About the Author

International Master Jonathan Hawkins was a relatively slow starter in the world of chess. He learned the game at age eight, but, by his own admission, 'by the time I was in my mid-teens my age-to-playing-strength ratio was distinctly average.' He started to study chess very seriously in his late teens and achieved a rapid rise through the ranks. He became a FIDE Master in 2008 and earned the title of International Master in 2010. 2011 brought Jonathan two Grandmaster norms. One of them was earned at the super-strong British Championship, in which he outscored numerous Grandmasters to share third place.