MASTERS

One of the prodigies of the rising “golden generation” in Indian chess, Arjun Erigaisi earned the title of grandmaster at the age of 14 years, 11 months, and 13 days. He is India’s top-rated player, and 4^th in world rankings! On top of that, he was the 2^nd Indian, after Anand, to cross the 2800 rating barrier, in December 2024.

In the 2004 Olympiad he won the gold medal as part of the Indian team. He finished the event with 10 points in 11 rounds (no losses). Photo – Michał Walyusza/FIDE

“Nepo” is a 2-time World Chess Championship finalist – in 2021 against Magnus Carlsen and in 2023 against Ding Liren. He has been one of the top players in the world for more than 15 years. Quite an amazing achievement!

In 2010 he won convincingly the European Individual Championship and the Russian Chess Championship, both incredibly strong tournaments.  As if that wasn’t enough, he won the same tournaments again in 2013 and 2020 respectively. Photo – Michał Walyusza/FIDE

‘Does Viswanathan Anand really need an introduction? The five-time World Chess Champion is a walking legend. He is also still significantly active in the chess world, not only as a player but also as a FIDE Deputy Director, developing many projects that help promote chess.

Since he became the first grandmaster from India in 1988, “Vishy Sir” has also become an idol in his country, helping to spread the game and influence the talented next generation, who themselves won the double gold medal in the last Olympiad.

Playing for Slovenia since 2023, the Russian born grandmaster is currently 21st in the FIDE ranking. Some of Fedoseev’s biggest achievements were winning the 2017 Aeroflot open, and tying first in the European Individual Championship in the same year. Not only that, he was also the only player to defeat Magnus Carlsen in the last Olympiad, in Budapest in 2024.

An eight-time Russian Chess Champion, Svidler reached 4^th place in the Fide list of January 2004.

In 2011, he won the World Cup, beating Fabiano Caruana, Gata Kamsky, Judit Polgar and Alexander Grischuk, among others.

Besides being a top player, Svidler is also a great chess commentator in big events, known for his clear, accessible explanations that all chess lovers can understand.

He was also the winner of the first edition of the Jerusalem Masters.

A chess talent from a young age, in 2006 Rodshtein became the youngest Israeli Champion in history, aged just 17 years old. As a member of the national team, he won two medals in the Chess Olympiads: a silver medal in the 2008 Chess Olympiad and a bronze medal in the 2010 Chess Olympiad.

At his peak, he also was one of the few Israeli players to cross the 2700 Fide rating.

Currently the FIDE CEO, Sutovsky is known for his creative attacking style as player.

He won the World Junior Chess Championship in 1996, and the European Individual Chess Championship in 2001.

As part of the national team, he won the silver team medal twice in the European Championships in 2003 and 2005.

Gorshtein is the 2022 Israeli Champion, and part of the new generation of rising stars in Israel.

He is becoming a regular player of the Israeli National Team in the big events, and has a bright future ahead of him. His games are always interesting, and he is not afraid of taking risks.

The current Vice-Champion of Israel, Sokolovsky is also the youngest grandmaster in Israel. Like Gorshtein, he represents the new generation of the Israeli chess team, and he is eager to help Israel to succeed.

Sokolovsky won the 2024 open edition and definitely deserves his place in the masters tournament this year.

Boruchovsky is a member of the Israeli chess team. He was European Youth Champion under the age of 18 in 2014. In the same year, he achieved the record of the youngest grandmaster in the history of Israel until then – achieving this rank at the age of 17 years and 7 months.

Last year, he was the the best player among the Israelis in the Jerusalem Masters.