In the last list of the top Chess players we published, we ranked the best Turkish Chess players. Now in this article, we’re ranking the best Luxembourger Chess players from Luxembourg, starting with the number ten spot in FIDE. All of the players in this list are master level players with an Elo rating of at least 2200. For more information on ratings, see the guide on how to get a FIDE rating.
10. Christof Jansen
Full Name: Christof Jansen
Title: FIDE Master
Born: August 6, 1962
Federation: Luxembourg
Ratings
World ranking: 8244
Rapid: N/A
Blitz: N/A
Classical: 2201
Profiles
Christof Jansen was accredited with the title of FIDE Master title in 2010. From 1995 to 2021, Jeitz has played 41 games; with 12 wins, 8 draws, and 21 losses accumulating to an average score of 39.02 percent. He has since played in various tournaments, including; 24th EC-2008, 2006 Pardubice op-A, Vlissingen HZ-2005, and Vlissingen HZ op 8th-2004.
9. Christian Jeitz
Full Name: Christian Jeitz
Title: None
Born: January 1, 1986
Federation: Luxembourg
Ratings
World ranking: 8245
Rapid: 2128
Blitz: 2171
Classical: 2201
Profiles
Christian Jeitz is yet to be accorded either of the FIDE titles even though he was given the National Arbiter in 2013. From 1995 to 2021, Jeitz has played 192 games; with 31 wins, 68 draws, and 93 losses accumulating to an average score of 33.85 percent. He has since played in various matches, including; the 36th ECC Open 2021, GRENKE Chess Open 2019, the 43rd Olympiad 20, and TCh-BEL 2016.
8. Arne Hessenbruch
Full Name: Arne Hessenbruch
Title: None
Born: September 16, 1958
Federation: Luxembourg
Ratings
World ranking: 7603
Rapid: N/A
Blitz: N/A
Classical: 2213
Profiles
Arne Hessenbruch hasn’t been presented with the FIDE titles. From 1976 to 1986, Arne Hessenbruch played 25 games; with 4 wins, 8 draws, and 13 losses accumulating to an average score of 32 percent. He played in various matches, including; the Balatonbereny op in 1986, Bundesliga 8586 in 1985, EU-ch U20 7879 in 1978, and EU-ch U20 fin-D.
7. Manuel Ocantos
Full Name: Manuel Ocantos
Title: None
Born: January 1, 1981
Federation: Luxembourg
Ratings
World ranking: 7484
Rapid: 2196
Blitz: 2127
Classical: 2216
Profiles
Manuel Ocantos has played a couple of games from 1998 to 2020 totaling 113; 30 wins, 29 draws, and 54 losses account for 39.38 percent. The tournaments he last played include; Jorge Luis Borges Mem in 2020, Copa Meranol Saci IM in 2019, 23rd Vicente Lopez in 2019, and 20th Vicente Lopez in 2018.
6. Fiona Steil-Antoni
Full Name: Fiona Steil-Antoni
Title: Woman International Master
Born: January 10, 1989
Federation: Luxenbourg
Ratings
World ranking: 7360
Rapid: 2180
Blitz: 2059
Classical: 2218
Profiles
Fiona Steil-Antoni was crowned the title of Woman International Master in 2010. She has a FIDE rating of 2163 as of 2022 and a Peak rating of 2205 as of 2017. She was a gold medalist in the 2006 Women’s Chess Olympiad. Together with the Luxembourg national team, which she was part of, they clinched bronze at the European Small Nations Squad chess Olympiad.
Fiona is also a victor of the Women’s Luxembourg chess tournament a couple of times. In the 392 games, she has played from 2008 to 2022, she has won 124, 105 draws, and 163 losses, thus earning a winning score of 45.03 percent. Some of the last tournaments she played include TCh-FRA Top 16 GpB 2022, TCh-FRA Top 12 2021, 4NCL Div 1b 2019-20, and 4NCL 2018-19.
5. Mietek Bakalarz
Full Name: Mietek Bakalarz
Title: International Master
Born: January 1, 1960
Federation: Luxembourg
Ratings
World ranking: 6412
Rapid: 2227
Blitz: 2290
Classical: 2240
Profiles
Mietek Bakalarz was conferred with the title of International Master title in 2004 and licensed as a FIDE Arbitrator in 2011. From 2008 to 2022, he played a total of 119 games; 28 wins, 42 draws, and 49 losses equaling an average score of 41.18 percent. IM Turnier Graz May 2022, Ustron Open A 2021, Ustron Open A 2020 and Graz Open A 2020.
4. Serge Brittner
Full Name: Serge Brittner
Title: FIDE Master
Born: July 14, 1971
Federation: Luxembourg
Ratings
World ranking: 5031
Rapid: N/A
Blitz: N/A
Classical: 2278
Profiles
Serge Brittner was granted the title of FIDE Master in 2005. From 1999 to 2021. Serge has played 127 tournaments; with 36 wins, 46 draws, and 45 losses accumulating to an average score of 46.46 percent. Notable tournaments he has played during that period include; TCh-BEL 2016-17, TCh-BEL 2015-16, 38th Olympiad 2008, and EU-chT (Men) 16th 2007.
3. Fred Berend
Full Name: Fred Berend
Title: International Master
Born: March 25, 1965
Federation: Luxembourg
Ratings
World ranking: 4085
Rapid: 2335
Blitz: 2218
Classical: 2307
Profiles
Fred Berend became a FIDE Arbiter in 2005. Fred has played a total of 601 tournaments; for which he achieved 211 wins, 137 draws, and 253 losses accumulating to an average score of 46.51 percent. Notable tournaments he has competed in during that period include; TCh-BEL 2021-22, TCh-BEL 2019-20, 7th ch-Francophonie 2019, and 42nd Zurich Christmas 2018.
2. Elvira Berend
Full Name: Elvira Berend
Title: Woman Grandmaster
Born: September 19, 1965
Federation: Luxembourg
Ratings
World ranking: 3378
Rapid: 2284
Blitz: 2186
Classical: 2333
Profiles
Elvira Berend was accorded the title of women Grandmaster in 1995, ICCF Lady International Master in 2014, and became a FIDE trainer in 2017. She has a Peak rating of 2375 and a FIDE rating of 2333. In 1998, 2015, and 2016, Berend clinched the Luxembourg chess Tournament and became a World Senior Chess Tournament victor on two occasions in 2017 and 2018.
She ranked 2nd most rated chess player in Luxembourg in July 2022. She has competed in notable tournaments including; the 2005 European Men’s Squad Tournament, 2014 Men’s chess Olympiad, and Women’s chess Olympiads in 1992, 1996, 2004 & 2008- individual Bronze Medalist.
1. Michael Wiedenkeller
Full Name: Michael Wiedenkeller
Title: International Master
Born: January 10, 1963
Federation: Luxembourg
Ratings
World ranking: 1340
Rapid: 2430
Blitz: 2477
Classical: 2437
Profiles
Michael Wiedenkeller was accorded the International Master, in 1984. He has a FIDE rating of 2437 as of July 2022 and a Peak rating of 2481 as of June 2017. He was victorious in the 1990 Swedish Chess Tournament before shifting his nationality to Luxembourg in 2010.
Michael is a four time champion of the Luxembourg Chess Championship ( 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013). He clinched the European Small Nations Individual Tournament in 2014 in Cyprus. Michael has competed in a total of 615 games from 1978 to 2022. In those tournaments, he has emerged victorious in 248, drawn 233, and Lost 134 equivalent to a winning score of 59.27 percent. recent tournaments he competed in include; ch-SWE Master Elite 2022, TCh-SWE Lag-SM 2021, ch-SWE 2021, and the 36th Cappelle Open 2020.
That concludes the list of the best Luxembourger Chess players. If you like list posts like this, you may also be interested in seeing the ten best Kazakh Chess players or the best Mongolian Chess players.
Sources
- “History”. Rilton Cup (in Swedish). Retrieved 7 January 2016.
- “Svenska mästare” (in Swedish). Swedish Chess Federation. Retrieved 26 November 2009.
- “European Men’s Team Chess Championship:: Elvira Berend”. OlimpBase.org. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- “Women’s Asian Team Chess Championship:: Elvira Sakhatova”. OlimpBase.org. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
- “FIDE Chess Ranking and Statistics”. ratings.fide.com. Retrieved 2022-07-13.
- http://ratings.fide.com/id.phtml?event=4000102
- http://ratings.fide.com/card.phtml?event=4000102
- De Sprénger Echternach at European Club Cups on olimpbase.org
- The Open in Echternach. Report by Bernd Loo from June 13, 2004, on de.chessbase.com
- Crowther, Mark (2012-07-23). “TWIC 924: Mulhouse Chess Festival 2012”. The Week in Chess. Retrieved 2019-06-30.