Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates, 17-29 December

Website: http://www.worldyouth2013.com/

U18 Girls – Chantelle Foster Following qualification at the England U11 trials, Chantelle joined the National Chess Junior Squad and has participated in chess trips to Flanders, Wales, Poland, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Dubai. She has represented England previously in the European Youth Chess Championships in Georgia in 2010 (U14 girls), Bulgaria in 2011 and Prague in 2012 (U16 girls) and competed for the Faber-Gilbert Cup (U18 girls) in Dublin in 2011 and Daventry in 2012. Chantelle plays in The British junior championships each year and is the British U16 Girls Champion. She is a black belt in karate and enjoys training on the dojo several times a week and teaching lower graded juniors and adults alike. She plays netball and badminton regularly for Aylesbury High School. Chantelle would like to thank everyone who has helped her to improve as a chess player.

U16 – William Foo William learnt how to play chess at the chess club at Earley St. Peter’s CE Primary School in Reading at the age of 8. He was encouraged by Mr Avenell at the school to try for the U9 Berskhire Junior team and William has been an avid chess player ever since. Proudest personal achievements so far were to be able to play in the last two British Championships and also played for England at last year’s World Youth. He would like to thank all those who has helped him in his chess and also sincere thanks to the Reading Chess Club for giving him the opportunities to play in the adult chess league.

U16 – Tarun Malhotra I am 15 years old and a student at Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School. Chess has been a passion for me since I was six years old. I have won the U-11 (2009), U-12 (2010) and U-14 (2012) British Championships and LJCC U-10 championship (2008). I have regularly represented England in both World Youth Chess Championships and European Youth Chess championships in the past. Apart from chess, my other interests include football, cycling and music. I would like to thank my school for being supportive of my interest in chess and ECF for giving me an opportunity to represent the country.

U16 – Andrew Horton I started playing chess aged 6 and have participated in many competitions since. Although I didn’t qualify at the U11 trial event I qualified to play for England Juniors at the British Championships in 2011 (U13 section), and have been abroad on a couple of trips. I’d like to acknowledge the help and support for my chess from Jill Barber, David Hulmes, Manchester Chess Federation and 3Cs club. I’d like to thank Phil Adams for the great coaching that he has given me in recent years. Away from chess, I enjoy playing hockey, cross-country running and Ultimate Frisbee. I attend the Manchester Grammar School, and played in the team which won the inter-schools national final in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

U16 – Ananthanarayanan Balaji I started playing chess at the age of seven and started playing competitively at the age of 10. My other interests include playing rugby, tennis and cricket. I have played international tournaments and I am eagerly awaiting this year’s World Youth Championship. I attend Queen Elizabeth Boys’ School

U16 – Kumar Dixit Kumar got his first ECF grade in July 2010, aged 13. Since then, he has progressed to playing chess in National and International Tournaments representing England. He is a member of the Camberley Chess Club and would like to thank everyone their for all their generosity, guidance and tremendous support; in particular John Upham. He is looking forward to competing at the World Youth Chess Championships 2013 in the UAE, this December. Kumar attends the Royal Grammar School at Guildford.

U16 Girls – Louise Head Louise learnt to play chess at the age of 6 and has been competing regularly since her first tournament at 7. She has played in Berkshire Junior Chess teams since she was 8. She was the joint British U14 girl and the British U15 girl champion. She has also gained the English Youth U16 Top Girl title this year. She is a member of the National Junior Chess Squad and competes in one of the BCM 4NCL teams. Her other interests including playing the French horn in her school orchestra and concert band, plus playing in the school tennis team. Louise competed at the European Youth in Bulgaria in 2011 and the World Youth in Maribor, Slovenia in 2012. Louise would like to thank Crowthorne Chess Club, Berkshire Junior Chess, Ken Coates and Atanas Kizov for all their support. She is looking forward to competing at the World Youth Championships in Al Ain. Louise attends the Abbey school in Reading.

U16 Girls – Jessica Wen

U14 – Daniel Abbas Daniel started playing chess at the age of 5.He plays for his school’s chess team and his club, 3Cs. Daniel would like to thank all the people who helped with his chess so far including Phil Adams and GM Stephen Gordon at 3Cs. Daniel attends Manchester Grammar School.

U14 – Jason Lau I started playing chess at 7 at my old school. I did not take up chess seriously however until my first tournament at the age of 12. I attended the U11 England Junior squad trial but didn’t get in but since then I have got my full norm to qualify to play for England juniors. I’d like to thank Tony Halliwell, Dale James, Manchester Chess Federation, 3Cs Chess Club, Steve Rigby, my dad (for funding me) and especially Phil Adams due to his help and coaching in the past years. Away from chess, I play the saxophone and piano and like badminton. I attend the Manchester Grammar School.

U14 – Michael Fernandez Michael started playing chess at age 5. His greatest achievements so far include jointly winning the Open section of the Sheffield Congress, beating an IM in doing so. He has also played for the Manchester Grammar School team that won both the 2012 and 2013 National Schools U19 Championships. He would like to thank his coach GM Nick Pert, the ECF for selecting him to play at the World Youth and everyone at the Marple Chess Club for helping him get this far.

U14 – Joshua Higgs Josh was taught to play chess by his older brother Sam when he was 5 years old. He discovered Sussex Junior Chess when he was seven years old and played regularly ever since in their excellent Grand Prix series and in their strong county teams. He qualified for the National Chess Junior Squad at the Under 11 trial in 2011 and has since travelled widely competing in Gibraltar (twice), the Czech Republic, Scotland, Wales, Flanders, and Holland and the WYCC in Slovenia. Highlights include coming 2nd in the British U11 in 2011; 2nd in the British U12 in 2012; U13 Champion in the 2013 English Youth Chess Championship Grand Prix; 1st= in the 2013 U14 National Junior Squad Championship. Josh is the current Sussex Prep School’s individual champion in 2011, 2012 and 2013. Josh would like to thank everyone who has supported and encouraged him with chess, in particular his coach Mr. Jonathan Tuck, Mr. Peter Purland, The Graham Family, Sussex Junior Chess, Worth School and his older brother Sam who enabled him to discover his love of chess. Josh is a pupil at Worth School in Sussex.

U14 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.

U12 – Koby Kalavannan I am 11 years old. My chess career started off at school when I was 7 years old. Last year I played in the World Youth Chess Championships in Slovenia, Maribor. This year I achieved the following, which I am very proud of: U11 British Chess Champion, U12 British Boys Champion, English Grand Prix Junior Winner 2012 and 2013 and I was the Terafinal U11 Champion. I enjoy playing sports especially cricket. I enjoy music and drama. I love playing Eastern and Western violin, keyboard and singing. I would like to thank Miss Katlin Vinze, IM M Basman, Mr Sainbayar Tserendorj, Mrs Pat Armstrong and IM V.Ravikumar. I also would like to thank CCF Chess Club, Ealing Juniors, Surbiton Chess Club, SCCU U14/U140/U160 Teams, Wey Valley Surrey and Hampton Boys School for all their support. Finally I would like to thank the ECF for selecting me to represent England once again. I attend Hampton Boys School

U12 – Guatam Ramdas Jain Gautam was born in the USA, but really only got into chess when he moved to England at age 6, where he joined the chess club (started by Phil Ehr) at Heathside Prep School in London. At Heathside, he was lucky to have excellent coaches, including Phil, Angela Eyton, Lorin D’Costa and Sainbayar Tserendorj in particular, and excellent team-mates, with whom the school won the EPSCA U9 and U11 two years running, as well as the inaugural ECF Schools U11 championship. His proudest achievement is to have won the London Junior U10. He would like to especially thank his coach David Rumens. Apart from chess, he loves football and bass guitar. He currently attends University College School.

U12 – Dion Huang Dion is 12 years old, and he learned to play chess when he was 7, from the nearby Redbridge Chess Academy. After two years, he won the Essex Under 10 Championship and soon became Board 1 both for his school and Essex U11 chess teams. He won the 2012 UK Chess Challenge Southern Gigafinal U11 Ultimo. Dion would like to thank Westminster Under School, Ilford Chess Club, RCA and Ron Franklin, Ivor Somers, Pascal Evans, Justin Baptie, Yangfan Zhou and Mark Hebden for their kind help and support. Dion attends Westminster Under School in London.

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 positions for the British championship in his age group in the last three years and finished second in the 100th British Championships . This is the first time he is representing England . Anantha has been the member of the Kent Junior Chess Association which has won many EPSCA titles and also is a member of the Coulsdon Chess Fellowship. He also plays for the KJCA Knights 4NCLTeam. Anantha also enjoys playing Cricket, badminton and Rugby. He’d like to thank his coach GM Chris Ward, Kent Junior Chess Association , CCF coaches including Mr Kevin Bailey and the headmaster and staff of his prep school, Cumnor House School, for the encouragement and support they have given to improve his Chess. Anantha attends St Olaves Grammar School in Orpington.

U12 Girls – Elizabeth Ivanov My name is Elizabeth and I am now 12 years old. I began playing chess when I was 8. My old school, Heathside, travelled to Russia after we won the EPSCA in Pontins. My favourite subjects at school are Geography, lacrosse and Art. I would like to thank, in particular, my previous head teacher, Melissa Remus Elliot, who encouraged me to play more chess and Angela Eyton who always takes care of me. Also Lorin D’ Costa who teaches me at school and finally my mum who takes me to as many competitions as she can go to. I go to North London Collegiate School

U12 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. She has been invited and played in the the London Chess Classic in 2012, in the Women’s International Invitational Section, where only ten women around the world had been invited. She also plays for the Surrey County Open team, who are currently National Champions in the English Counties Chess Championship. This year Akshaya’s main achievements include; became the Youngest British Women Chess Champion (JR) in British Chess Championships history, came 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 and registered the best result of any girl in 20 years of the competition in the prestigious UK School Chess Challenge Terafinal Competition. She enjoys swimming, reading, playing rounders and netball. She also enjoys music and playing flute, violin & piano. 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.

U12 Girls – Sharon Daniel I am 11 years old. I started playing competitive chess when I was 9 years of age and enjoyed playing ever since. I had the opportunity to play in various chess tournaments. I won the British Under 11 Girls Chess Championship 2013, English Youth U11 Girls Chess Championship and Northern Gigafinal 2013. I have also won various other chess congresses and tournaments. I played for the England U11 team and now I am currently in the National Junior Chess squad. I captained Manchester Chess Team U9, U11 ESPCA tournaments. I have also captained my school chess team for the last 3 years and we have won the ECF National Schools Under 11 Girls Tournament 2013. As well chess I also enjoy swimming, playing tennis, rounders and lacrosse. I represent my school in netball. I play the violin and piano. I would like to thank Bolton School, Mr.Julian Clissold and Mr. Andrew Wilson for their support and guidance. I attend Bolton Girls’ School

U10 – Alex Golding Alex is the current U10 English Youth Chess Champion and highest rated U10 player in England. He started playing chess when he was 6 years old and has competed in many chess tournaments since that time. His successes include winning U9 and U11 titles at the Terafinal of the Delancey UK Schools Chess Challenge. The World Youth Chess Championships conclude a busy chess year for Alex which has also included representing England in the World School Chess Championships, Robinson Cup and European Youth Chess Championships; captaining the Wey Valley U9 and U11 teams; and playing for Ashtead, Coulsdon Chess Fellowship, Ealing Juniors and Surrey teams. 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. Alex attends Downsend School, Leatherhead.

U10 Girls – Mahima Raghavendra I am a ten year old girl and I love chess. I play for the Atherton Chess Club, Manchester Juniors and Bolton Junior Girls School all in the North of England. I have had some success in various chess tournaments in the last two years. Other than chess, I love reading, I do a lot of swimming and learn the piano. I would like to say ‘Thank You’ to Simon Woodcock (Atherton Chess Club), Julian Clissold (Manchester Juniors) and Andrew Wilson (Bolton School) who have encouraged and helped me in chess. I attend Bolton Girls’ School.

Under 8 – Aaravamudhan Balaji I started playing chess at the age of 6. I was inspired by my brother, who also represent the country I would like to thank my father for teaching me and taking me to so many chess tournaments including world youth. I enjoy playing chess and look forward to play my first international tournament in Al-Ain. Also I enjoy playing tennis. I attend Longfield Primary School.

U8 Girls – Srinidhi Dwarakanathan Srinidhi started playing competitive chess just over a year ago. Winning her first tournament spurred her on and since then, she has discovered a love for the game. She would like to thank ECF for giving her the opportunity to play in the Wortld Youth Chess Championship. She would also like to thank her parents, grandparents and little brother for encouraging her. Besides chess, Srinidhi enjoys singing Indian classical music and reading fiction. Srinidhi attends Christchurch Primary School in Ilford.

Coaches

Stuart Conquest

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.

Jovanka Houska Current Commonwealth Ladies Champion, former British Women’s Champion (2008-2012) and former ECF Manager of Women’s Chess.

Vaidyanathan Ravikumar Ravikumar is a FIDE Trainer and an experienced chess coach currently based in Hertfordshire. He also coaches the Hertfordshire county team.

Lawrence Cooper Lawrence is based in Staffordshire and has been a self employed chess coach since February 2008 after taking redundancy from his civil service job. He is an ECF accredited coach with CRB clearance. He coached at both the 2007 & 2008 Glorney & Faber Cups and was Head of Delegation and a coach at the 2008 World Junior, 2009 & 2010 World Youth, 2011 European Youth, 2012 World Schools & World Junior. His best known private pupil is Thomas Pym whom he coached for seven years. Lawrence was captain and Head of Delegation of the England mens (open) team at the 2009 & 2011 European Team Championship and the 2010 Olympiad and was also Head of Delegation at the 2012 Olympiad which was his last event as International Director of the English Chess Federation, a post to which he was elected in October 2009. He was elected to his current position of Director of Junior Chess and Education in October 2013. As a player he achieved the title of International Master in 2000 and has 30 years of playing experience both nationally and internationally. He represented England on board two at The Mind Sport Games in Beijing in October 2008.

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