2017 Fall Chess Classic

Dariusz Świercz began learning the game of chess at the age of three. By the time he was 11 years old, he had already become a FIDE Master. He rapidly succeeded in obtaining his International Master title in 2008 by the age of 13, and then went on to became one of the youngest grandmasters in history and the youngest Polish grandmaster of all time when he was only 14 years old in 2009. Świercz won the 2011 World Junior Chess Championship at the age of 17 and is currently the only Polish male chess player to accomplish this title. The following year he also won the Under-18 World Championship. He favors the Sicilian opening for both white and black pieces, as well as the Ruy Lopez for white.

Aleksandr Shimanov became an International Master in 2007. Two years later, he received his grandmaster title when he was just 17 years old. In 2013, he tied for 1st-3rd at the Nakhchivan Open with Gadir Guseinov and Igor Kurnosov.  GM Shimanov typically favors the Queen’s Pawn Game and Salv openings for white, and Caro-Kann and King’s Indian openings for black.

Vladislav was the Belarusian Junior Chess Championship winner in the U20 age group on three different occasions. He has also represented Belarus in the European Youth Chess Championship, in which he was silver in 2008 and bronze in 2010, and the World Youth Chess Championship. Vladislav has participated in the finals of the Belarusian Chess Championship, receiving silver in 2013 and bronze in 2012. He has also represented Belarus at the Chess Olympiads in 2012, 2014, and 2016, as well.

Georg is a Grandmaster from Germany and his biggest successes include winning the European Team Championships with Germany in 2011 and finishing 2nd at the Dortmund Super-GM roundrobin in 2014. At the tournament in Dortmund, Georg also got his biggest win in an individual game, beating Vladimir Kramnik with the black pieces. Nowadays, Georg is mostly known for his success in online chess, thus in fast time controls. Georg received a Bachelor's degree from Webster University and is about to finish a Master's degree in economics at the Stockholm School of Economics in Sweden.

Tigran started playing chess at 5 and became a Grandmaster in 2004. His highest ELO rating was 2671 in March 2015. Tigran’s biggest achievements include being a member of the Armenian Gold medal team, two time Olympic Champion in 2008 and 2012; Olympic champion under 16; receiving a silver medal in World Junior under 20, 2004; 2 time Armenian champion; 5 times Armenian blitz champion; winner of international tournaments in different years, Beirut , Naidorf Memorial, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Agzamov memorial, Esfahan, Lion, Kalkatta, Golden Sands, Albena, Benasque, Chicago, Las Vegas, Philadepphia World Open.