Chess Map of the World: Five Countries – Five Stories
Preparing for and participating in the OTB tournament took me a lot of time, so I couldn't write and share the blog quickly. But today the time has come! 
I always spend a lot of time choosing a topic for a blog. Unfortunately, my brain does not always generate creative ideas and I do not always like them. It often happens that I start writing a blog on one topic, and after a couple of days I get bored with it and have to change it. In general, I decided what I would write about using some very interesting method.
The idea came to me spontaneously, when during training the coach, at random, with his eyes closed, pulled out of his bag a note with the name of the chess player with whom I was supposed to play for practice. It is clear that then they chose an opponent for me who would fight the Minister of Happiness, but I did not know that such a banal and simple ceremony would give me much more - an idea for my blog.
Since my coach chose an opponent randomly, I wanted to do something similar. So my blog today will be unconventional, but I hope interesting!
Those who know me as a blogger probably noticed that I really like to talk about the life, history of chess players, famous people, etc. But this time I found it boring to just choose and write who I like or find interesting.
When we think about chess, the names of grandmasters from Russia, the USA or India immediately come to mind. However, the world of chess is much wider - interesting people can be found in the most unexpected corners of the planet. This is the idea I decided to implement in my blog.
To make the selection as objective and diverse as possible, I used a randomizer and 5 continents (Europe, Asia, North America, South America and Africa + Oceania [=1 group*]).
*why? Click here
The randomizer randomly selected one country from each continent. Here's what I got:
- Europe - Germany
- Asia - Kazakhstan
- Africa and Oceania - a combined category represented by Australia (yay, it's good that there are chess players here)
- North America - Mexico
- South America - Bolivia
My goal is to tell about chess players from countries that are not necessarily the most famous, but are worthy of my and your attention. This is not only an opportunity to get acquainted with little-known stories, but also a reason to think about how chess unites people all over the world.
Louis Engel — German Grandmaster
• Name: Louis Engel
• Date of Birth: October 14, 2002
• Place of Birth: Hamburg, Germany
• Federation: Germany
• Title: Grandmaster (since 2020)
• Maximum FIDE Rating: 2564 (September 2021)
• Current Rating (April 2025): 2544
• 2014: German U12 Champion
• 2016: German U14 Champion
• 2019:
Achieved his first grandmaster norm in the 2018/19 German Team Championship with 7 points out of 9.
Took 2nd–3rd place at the Grenke Chess Open in Karlsruhe with 7 points out of 9.
Won the Leo-Meise Gedenkturnier rapid chess tournament in Hamburg with 8 points out of 9.
Took second place in the C. Hengelbert Open in Hamburg with 6.5 points out of 9, achieving his third grandmaster norm.
• 2020: Became the German Men's Champion with 7.5 points out of 9
• 2021: Winner of the German Masters in Magdeburg with 6.5 points out of 9.
Luis Engel is known for his versatility and pragmatic approach to the game. He has successfully played a variety of openings.
White: Spanish Defense (Morphy Variation), Grench Defense (Tarrasch Variation), Caro-Kahn Defense, Italian Defense.
Black: Sicilian Defense (Najdorf and Kanal-Sokolsky Variations), Queen's Gambit Declined (Ragozin Variation).
He is also active in team competitions, representing Hamburger SK in the Bundesliga with 2017.
In addition to his chess career, Louis Engel is studying law in Hamburg. He is also the co-author of the book "The Human Factor in Chess" with GM Carsten Müller, which examines the model of four types of chess players: activists, pragmatists, theorists and reflectors.
Classical rating: 2544 (April 2025)
Rapid: 2452
Blitz: 2455
World rating: 367th place among active players.
National rating (Germany): 17th place among active players.
Kazybek Nogerbek — Grandmaster from Kazakhstan
• Name: Kazybek Nogerbek
• Date of birth: May 13, 2004
• Place of birth: Astana, Kazakhstan
• Federation: Kazakhstan
• Title: Grandmaster (since 2024)
• Maximum FIDE rating: 2534 (October 2024)
• Current rating (April 2025): 2530
• 2022: Winner of the World Rapid Championship among cadets and boys under 18 in Greece.
• 2022: Participant of the 44th Chess Olympiad in Chennai, India, on the 5th board for the Kazakhstan team - 7.5 points out of 10.
• 2024: Winner of the World Junior Championship (under 20) in Gandhinagar, India, with a result of 8.5 out of 11, ahead of Emin Ohanyan on tiebreakers.
• 2025: Third place at the international tournament Festival International des Jeux in Cannes, France - 7 points out of 9.
Kazybek started playing chess at the age of 6. His coaches are Ukrainian grandmaster Anton Korobov and French grandmaster Vladislav Tkachev.
In June 2024, after winning the Junior World Championship, Kazybek was awarded a two-room apartment in Astana by the city administration.
Classical rating: 2530
Rapid: 2525
Blitz: 2559
Temur Kuybokarov – Australian Grandmaster
• Name: Temur Kuibokarov
• Date of Birth: July 22, 2000
• Place of Birth: Tashkent, Uzbekistan
• Federation: Uzbekistan (until 2018), Australia (since 2018)
• Title: Grandmaster (since 2019)
• Maximum FIDE Rating: 2600 (December 2023)
• 2010: Shared first place in the U10 category at the Asian Youth Championship in Beijing, finishing third on tiebreakers.
• 2011: Defeated World Champion Viswanathan Anand in a simultaneous exhibition at the age of 11.
• 2016: Moved with his family to Perth, Australia. In December of the same year, won the 8th Penang Open.
• 2017: Winner of the Australian Open.
• 2018: Switched to the Australian flag and achieved grandmaster norms at the Australian Open, Aeroflot Open, Gold Coast Open and Abu Dhabi Masters.
• 2019: Winner of the Australasian Masters GM norm tournament in Melbourne with a score of 8½ out of 9.
• 2020: Became Australian Champion with 9 points out of 11, becoming the first Western Australian to win the title in 135 years.
• 2021: Winner of the 3.6 Zonal Championship, securing participation in the FIDE World Cup.
• 2023: Australian Open Champion with 9½/11.
Temur started playing chess at the age of 5 under the guidance of his mother and first coach Tatyana Igonina. Since 2016, he has been living in Perth, Australia. He has over 4 years of coaching experience, teaching both beginners and experienced chess players. Offers private chess lessons on the Lichess platform.
Temur is known for his versatility and strategic approach to the game. He successfully uses various openings and adapts to the opponent's style.
Classical rating: 2562
Rapid: 2458
Blitz: 2454
Jose Eduardo Martinez Alcantara – Mexican Grandmaster
• Name: José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara
• Date of Birth: January 31, 1999
• Place of Birth: Lima, Peru
• Federation: Peru (until 2024), Mexico (since 2024)
• Title: Grandmaster (since 2018)
• Maximum FIDE Rating: 2623 (March 2020)
Current Rating (April 2025): 2606 (Classical), 2665 (Rapid), 2706 (Blitz)
José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara is a Peruvian-Mexican grandmaster known for his success in junior and adult chess tournaments. He started playing chess at the age of six and quickly showed outstanding abilities. In 2017, he became the World U18 Champion. In 2018, he received the title of Grandmaster. Since 2024, he has represented Mexico in international competitions.
• 2017: Winner of the World U18 Championship.
• 2018: Participation in the Chess Olympiad as part of the Peruvian national team.
• 2019: Winner of the South American Zonal Tournament in Ecuador with a score of 7.5 out of 9, which ensured qualification for the 2019 FIDE World Cup.
• 2019: Participation in the FIDE World Cup, where he lost to Dmitry Jakovenko in the first round.
• 2019: Shared 2nd-8th place at the 6th Arica Open.
• 2021: Shared first place at the U.S. Masters.
• 2020: Won the Titled Tuesday tournament on Chess.com on October 6.
Multiple winner of online tournaments, including Winner Stays and Arena Kings.
José Eduardo is an active online tournament player and streamer. He goes by the nickname "Jospem" on the Chess.com. His regular participation in Titled Tuesday tournaments and other online competitions has earned him recognition in the chess community.
As of 2025, Jose Eduardo has earned over $129,000 in prize money from 155 tournaments. The biggest prize of $10,000 was for 5th-6th place in the Chessable Masters 2024 (Division 1).
Oswaldo Zambrana – Bolivian Grandmaster
• Name: Osvaldo Ronald Zambrana Enriquez
• Date of Birth: July 7, 1981
• Place of Birth: Sucre, Bolivia
• Federation: Bolivia
• Title: Grandmaster (since 2007)
• Maximum FIDE Rating: 2515 (July 2010)
• Current Rating (April 2025): 2384 (Classical), 2444 (Rapid), 2376 (Blitz).
Osvaldo Zambrana is the first and only grandmaster in the history of Bolivia. He started playing chess at the age of nine. He was awarded the International Master (IM) title in 2004 after achieving the norms at tournaments in Havana, Villa Clara and Sao Paulo. He achieved three grandmaster norms in 2004–2005, but was not awarded the title until January 2007 after reaching a rating of 2500.
Five-time Bolivian Champion: 2002, 2004, 2005, 2013, 2014.
Participation in eight Chess Olympiads: 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014.
Silver medal on the third board at the 2000 Istanbul Olympiad with a score of 7 out of 9.
Winning with a score of 9 out of 9 at the Raul Monroy Vizcarra Memorial in Santa Cruz in 2006.
Participation in prestigious international tournaments, including the ENTEL Cup, Antonio Rocha Memorial, Euwe Stimulans and others.
Zambrana prefers an active and aggressive style of play. With white, he often uses the Sicilian Defense (Kan and Rossolimo variations), as well as the Two Knights Defense. With black he prefers the Sicilian Defense and the Queen's Gambit Accepted.
Osvaldo is active on the Chess.com platform under the nickname "locotito77".
I have told you a little about these chess players. Yes, some of them are famous, some are not so famous, but nevertheless, each of them has made a great contribution to the development of chess in their countries. Let's see for ourselves!
Bolivia - Osvaldo Zambrana
• Chess in the country
Chess is not a mass sport in Bolivia. The infrastructure is limited, and state support is sporadic. However, chess is often used in educational initiatives and among young people as a means of intellectual development.
• Zambrana's contribution
Osvaldo Zambrana became the first and so far only grandmaster of the country, a symbol of Bolivian chess. His victories inspired the younger generation, and his participation in international Olympiads made chess visible at the national level.
Peru/Mexico - José Eduardo Martínez Alcántara
• Chess in Countries
Chess is becoming increasingly popular in Peru, especially after the success of juniors on the international stage. In Mexico, chess is gaining momentum due to the integration of schools and the growth of tournaments. Promising players often face a lack of funding.
• Martínez's Contribution
As a World Junior Champion, he became a hero to the youth of Peru. His move under the Mexican flag opened new horizons for him and was an important step in strengthening the country's position on the international stage.
Australia - Temur Kuibokarov
• Chess in Country
Chess in Australia is experiencing a period of rapid growth. Much of the activity is concentrated in the eastern states, but the emergence of Kuibokarov has also inspired chess life in Western Australia. Interest in the game among schoolchildren is steadily growing.
• Kuibokarov's contribution
He became the first grandmaster from Western Australia, won a national championship, and is actively involved in educational and online chess initiatives. His victory over Anand as a child is a famous and inspiring story.
Kazakhstan - Kazybek Nogerbek
• Chess in the country
Kazakhstan is one of the leading chess countries in Central Asia. There are specialized schools, government support, active federations and international tournaments. Particular attention is paid to women's chess.
• Nogerbek's contribution
He has become a symbol of the new generation of men's chess in Kazakhstan, proving that the country is capable of producing world-class champions not only among girls. His victory at the 2024 World Junior Championship is a significant achievement on the international stage.
Germany - Louis Engel
• Chess in the country
Chess has a strong tradition in Germany. Clubs are actively developing, the Bundesliga is one of the strongest chess leagues in the world. However, mass interest is declining, and new heroes are needed to attract young people.
• Engel's contribution
Louis became a national champion at a young age and symbolizes the "new generation" of German chess. His participation in tournaments and his image as a "student and grandmaster" make him a role model for young chess players in Germany.
The stories you have just read show that chess is not just an 8x8 board and 32 pieces, but a whole world full of cultures, personal stories and incredible achievements. From the young Kazakh Kazybek Nogerbek to the experienced German Louis Engel, each of the heroes of this blog in their own way embodies the power of the mind, patience and passion for the game. Despite the fact that they live on different continents, speak different languages and play in different styles, they are united by one thing: love for chess. And this is what makes the game truly global.
Thank you for spending time with me, reading my blog! I hope that you found it interesting and learned something new for yourself. Many of my readers really asked me to dedicate this blog to my story and tell a little about myself. Don't worry, I will definitely write it, but not this time and I don't say next time. I need to find enough time to implement this idea. I'm glad I managed to write this blog, it was interesting, I enjoyed it.
