Batumi, Georgia, October 18th – 29th
 U18 Girls – Amy Hoare Amy has played chess competitively since she was 7 and qualified for the National Chess Junior Squad at the Under 11 trial. Since then she has travelled widely with her chess, competing in Guernsey, the Czech Republic, Holland, Poland, Italy, Turkey, Montenegro and Slovenia. Amy is the current British Women’s Champion, English Ladies Champion and British Under 18 Girl Champion. Other highlights include: playing in the London Chess Classic (Women’s International Invitational), the Under 16 Olympiad in Istanbul and the European Youth Team Championships in Slovenia. Amy also enjoys mentoring the Sussex Girls under 11 Team who achieved 1st place in 2012. She is passionate about all sports and represents her school in hockey, netball, tennis and rounders. Thanks go to everyone who has supported and encouraged Amy with her chess, in particular: GM David Howell, Jonathan Tuck, IM Lawrence Cooper, Sussex Junior Chess, Horsham Chess Club and Farlington School. |
| U18 Girls – Katherine Shepherd |
 U18 – Ezra Kirk |
 U18 – John Fraser I started playing chess competitively when I was 12, and have enjoyed playing ever since. I competed at my first European Youth Championship last year, and am hoping for a better performance this year. Aside from chess I love playing cricket and football. I would like to thank Newton Abbot Chess Club and especially Trefor Thynne for helping me rapidly improve, Torquay Boys’ Grammar School, the Devon Junior Chess Association, my parents for taking me to tournaments all over the place, and numerous others who have helped me get to this stage. |
 U16 Girls – Cosima Keen Cosima has been playing chess since she was 5, coming joint first at the Southern Gigafinal that same year. Since then she has had the opportunity to play opponents from all over the globe – travelling as far as Brazil for the World Youth Championships last year. Cosima loves music. She plays the oboe and the piano and sings. She has performed at Glyndebourne and the Royal Albert Hall. She enjoys sport especially netball and has just started ski race training. She would like to thank: her coach Jovanka; Trevor Norton for his years of patience; Colin Harding; all at Sussex Junior Chess and Matthew Turner GM, at her new school Millfield, for all their invaluable support, wisdom and encouragement. |
 U16 Girls – Vickie Sit I started playing chess from the age of 7 at my school chess club (Old Palace School) and began playing competitively soon after. At the age of 9 I was selected to represent Surrey in the Wey Valley girls and mixed teams, after which I moved to Nonsuch High School for Girls and participated in various secondary school county events. I have annually partaken in the Delancys UK Schools Chess Challenge along with many other chess congresses and rapid plays. Aside from chess I also enjoy photography and music, both of which I would also like to carry into the future. I would like to thank my family for helping me get this far, my brother for practicing with me and inspiring me to take up chess and most importantly my mum for dedicating so much of her time and effort to my progression as a chess player and a person in general. |
 U16 Girls – Zoe Varney I am 14 and go to Headington School, Oxford. I started playing chess when I was 8 and first started to get into chess when I qualified for the UK Chess Challenge Megafinal and Gigafinal when I was 9. I also enjoy school, reading, dance and trampolining and I love animals. I would like to thank my parents, my brother (Daniel) and my amazing cats Daisy and Casper for being so supportive. I would also like to thank my coach IM Adam Hunt. I am looking forward to playing in the European Schools and European Youth Chess Championships! |
 U16 – Ravi Haria Ravi has played competitive chess since he was 8, in Open and Junior international events in the UK and abroad. His achievements include winning a Bronze Medal in Delhi (2007), and a medal for 6th place in the U12 section at the World Youth Chess Championship, Brazil, 2011. Ravi has won junior British Championship titles at Under-8 (joint), Under-9 and Under-13 and played in the main British Championship since 2010. As well as enjoying chess, Ravi is a keen all-round sportsman and plays cricket and hockey for his school team. He also loves drama and music and plays the double bass and bass guitar. Ravi would like to thank Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School, the English Chess Federation and the wider chess community for much appreciated support, guidance, opportunities and encouragement to develop as a player and represent England. |
 U14 Girls – Akshaya Kalaiyalahan Akshaya is 12 years old and learned to play chess when she was eight years old. She has represented England previously in the World and European Youth Chess Championships. Akshaya’s main achievements include in the last year; became the Youngest British Women Chess Champion (joint), became 4th in the European Youth U12 Girl Championships, became the British U12 Champion and British U18 Girl Champion, became the top girl player, as well as coming second in the tournament overall in the UK School Chess Challenge Terafinal Competition. Akshaya is privileged to be selected to play for the England Women Team in the World Olympiad in August 2014.She enjoys swimming, reading, playing rounders and netball. She would like to thank everybody who encouraged, supported and guided her and made her a good chess player. Akshaya attends Nonsuch High School for Girls in Sutton, Surrey. |
 U14 – Matthew Wadsworth Hello, I am Matthew Wadsworth. I learnt chess at the age of 4, through playing with my dad. I have competed at World and European youth events since 2007, and am looking forward to going back to Georgia. My proudest chess moments so far are beating Mickey Adams in a simul in 2011; my first open tournament win in 2012; my 5th place at the 2012 WYCC U12s; and most recently my first longplay win over a GM (Canada’s Eric Hansen). Thanks to Nigel Dennis and the rest of the Berkshire Junior Chess Association; my various coaches over the years; my school for allowing me the time out to compete in Batumi; my 4NCL team captain Roger Emerson; and the four ECF Junior Directors who have selected me for international events. I am a pupil at Reading School. Away from chess I love playing cricket! |
 U14 – Pavel Asenov Pavel was first introduced to chess at William Fletcher Primary School in year 3 but actively started playing and really picked on chess at the beginning of 2012. Since then he has been constantly improving – in 2 years he has reached ECF grade of 170, qualified for the National Chess Junior Squad and is looking forward to representing England at the EYCC 2014. In 2012 he also joined Witney Chess club, where he found a really thriving chess society, and it has been instrumental for his further development. Pavel has various interests outside chess – parkour, kickboxing (black belt), competitive swimming. He is fascinated by science and really interested in maths. |
 U14 – Giri Haridas |
 U14 – Josh Higgs Josh was taught to play chess by his older brother Sam when he was 5 years old. He qualified for the National Chess Junior Squad at the Under 11 trial in 2011 and has since travelled widely competing in Gibraltar, WYCC 2012 in Slovenia, WSCC 2013 in Greece and WYCC 2013 in UAE. Highlights include coming 3rd in the 2014 English Youth Chess Championship Grand Prix; 3rd in the 2014 U14 National Junior Squad Championship. Josh would like to thank everyone who has supported and encouraged him with chess, in particular his coach Mr. Andrew Martin, Mr. Peter Purland, The Graham Family, Sussex Junior Chess and his older brother Sam who enabled him to discover his love of chess. Josh is a pupil at Downside School in Somerset. |
 U14 – Theo Slade Theo started playing chess at the age of 6 and immediately fell in love with the game. He won his first trophy when he was 7 and finished runner up in the British U8 Championships in 2009. He qualified for the National Chess Junior Squad whilst an U10 which has enabled him to play in Holland, the Czech Republic and Belgium. He has also represented the ECF in Austria, France and Greece and captained the England U12 team to victory in the Stokes Cup. In 2012 he won the “Most Brilliant Game” trophy in the Guernsey Open and in 2013 travelled to Chongqing in China representing England in the World U16 Olympiad. Theo would like to thank his Mum and Dad for travelling the length and breadth of the country and his coach, Dr. Dave Regis, for his constant encouragement and enthusiasm. Theo attends Route 39 Academy in Devon. |
 U14 – Richard Zhu Richard started to play chess when he was nine. Five months afterwards he was selected by the Berkshire Junior Chess Team and in 2011 he qualified for the England U11 Squad. Richard is fortunate to have received a lot of support and guidance from many people, especially those at Camberley Chess club. Richard also loves playing badminton and started representing Berkshire when he was 9 years old.Richard attends Wellington College |
 U12 – Koby Kalavannan Koby started playing chess at his primary school. He is the Under 11 British Chess Champion, Under 12 British Boys Champion, Delancey UK Schools Chess Challenge Under 11 Champion, English Grand Prix Junior Winner 2012 and 2013 and the winner of Under 12 English Youth Chess Championship Grand Prix 2014. He has represented England before. He is a member of National Chess Junior Squad and recently travel to Poland, winning the Best International Player title. He is in his school chess 1st team and represents his school in many national school chess tournaments. Apart from chess he loves playing Eastern and Western violin, keyboard and singing, and he is in his school choir and orchestra. He enjoys playing sports, especially cricket. Koby would like to thank everyone who has supported, guided and encouraged him to get to this stage and become a good chess player. He would also like to thank ECF for selecting him to represent England, and Hampton School for all their support. |
 U12 – Zheming Zhang |
 U12 – Charlie McLaren Charlie started playing chess when he was 8 years old and picked the game up very quickly. As a 9 year old he qualified for the EPSCA U11 England Team and in 2012 he was the British U10 champion. He is now a member of the National Chess Junior Squad. In 2013 he represented England in The European Schools Championship in Serbia and the European Youth Championship in Montenegro. He currently plays for the Wotton Hall Chess Club in Gloucester. Outside of chess Charlie is a keen footballer and loves playing on his X-box! He attends the Crypt Grammar School in Gloucester. Charlie would like to thank everyone who has supported him with his chess especially his Mum, Dad and brothers. |
 U12 – Sacha Brozel Hello, my name is Sacha Brozel and I’m 11 years old. I started playing chess 6 years ago. I’m the current British U10 Chess Champion and won the British U9s the year before. My first tournament win was the London U8s, and I was the runner-up in the British U8s and the London U10s. The first time I played for England was last year in the European Youth Chess Championship in Montenegro and I scored 5/9. I’m very proud to have been selected again. In September I start at City of London Boys School but currently go to Muswell Hill Primary School. Despite taking up most of my time, chess isn’t my only interest. I enjoy playing football, tennis, table tennis, frisbee and basketball. I’d like to thank Rob Willmoth (my chess coach), Lorin D’Costa, Michael Bennett, my poor family who I drag across the country (and the world!) and everyone else who has supported me. |
 U12 – Anantha Anilkumar Anantha started playing chess at school when he was 6 years old, and was the LJCC U8 champion in 2009, aged 7. He jointly won the London Junior U12 Championship with three others in 2012. He finished in the top three at the British Championships in his age group for the last three years, and finished second in the 100th British Championships. He is a member of the Kent Junior Chess Association, which has won many EPSCA titles, and he also plays for the KJCA Knights 4NCL team. Anantha enjoys learning new languages as well as playing cricket, badminton and rugby in his free time. He’d like to thank his coaches GM Chris Ward and WGM Jovanka Houska, Kent Junior Chess Association, his school chess coach Mr Kevin Bailey and the headmaster and staff of St Olave’s Grammar School in Orpington, for the encouragement and support they have given to improve his chess. |
 U12 – Alex Golding Alex is 10 years old and started playing chess when he was 6 years old. His successes include becoming the Delancey UK Schools Chess Challenge National U11 Champion in 2012 when he was 8 years old. Alex represented England in the World Schools, European Youth and World Youth Chess Championships in 2013. Alex plays for Ashtead, CCF, Ealing, 4NCL, Surrey, Wey Valley U11and England U11 teams. He is a keen tennis player and takes part in many other sporting activities. He attends Downsend School in Leatherhead. Alex thanks all those who have supported and encouraged him in his chess including Pat Armstrong, IM Mike Basman, Mike Bolan, GM Glenn Flear, IM and WGM Susan Lalic, Owen Phillips, Sainbayar Tserendorj, Daniel Gliddon and Kathy Vannucci. |
 U12 – James Moreby James first played chess for England at the age of 9 in the World Schools Championship in Romania. The following year he competed in the World Schools in Greece and earlier this year travelled with the National Chess Junior Squad to play in an international tournament in the Czech Republic. He is looking forward to further international competition in Gibraltar, Belgium and the European Youth Championship in Georgia. James enjoys chess on the board and off it, having discovered that chess is a great way to support his keen interests in meeting and talking to people from all over the world! Outside of chess, James loves sport. This summer, he is spending time developing his batting and wicket keeping skills at South Northumberland Cricket Club. James attends the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle. |
 U10 Girls – Thivyaa Rahulan I started playing chess at the age of 7 and began to play competitively at the age of 8. My other interests are tennis, piano, singing and swimming . I go to Newcastle-Under-Lyme Junior School. I would like to thank all the people who helped me with my chess. |
 U10 Girls – Anita Somton |
 U10 – Aditya Verma Aditya has had a top ten finish in all the three international competition he has played for England and the the most inspiring moment was to receive a medal for joint 4, 8th rank at WYCC 2012. |
 U10 – Adithya Pramod Paleri Adithya has started playing chess little over an year ago and already has an impressive list of achievements. His first major success came in December 2013, when he won Under 8, London Chess Classic tournament. Since then he has won Wilts & West of England U10 and National junior squad U10 championships and came second in South of England Juniors U9 championship. Adithya is the current U9 Junior grand prix winner and holds both English Junior Rapid play U8 champion and U9 English Youth Boys Chess Champion titles. He is grateful to his coach Mr.Jyothilal Narayanan who is instrumental in his development and also to Hertfordshire county junior team coach IM Ravi Kumar. He wants to thank seniors at Watford chess club for patiently spending long hours in playing with him and also to 4NCL team manager Lawrence Cooper for giving the opportunity to play the adults event. He attends Nascot wood junior School and wants to extend his gratitude to the staff and friends there for the encouragement and support. Adithya is a keen all round sportsman and plays football, tennis, cricket and has achieved 5th grade (green belt) in karate. He also loves reading and playing guitar. |
 U8 – Haolin Zhao Haolin started to learn to play chess when he was four. He enjoys playing in chess tournaments and has won a large collection of trophies, medals. He won the best London U7 player when he was five, Surrey Wey valley U8 and U9 championship when he was 6. He was British U8 champion last year. He is also the current English U8 youth champion and LJCC U8 Champion. He came fourth when he first represented England in the World School Chess Championship in Greece in 2013. In addition to chess, he also loves music, swimming, math and science. Haolin would like to say thank you to everyone who has supported, encouraged and coached him, and in particular: Homefield Chess Club, CCF, KJCA, Miss Wendy Bradley, Mrs. Pauline Cook, Mr. Daniel Gliddon, Mr. Scott Freeman, Mr Anantha P P Anilkumar, GM John Emms, GM Chris Ward and Mr Suresh Kumar. Haolin attends Robin Hood Junior School in Sutton. |
| U8 Girls – Navi Haridas |
 Coach – Jovanka Houska British Women’s Champion, Commonwealth Ladies Champion |
 Coach – Glenn Flear I have been a GM since 1987 and am based in Montpellier in the south of France. I am married to a five-times French Women’s Champion and have two teenage children. Apart from playing and writing about chess, I have been actively involved in coaching for a number of years. My first experiences of official ECF trips, such as the European and World Youth Championships, go back to the 1990s. |
 Coach – Andrew Martin FIDE Senior Trainer, International Master. Veteran of many ECF trips. Current ECF Manager of Schools, Junior Clubs and Counties. You Tube Channel here – http://www.youtube.com/user/YMChessMaster |
 Coach – John Emms |
 Coach – Lorin D’Costa Having played in World and European Youth events from under 14 up to under 20 level, and coached the England team since 2010 I have some experience with these events. Some of my pupils have even recorded top 10 finishes including one bronze medal. On a personal level, I became an IM in 2008 and have one Grandmaster norm to date. Off the chess board, I have also written three chess books and done DVDs with Chessbase, as well as completing two marathons! I have been a full time chess coach since 2008 coaching both privately and in schools in the north London area. |
 Coach – Neil McDonald Neil became an IM in 1986 and a Grandmaster in 1996. After winning eleven all-play-all tournaments during the years 1994-98, he semi-retired from the international circuit. Since then he has coached many of the top young English players, including David Howell and Gawain Jones. Neil has written 34 books on chess strategy, tactics and theory as well as biographies of famous players. |
| Coach – Gyula Mészáros |