Federation transfers and changes (2025)

[Christopher Kreuzer]

There was a short thread here about the transfer of Supratit Banerjee from SCO to ENG in 2024. While not wanting to revisit that, I did notice some recent (2025) transfers while looking things up on the FIDE website.

Jonathan Ady is a strong FM who transferred from Hong Kong (HKG) to England (ENG) in May 2025. I am not sure if he was always HKG before.

US-born IM James Sherwin transferred from USA to ENG earlier this year (July 2025).

This technically adds another IM to the listing of those registered ENG. But I am not sure whether there is a bigger story behind Sherwin (a contemporary of Bobby Fischer and now aged 91) changing federation? His Wikipedia article says that he and his wife live near Bath. I wonder if he is still competing in chess events? I know he was a few years ago, but not sure about now. I think (not sure) he has been resident in the UK since at least 2010 if not earlier?

[Ian Thompson]

Jonathan Ady is a strong FM who transferred from Hong Kong (HKG) to England (ENG) in May 2025. I am not sure if he was always HKG before.

He grew up in Ashford, Kent and would have been ENG originally.

US-born IM James Sherwin transferred from USA to ENG earlier this year (July 2025).

I think (not sure) he has been resident in the UK since at least 2010 if not earlier?

His grading record shows he started playing in England frequently in 2000, so he was likely living here since then, or earlier.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Thanks, Ian. I found this 1997 article about Ady's life in Hong Kong:

https://www.scmp.com/article/195936/che ... arovs-loss

Computer consultant Jonathan Ady, 38, is a chess master - one of only two in Hong Kong. He vies with former mainlander Yang Xian as the top player in the territory even though both are only ranked in the lowest of the three master levels. [...] I played for Hong Kong in the world team championships in Armenia in September. You just get into the routine of getting up at 9 am, having breakfast, seeing who you're playing, using a computer to prepare yourself until 3 pm and then playing until 10 pm. Then you turn into bed. It sounds gruelling, but I'd love to be good enough to do it full time.

I've seen a few examples over the years of people changing federation to wherever their job takes them. Some interesting stories!

[Kevin Thurlow]

Jon Ady was playing in the Surrey League in 1981 and London in 1982.

James Sherwin played in the Bristol British Blitz qualifier in the last year or so, which is rather impressive, and he has certainly been playing here for some years.

[Roger de Coverly]

His grading record shows he started playing in England frequently in 2000, so he was likely living here since then, or earlier.

He played for Bristol in the 4NCL in November 1999.

[Mick Norris]

Sherwin is on the entry list at Bristol and Cardiff in the UK Open Blitz

[GrahamStuart]

James Sherwin won the Hampshire Individual in 2000, following which we changed the rules so that only Hampshire players could win Hampshire trophies (mainly as the Silver Rook is valuable).

Not sure if he took the trophy home, but if he did it was certainly returned safe and sound.

https://hampshirechesshistory.co.uk/ham ... ship-2000/

[Reg Clucas]

US-born IM James Sherwin transferred from USA to ENG earlier this year (July 2025).

I wonder if he is still competing in chess events?

He played in the UK Blitz qualifier today at Cardiff, where one of his opponents was Bodhana Sivanandan - an 82 year age difference!

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Amazing. Is there a link to the result of that game and who won that qualifier?

[Reg Clucas]

Amazing. Is there a link to the result of that game and who won that qualifier?

https://s1.chess-results.com/tnr1240762 ... 0&SNode=S0

Screenshot from 2025-09-13 20-08-51.png (1.2 MiB) Viewed 11536 times

[Matt Mackenzie]

He lost that one to his ever so slightly younger opponent, but scored 50% overall which is still pretty damn respectable.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

That is such a great photo! Love the looks on the faces of the players in the background! One looks unsure what to think, the other is smiling and seems fully aware of the generational significance of the meeting. Deserves its own thread. I might post a new thread as coming second in that qualifier (even if on the face of it quite weak overall) is a great achievement by Bodhana (does this means she qualifies with the female place in the final from this qualifier?).

[LawrenceCooper]

(does this means she qualifies with the female place in the final from this qualifier?).

Yes.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Thanks Loz. She was seeded second. I am starting to understand what Danny Gormally was on about. Anyway, hopefully the Final will be amazing (not saying the qualifiers are not, but hope the Final has live boards).

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

That is such a great photo! Love the looks on the faces of the players in the background! One looks unsure what to think, the other is smiling and seems fully aware of the generational significance of the meeting.

I think the younger player (White) is Zack Norris and the older one Tom Shepherd.