Hello,

     I decided to post this topic in hopes of learning something about the other members of this team, and to let the other members know who I am. My name is Johnathan. I live in Asheville, NC. Since I was seven, I have been playing chess... and not very well might I add. However, I am getting better. I am a college student majoring in biology...with the hopes of one day being a medical doctor, but here recently I have been debating a career in Bio-Chemistry. Well, that is about all that I can think of. Good luck and GO Team USA: Southeast!!!

My name is Fritf. I have a degree (BS) in biology from Fla. Inst. of Technology in Melbourne, Fla. I played chess when younger but never got into it. Now, at 54, I am into it. Never too late. By the way, I love Biochem and Genetics. Iam slowly, I think, getting better and am having fun while playing and meeting ppl. from all over the world. Welcome  everyone and let's see if we can beat some other countries.   Fritz.

My name is Benjamin currently living in Boone, NC formally from Asheville, NC.  I'm studying appropriate technology at Appalachian State University.  I started playing chess on a regular basis 9 months ago but first learned how to play in middle school.  It is a pleasure meeting all of you.

Im Phil from Delaware. I started playing chess end of high school, and now im a junior at the University of Delaware. Im the current president of our club there, the delaware state blitz champion, state rapid champion, state grand prix champion, and state regular co-champion. My USCF regular and blitz are about 1900 and my CC on this site is 2001.

Hello, my name is Gregory, most people i know call me Ory. I am near to be enroled at West Georgia University at the age of 29, i had a crazy childhood. I have been playing for about 22yrs but only realized basic strategy at 15yrs old or so. I am all self taught, i like the bird cause no one plays it. Oh and I am originally from Chicago where i honed most of my skills in the park playing people like "Willieman the Chessmaster". He don't need no wife chess is his life or so he would like to say before anouncing 50$ games

hey, my name is Ahmed i'm 18 yrs old and I was born in Alexandria, Egypt but i've been living in Maryland sense I was 5 yrs.Im currently in my first year of college studying Electrical engineering. I started playing chess on october of last year and so far im around 1500 OTB and 1700 on this site (on another profile)

Nick, from Greensboro, NC. Still in high school (freshman, actually); started playing chess when I was four or five.

Hunter from Four Oaks, NC.  I am currently a Sophmore at ECU majoring in philosophy.  I started playing chess in middle school and hope to get a bit better .

My name is Bryan from Orlando, Fl. I've learned how to play chess when I was young (I'm 33 now), but only played every now and then...I never took it seriously. When I discovered Chess.com about 6 months ago, I've really started studying chess. My rating here fluctuates between 1700-1780. I love playing Alekhine's Defense as Black.

Josh from Columbia, SC. Studying Philosophy/Religious Studies at USC. Started playing in early may this year, I really only play CC on this site, my rating is currently at 1529.

I'm Jeff, from Greenville, SC.  I am entering my final semester at Clemson University for Computer Engineering and have been playing chess for about 3 months - but I've hit it pretty hard as I am obsessed with getting better.  Currently rated at 1760 here, but I wouldn't be suprised if that number is a little higher than it should be.

I think we've got a great group of people here, it's a pleasure meeting all of you.

Hello. I currently live in Tyrone, GA. I grew up in the NW suburbs of Chicago. I haven't played a live event in many years, so no rating on that to share. I used to have a higher rating here, but I got busy and ended up forfeiting a lot of games. Trying to get refocused with my chess game again. I'm not an encyclopedia of openings, I rely more on positional play. I try to identify the imbalances and attack based on those. I guess you could say that Reassess Your Chess, is my bible.

NC is showing up strong it seems!!  I'm Brian (29) from Mt. Olive, NC.  (where Mt. Olive pickes are made...)  Only in the past 6 months have I taken a learning approach to chess.  I am steadily improving, but still make rookie mistakes almost every day.  Glad to meet y'all.

Greetings from the Southern Tier of the U.S. !!! I'm Chris and I'm 43 years old; I have been in Federal law enforcement for 20 years, most of my time in South Florida. I graduated from Brooklyn College in 1994 (Greetings to my fellow Kingsman, Gata Kamsky!), and was a Midwood High School graduate, Class of 1984.

I've dabbled in and out of chess since my high school days. Yes, I am old enough to say I actually was a member of and played at the now-defunct Manhattan Chess Club (right above the old Russian Tea Room in NYC), but young enough where I am re-inventing my game and am willing to learn whatever it takes to be a competitive player.

I am looking forward to a great series of games and I hope I can make a positive contribution to our team. 

My name is Dustin, and I'm from West Virginia. So far I seem to believe there aren't many of us here lol.

I like to play many different openings. Most of these include openings not many people use, such as the Sodium Attack.

My rating on here usually fluctuates between 1500-1600.

I have yet to be able to play in any tournaments OTB, although I would much like to be able to do that.

If you want to play a match, feel free to challenge me!

Hello Everyone,

My name is Robert and I live in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

I have been playing chess since college in Chicago and I enjoy the game.

The more we play the sharper we get.  The plan is to give the team my pointed best.

Let's go Team!

Greetings everyone!

My name is Randy and I'm currently living in Baltimore Maryland.  I'm constant pursuer of UCOs/Gambits and absolutely love rapid games.  OTB my rating is around 1500 and it reflects well on chess.com.  CC is around 1500 and Live games around 1600.  I'm sure my rating would be higher if I would just stay away from those darned gambits!  I run the Gambit Gang here on chess.com and love to run gambit tournaments.  Oh.. did I mention Gambits?  I didn't?  Oh.. well i like gambits.  

Yeeeeoooooo!   Im Mike Neal from Richmond,VA.  I won the VA State Amateur championship last year (2007) with a 4.5/5 score. If I'm not mistaken, Im the first African American to do so.  Anyways just looking to follow in the steps of previous winners and make expert soon.  USCF: 1784 (not very active though).

Hi everybody I'm Jose and living in Miami love playing the game , work in Sales moved here from Pennsylvania 6 years ago. Good luck to everybody and have a safe holiday season.

Hello everybody - I'm Chad from Baltimore, MD.  I'm 32 years old (i think... I'm starting to forget my age already), a software engineer, and I've never really dedicated too much time to chess.  I discovered chess.com a few months ago and now I like to have at least 1 game going on all the time.  I'm a 1703 on this site right now, but I've only played about 4 or 5 games here, so I'm waiting for my rating to reach it's asymptote.  I have no official rating - nor do I know where I would even obtain one

Hope I can contribute to the tournament - looking forward to representing the southeastern US!