked in the top 150 players. His current FIDE rating is 2329. Seth has 2 IM norms (Golden State Open 2013 and St Louis Invitational 2014).

IM ANGELO YOUNG

Young is part of the Philippines federation where he is ranked in the top 50 players. His current FIDE rating is 2318. He is two-time MVP for the Chicago Blaze in the United States Chess League.

IM MICHAEL BROOKS

Brooks is part of the U.S. federation where he is ranked in the top 100 players. His current FIDE rating is 2405.

FM LEFONG HUA

FM Lefong Hua is a chess coach and trainer from Montreal, Canada. Lefong excelled at chess as a child, most notably finishing 5th place in the 1992 World Youth Chess Championships alongside future top GM’s Aronian, Grischuk, and Bacrot. His current FIDE rating is 2284.

FM MATTHEW LARSON

Larson was born in 1997 and is in the U.S. federation where he is currently ranked in the top 150 players. His current FIDE rating is 2334.

IM VITALY NEIMER

Neimer was born in 1988 and is in the Indian federation where he is currently ranked in the top 100 players. His current FIDE rating is 2344.