The U20 number 2 signed his contract already at the end of December last year. He should therefore be the big favorite of the GMT 2022, provided the Swiss authorities do not ban him from coming to Switzerland. According to the measures taken by FIDE after the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine, the young Cossack will play under the flag of the World Chess Federation. He is one of the signatories who sent an urgent appeal to the Russian President on March 03: "We reject military practices on the territory of Ukraine and call for an early ceasefire and a peaceful resolution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomatic negotiations. It pains us immensely to see the catastrophe that is befalling our peoples these days...". 

Elo std: 2690
Rapid: 2655
Blitz: 2679

The Arab number 1 is a regular in the Masters Tournament (MTO), which he won last year! Salem, who was stuck at the airport when he boarded his flight to the 2020 GMT, will be eager to take advantage of this new opportunity to showcase his enormous talent in the prestigious closed tournament.

Biel has always been a good place for Kamsky, who this year wants to defend the title he brilliantly won last year in the main event. Let's remember that Kamsky was already on the podium in Biel almost 30 years ago! In 1993, he finished second in the Interzonal, before qualifying for the final of the 1996 world championship, where he faced Anatoly Karpov for the world crown.

The German prodigy, the current U18 number 1, will be competing for the third time in a row, this time with the aim of standing on the winners' podium for the first time! Participating in the two Grand Prix tournaments in Berlin at the beginning of the year has undoubtedly given him not only the guaranty of belonging to the world's best, but also the confidence and maturity needed to pull the chestnuts out of the fire at the Triathlon 2022!

Uzbekistan, 17

The friendly Uzbek will make his comeback in Biel, having already participated in the first edition of the Triathlon at the age of 14 (!). In the meantime, the current U18 n°3 has been crowned world champion in rapid at the end of December 2021! With this skill, it could well be that the mix of speeds proposed by the GMT can play in his favor!

The old hand born in Riga, who replaced Salem Saleh at the last minute at the GMT 2020, returns to Biel to challenge the young generation who might think, a little too r apidly, they know more that the ancients born in the last century. As Gata Kamsky demonstrated last year, in the Triathlon the veterans among the athletes can play to their strengths. Moreover, the one who lives today in Thessaloniki will be able, unlike in 2020, to prepare himself in the best conditions.

The U16 number 1 was recommended to us by none other than Vishy Anand, who is convinced that his protégé is already ripe to challenge the established hierarchies! Note that former World Champion Anand will be on site from July 12-15 to support his young compatriot, who could well reshuffle the cards during the entire triathlon, as he will certainly not settle for a place of honor.