Hotel Praha, Blazimka, Prague from August 17th to 28th, 2016

Sharon Daniel Sharon is 14 years-old and attends Bolton Girls School. She started playing competitive chess when she was 9 years old and has enjoyed playing ever since. Sharon won the British Under 11 and Under 13 girls champion, English Youth Girls Chess Champion for Under 11, Under 12, Under 13 and Under 14 and Northern Gigafinal for Under 11, Under 12 and Under 13. She played for the England Under 11 team and is now currently a member of the National Junior Chess Squad. She has previously represented England in the World Youth Championship 2013 at Al-Ain, UAE. Sharon has also captained the Manchester Chess Team for Under 9, Under 11 and Under 14. In addition to this, she has also captained the school chess team for the last 5 years, and they have won the ECF National Schools Under 11 Girls Tournament in 2013. As well as chess, she enjoys playing netball, badminton and table tennis. She plays the piano, the violin and the guitar. Sharon would like to thank Bolton School, Mr Julian Clissold, Mr Andrew Wilson, ECF Chess Academy and members of the Wigan Knights Chess Club for their support and guidance.

Jake Holton Jakob first started to play chess in the Oxfordshire Chess Challenge, becoming the Oxfordshire Megafinal Supremo and participating in several Gigafinals. In other junior events, he has been part of a winning Witney J4NCL team; the winner of the Delancy Silver Plate twice; and the National Junior Chess Squad Under 14 Champion. He is currently the Under 14 British Champion. He has played in the World School Individual Championships in Greece and Brazil and the Gibraltar Junior Chess Festival in 2013, 2014 and 2015. He is a member of the England Junior Squad and has played in the Czech Republic and Poland. He would especially like to thank FM Endre Ambrus for his support and guidance.

Lauren Weaver Lauren started playing chess when she was 7 at Wimbledon High School chess club and was inspired by Susan Lalic who teaches there. She played for the Wey Valley teams and tournaments organised by Mike Basman, and continues to play for Surrey and Wimbledon teams. Lauren enjoyed playing in the EU Youth in Austria in 2012, the WSCC in Brazil in 2014 and the WYCC in Greece last year. She is looking forward to playing international chess in Prague.

Laura Davidson

Daniel Gallagher Daniel was U15 British Champion 2015 having been Runner-Up in the U14 British Championships 2013 and 3rd in the U13 British Championships 2013. He represented England in the European Schools Championships in 2013 & 2014 as well as in the Glorney Cup. Daniel cannot wait to represent England again in the Czech Republic this year and would like to thank his parents for travelling with him to tournaments both domestically and internationally, his wider family and friends for their encouragement, his school, King Edward VI Grammar in Chelmsford for their support, all associated with Essex Chess and Maldon Chess Club, and, last but not least, GM Nick Pert. Apart from chess, Daniel also enjoys badminton and tennis.

Giulio Sahinoz Giulio has been playing chess for over two years. He currently plays in second and third division for Linton Chess Club. His major achievement is joint second place at the South of England Championship in the U11 section this year. His main passions are chess and Lego. He would like to thank three inspirational and supportive people in his life: Paul Kemp and Tomer Eden for significantly improving his chess and his mum for her continuous support. Giulio is attending year 5 at Friends’ School in Saffron Walden and he is looking forward to taking part in this important international tournament.

Anita Somton

Koby Kalavannan Koby started playing chess at his primary school. He is the Under 11 British Chess Champion, Under 12 British Chess Champion, Under 13 British Chess Champion, Delancey UK Schools Chess Challenge Under 11 Champion, English Grand Prix Junior Winner 2012 and 2013 and 2015 the winner of Under 12 and Under 13 and Under 14 English Youth Chess Championship Grand Prix. He has represented England team before in the World Youth Chess Championships and the European Youth Chess Championships. 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.

Ximan Mao Ximan started playing chess when he was 8.5 years old. He learned the rules and fundamentals of chess by YouTube videos. Ximan’s first coach was GM Chris Ward and his current coach is GM John Emms. He is a member of the Kent Junior Chess Association(KJCA), which has won many EPSCA titles, and also played for the KJCA Knights 4NCL team(Division 3) and now plays for KJCA Kings 4NCL team(Division 2). He also plays for his school Eltham College London and local Orpington Chess Club. He’d like to thank his coaches, and all KJCA for encouragement and support to learn and improve his chess.

Victoria Sit Victoria started playing chess competitively since she was 7. At the age of 9, she was selected to represent Surrey in the Wey Valley girls and mixed teams and has been playing in Surrey Junior teams ever since. She has annually partaken in the Delancys UK Chess Challenge, gaining the Surrey Megafinal Suprema title for many years and sharing the Top Girl Prize in the 2015 Terafinal. In 2014, she competed in the Gibraltar Junior International and the European Youth Chess Championship as well as the World School Chess Championship the following year. In addition to chess, she also enjoys music, photography and art and has participated in numerous concerts and tours both in England and across Europe. She is very grateful for the various opportunities provided by the English Chess Federation and the support and encouragement from her family, in particular, her mother for dedicating so much of her time and effort to her progression as both a chess player and as a person in general.

Jacob Yoon I started playing chess when I was 6 years old and am very proud to be representing England in the European Youth Championships. I enjoy going to tournaments all around the country and have made so many good friends. Winning the U10 Youth Grand Prix has definitely been my biggest achievement so far. Apart from chess, I like playing table tennis, tennis and rugby. For the past 3 years I have been home educated. In September I am looking forward to attending City of London Boys School. I would like to thank Enfield Chess Club for their support and giving me lots of opportunities to play for the team and Ravikumar, Sheila Jackson, Angela Eyton and Jonathan Hawkins for their coaching and encouragement.

Alexander Golding Alex is 12 years old and has represented England in international tournaments since 2013. He plays for Surrey at county level and for Guildford in the 4NCL. His local chess clubs are Ashtead and the Colusdon Chess Fellowship. Alex thanks all those who have supported him in his chess including Roger Emerson, GM Glenn Flear, Chris Howell and GM Nick Pert.

James Golding James is 14 years old and has represented England in international events since 2013. He plays at county level for Surrey and in the 4NCL for KCJA Kings. His local clubs are Ashtead and the Coulsdon Chess Fellowship. James thanks all those who have supported him in his chess including GM Glenn Flear and Matthew Lunn. James attends the Royal Grammar School, Guildford and appreciates all the support given by his headmaster, Dr Cox and Alan Thorn.

Savin Dias Savin is three times winner of the English Grand Prix. His other hobbies include cricket, judo and all things to do with Star Wars and Harry Potter.

Thivyaa Rahulan

Anisha Sawhney Anisha learnt to play chess from her older brother at the age of 7. Since then she has been the English Under 10 Girls Champion in 2014. In 2015, she represented England at the European Schools Chess Championship held in Turkey and she is now also part of the National Chess Junior Squad. She would like to thank her school, North London Collegiate, and her coach, IM Lorin D’Costa, for all the support over the past few years. Away from chess, Anisha likes reading, netball, lacrosse, rounders and playing the piano.

Stephen Whatley

Nilomi Desai

Ranesh Ratnesan

Radha Ratnesan

Arushi Ramaiya Arushi started playing competitive chess as an U7. At Wimbledon High Junior School she benefited from having Sue Lalic as a chess coach. She has also benefited from getting private coaching from Graeme Buckley, David Rumen and now, Nick Pert. She became a regular in the Surrey junior teams. She also established herself as one of the stronger girl players in her age group. Recently in February 2016, she won the West of England U12 Championship in a strong field of 60+ players consisting of boys and girls. She currently goes to school at St Pauls Girls’ School. She has been most inspired by her close family, who initiated her love of the game.

Aman Gogna Aman started at age six. He has played chess for his school, Hertfordshire County, in many individual tournaments. Since 2015 he has represented England in the EPSCA team and now also represents England for the ECF.

Ezra Brass Ezra discovered he loved chess when he was 5, mastering the basics from his dad, grandpa and school chess club. He plays for Barnet County, Barnet Knights and his school team. Last year he won the U10 West of England, U9 South of England and U9 Southern Gigafinal, and played for England at the European Schools Championship in Turkey. Ezra is proud and excited to represent England again and is grateful to Lorin Da Costa, John Fleetwood, Barnet Junior Chess and Barnet Knights for their inspirational support. He attends Kerem School and loves playing football and piano and making films.

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 came joint 3rd in the British Championship in 2014 also winning the Under 18 British Championship title, having played in the main British Championship since 2010. Ravi secured one IM norm and his FM title in August 2015. 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 – this is a great honour.

Aditya Verma Aditya has secured a top 6 position in three out of four tournaments where he has represented England. His most proud moment has been to receive the joint 4th award from Gary Kasparov at the World Youth 2012. He would like to thank his county coaches John Emms and Chris Ward. He would also like to thank his school Principal and Teachers from St. Olaves. Aditya is the current British U11 and U12 champion.

Nishchal Thatte

Julia Volovich

Shlok Verma Shlok is a Year 2 Student of Tubbenden Primary School, Orpington. He learned chess from his brother Aditya and is a keen chess enthusiast. With already many county and national level trophies he is now looking forward to representing country in international events. He also enjoys tennis, football, plays piano and is an avid reader. He would like to thank his school for all the support, his county coaches GM Chris Ward and GM John Emms and his first coach Robin Slade who keeps him motivated.

Coaches Adam Hunt, Charlie Storey, Glenn Flear, Julian Meszaros, John Emms, Lorin D’Costa and Neil McDonald