Novi Sad, Serbia, 20-28 June
 U15 Open – Lawrence LeeI was born in Manchester and started playing chess since I was 6 years old. I enjoy chess very much and am honoured to have the opportunity of representing my school, my county (Hertfordshire) and England in various tournaments in the UK and abroad. I have also played chess in Hong Kong where I won the national title. I would like to thank Tony Niccoli, Sabrina Chevannes and Lorin D’Costa for everything they have done for me. I attend The Haberdashers’ Askes’s Boys’ School. |
 U15 Open – Jonathan FinnJonathan started competitive chess in Year 5 and has since gone on to play for Sussex Juniors,Bexhill, Hastings and for the South East of England team. He was in the Sussex team that won the U13 National Championship in 2012. He also enjoys football, playing for Bexhill United, rugby, athletics and playing the violin. |
 U13 Open – Vincent LeeI have loved playing chess since the age of 7. My interest in chess was stimulated from the games played with my dad and brother, and the coaching of Tony Niccoli. I would also want to thank Sabrina Chevannes and Lorin D’Costa, without whom I would not be able to achieve some trophies and opportunities of playing for my school and Hertfordshire County. I attend The Haberdashers’ Askes’s Boys’ School. |
 U13 Open – Daniel GallagherDaniel was introduced to chess at the age of six by his father, and joined his junior school chess club at the age of eight. He became Essex U11 Champion 2012, won the South of England Championship U13 Open Section 2013 and came first in the Intermediate U150 Section at the Southend Congress 2013 at Easter. Daniel cannot wait to represent England in Serbia, and would like to thank his parents for travelling with him to tournaments all over the country, his wider family and friends for their encouragement, his school for their support, all associated with Essex Junior Chess and Maldon Chess Club, and, last but not least, GM Nick Pert who has helped him develop his chess in leaps and bounds. In addition to chess, Daniel enjoys football and tennis. Daniel attends King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford. |
 U13 Open – Thomas FinnThomas learned chess at the age of 5 and started competitive chess in Year 3. He was the U9 Supremo in the Sussex Megafinal in 2010. He has gone on to play for the Sussex Junior, Bexhill and Hastings teams. He was in the Sussex team that won the U12 National Championship in 2012. He would like to thank Sussex Junior Chess and his parents. Thomas attends Bishop Bell School, Eastbourne |
 U13 Open – Matthew ForsterSince learning chess at school, Matthew has been a regular at both Horsham Chess club and Sussex Junior Chess events, and would like to thank both for the lessons and the fun times as well as the chance to play for their teams and enjoy some very memorable events! As well as chess, Matthew is a regular competitor in football, basketball, table-tennis, tennis and judo. Matthew attends Heron Way Primary School in West Sussex. |
 U11 Open – Samir SamadovThe author and star of his own film “CHECKMATE”, was born in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2002. He started playing chess when he was 5 in Baku, then continued his chess career with Atherton chess club in England. He is Ultima, a member of National Chess Junior Team U11 (qualified at age 10), a winner in the match v Flanders 2012, winner of the EPSCA U9 in 2011, runner-up in the British Chess Championships 2010, winner of the London Rapidplay, was a member of EPSCA U9s and in the U11s representing Lancashire. At the age of 8 he played in the U14 of Lancashire Team, scoring 3/4 and coming 2nd. Outside of chess, Samir is an accomplished cricket player. Samir’s aim is to become a World Chess Champion and continue to help children in need. He is very thankful to GM Nick Pert, WGM Sheila Jackson, IM Ali Mortazavi, Atherton Chess Club, Baku Chess School and Ray Morris-Hill. Samir attends St Saviour’s C of E Primary School. |
 U11 Open – Freddie ColemanI am 11 years old. I started learning chess at the age of 7 and joined Sussex Junior Chess. I have been part of the Sussex teams who have won the U9 and U12 National titles. I would like to say thank you to Jonathan Tuck, my coach, Mike Forster and Dave Graham, my Sussex coaches, Mr Hearn, my chess teacher at school and my Grandad Ray. In my spare time I play football for Hurstpierpoint and cricket for Ditchling. I attend St Lawrence CE Primary School in Hurstpierpoint, West Sussex. |
 U11 Open – Gabriel Balouka-MyersGabriel attends Garden Suburb Junior School |
 U11 Open – Reuben Balouka-MyersReuben attends Garden Suburb Junior School |
 U11 Open – Jonathan LeeJonathan started playing chess aged 4 and soon developed an appetite for tournament play. He played board 4 for Somerset U11s aged 7 and helped his school become National Small Schools Champions. In the UK Chess Challenge he won a place in the 2011 Terafinal Challengers followed in 2012 by a place in the Terafinal. When not playing chess he enjoys football and playing the drums. He would like to thank Chris Strong for his great tuition and encouragement and his brother Ben for playing chess with him. Jonathan attends QEH School, Bristol |
 U11 Open – Thomas McLarenTom starting playing chess when he was 8 and picked up the game very quickly. He is the current Gloucestershire U11 champion and the Wiltshire U11 and U12 champion. He was also a member of the Gloucester Giants team that won this years Junior 4NCL. He plays chess for Wotton Hall chess club in Gloucester. Tom attends Upton St Leonards School in Gloucester |
 U11 Open – Charlie McLarenCharlie is the current British U10 Champion, a member of the EPSCA U11 England team and a member of the National Chess Junior Squad. He started playing chess when he was 8 and now plays for Wotton Hall Chess Club in Gloucester. Charlie attends Upton St Leonard’s School in Gloucester. |
 U11 Open – Ethan SanittEthan’s first chess tournament was as a member of his school chess team in Year 3 at the English Primary Schools Chess Championships. It was in Pontins that he caught the chess bug and has never looked back. His proudest chess achievements include winning the rating prize in an adult e2e4 competition and qualifying for the Challengers in the UK Chess Challenge. He has also won numerous local junior tournaments. He would like to thank the school for supporting chess, school coaches Rob Willmoth and Lorin D’Costa as well as Barnet Knights. Ethan attends Garden Suburb Junior School. |
 U11 Open – Daniel FinnDaniel is 10, learned chess at the age of 5 and played in his first tournament in Year 2. He was the U9 Supremo in the Sussex Megafinal in 2012 and Ultimo in the Southern Gigafinal. He has gone on to play for the Sussex Junior and Bexhill teams. He was in the Sussex teams that won the U9 national title in 2011 and the U12 in 2012. He plays the violin end enjoys Maths and Geography so is looking forward to visiting Serbia. He would like to thank Sussex Junior Chess for the excellent support he’s been given. Daniel attends Little Common Primary School. |
 U11 Open – Tim LewisI am 10 years old. I enjoy chess, football and piano which I’ve just started. I have played in lots of chess tournaments. I play for the Barnet Chess Team. I would like to thank Angela Eyton, Sheila Jackson and Tony Niccoli. I go to UCS Junior Branch. |
 U11 Open – Oliver HowellLearnt chess at 2, taught by optimistic older brother despite parents’ disbelief! Won first team and individual titles at 4. Won Coulsdon English Chess Challenge National Age Group 4 years in a row. Coulsdon ECC U18 Champion-of-Champions Runner-up 2011(aged 8). Sussex Under 8 Champion 2010. Sussex Under 9 Champion 2011. Sussex Under 11 Champion 2012 3rd, British Under 9 Championships 2012 (5 other British Championships, all top 10 finishes). West-of-England U18 Intermediate Champion 2013. 6th=, South-of-England U11 2013 (147 performance) Keen to become the third English GM named Howell (thanks James and David for the inspiration!) Attends The Hawthorns School. |
 U11 Open – Amardip AhluwaliaAmardip played in his first chess tournament 18 months ago, since then he has been a regular at Sussex Junior Chess events. Amardip is the current Sussex U9 champion. Amardip is a member of both the junior and senior club at Crowborough and has played on a number of occasions for the senior club. As well as chess Amardip plays cricket, rugby and football outside of school. Amardip would like to thank his mum and big brother, Gurdip, for their unwavering support and his biggest thanks go to his coach, Jonathan Tuck, who not only got Amardip interested in chess but has since been an enormous source of guidance and support. Amardip attends Copthorne Prep School. |
 U11 Girls – Mahima RaghavendraI will soon be 10 years old. I love chess, and I started playing chess in school and quickly moved on to competitive chess. I have enjoyed some success in the Mega /Giga finals of the UK Chess Challenge and in the British Chess Championships 2012. I have been helped by Simon Woodcock (Atherton Chess Club), Julian Clissold (Manchester Junior Chess) and Andrew Wilson (Bolton School) and I want to thank them. I go to Bolton School. |
 U11 Girls – Laura DavidsonMy name is Laura Jean Davidson. I started playing chess just over a year ago. Mrs Kate Hegarty taught me how to play chess at school. My first tournament was the Megafinals in April 2011. Since then I have played in many tournaments across the country, and won lots of trophies and medals. I play for the Wey Valley chess team and at the Sandhurst chess club. I also play violin, sing, swim in the school team, ice skate and play tennis. I would like to thank Mrs Sweeney, Mrs Hegarty, Sarah Hegarty, Nicholas Pert, Mike Basman, Mrs Pat Armstrong, Jonathan Tuck and Alec Aslett. I have met some great people playing chess and thank you all for giving me the opportunity to play the game. I attend Coworth Flexlands School. |
 U9 Open – Jason CoveyI started to play chess at the age of 6. I first learned how to play from my older sister who was in an after-school chess program. Now I play in many individual tournaments and also team competitions for Barnet Junior Chess and my school. I also like football, tennis, basketball, bike-riding and math puzzles. I would like to thank my sister Sarah, Tony Niccoli and all the coaches working with Barnet Junior Chess. I attend the American School in London. |
 U9 Open – Leo SanittLeo finished in the top half of the World Championships in Slovenia last Summer. He returned to England a much stronger player and now enjoys challenging adults as well as children! He would like to thank his school, the school coaches, Rob Willmoth and Lorin D’Costa and Barnet Knights. Apart from chess, Leo enjoys table tennis, football and Harry Potter. Leo attends Garden Suburb Junior School. |
 U9 Open – Alexander JamiesonAlexander has been playing competitive chess since the age of six and represents Richmond in the Inter-Association championships. He would like to thank Tony Niccoli, his coach at school, Mark Josse and Marie Gallagher from Richmond Junior Chess Club, and Jason Kouchak for their support and guidance. Alexander attends Ecole Jacques Prévert. |
 U9 Open – Raphael Balouka-MyersRaphael attends Garden Suburb Junior School. |
 U9 Open – Tobias Balouka-MyersTobias attends Garden Suburb Junior School. |
| Coaches |
 GM Nick PertI have competed in World and European Youth and Junior Championships every year from age 12 to 20 so I have a lot of experience in these types of event. My best finishes were a gold medal in the World Under 18 Championships in 1998 where I achieved my IM title and a bronze medal in the European U12 Championships. I became a grandmaster in 2003 and have played for the England first team in Olympiads and European Team Championships on many occasions. I won the British Rapidplay Championships in 2004, and currently have the highest rapidplay grade in the country. I haven’t won the British Championships (yet!), my best finish was outright 2nd in 2010 behind GM Michael Adams. I have been active on the individual coaching front with a very small number of pupils for several years, however now I have stopped jobs outside of chess I have been able to spend a lot more time on this recently. One of my first pupils, Felix Ynojosa, who has now moved to Venezuela, has just told me that he has achieved his IM title at age 16. At the recent British Championships, 2 of the people I work with regularly at chess won their age group, 1 won a grading section and 2 others won prizes for top junior performance and best improvement in grade. I’d like to thank all the people who have helped me in chess throughout my life, not least my parents for taking me to lots of tournaments when I was young, my brother, IM Richard Pert, for giving me a rival, my first chess coach, Kevin O’Connell, and many others who I have been extremely fortunate to work with at chess. I hope that I can help others get as much enjoyment and success from playing chess as I have, if not more! |
 GM Simon Williams |
 GM John Emms |
 WGM Meri Grigoryan [pic by Ray Morris-Hill]Represented England in the European Women’s Team Championship, World Olympiad and World Mind Sport Games. Manager and Coach of West London Junior Chess Club since 2001. Coached Wey Valley U9 & U11 teams during EPSCA finals in 2000s. British Ladies Blitz Champion in 2004 and British Grand Prixette 2003-04. |
 IM Jonathan HawkinsBritish Rapidplay Champion 2012 and winner of the ECF Grand Prix 2012, Jonathan is our highest rated IM and one norm away from his GM title. Between travelling the country to support our weekend congresses and writing a well received chess book (soon to be re-printed and translated into Italian), he still finds time to coach some of the strongest U11s in England. [photograph by Steve Connor] |
 WFM Sarah Hegarty |
 Megan Owens |