Cédric has been playing chess at Vrijschaker Landegem since he was 7 years old.
As a youth player, he became Belgian school chess champion several times and participated in a number of international tournaments.
After four years working as a lawyer in Brussels, Cédric decided to reorient himself professionally. He worked for two years in Cannes (France) as a chess teacher for the renowned chess club ‘Cannes Echecs’. Currently, Cédric is working full-time to promote and further develop chess in Belgium.
Sarah has been playing chess at Vrijschaker Landegem since she was 6 years old.
As a youth player, she became Flemish champion several times and finished in the top 3 at the Belgian championship.
In 2014, she obtained her Chess Coach C diploma and later in 2023 she obtained her certificate as a FIDE referee.She has been youth leader in her chess club for 5 years.
Besides chess, Sarah has been working as a research lab assistant for 5 years. She is currently working in Amsterdam as a lab assistant and manager on Alzheimer's research
Marie-Lou learned how to play chess when she was young by her father. Leading to an every lasting love for the game.
As such, she started a small school chess club in 10th grade (high school).
With the same goal of promoting the game and fostering friendships between like-minded individuals, she founded the official Maastricht University Chess Association in 2022 with friends. Currently finishing her Bachelor degree at Maastricht, she is still part of the board and manages communication and event organization for the association.
Lisa comes from a chess-playing family and learned to play chess when she was little at the Vrijschaker Landegem.
As a primary school teacher, she also has several chess boards in her classroom. When pupils choose to play chess for a while, she is on hand to explain the basics smoothly.
Stijn has been playing chess at Vrijschaker Landegem since he was 16 years old. In 2019 he obtained his chess coach C diploma and later in 2023 he obtained his certificate as a FIDE referee. Since several years, he has also been the youth manager within his club.
He also has a certificate of animator in youth work and was active for 9 years as an animator at Kazou and its local playground operation.
Nele learned to play chess even before kindergarten. At the competitive level, however, she is a late bloomer. She decided to join a chess club at the age of 16 and became Belgian chess champion in the -20 age group. Meanwhile, Nele has obtained a WFM title, is youth manager at Karpov Deinze and obtained her chess coach B & C diploma.
In day-to-day life, Nele works as a senior consultant social work for Public Flanders.
Maarten started playing chess at the age of six, taught by his brother. He became Flemish youth champion three times and won the Belgian title in 2017. In April 2023, he received the title of FIDE Master (FM). He participated in three European Championships and one World Championship.
Maarten already has 7 years of experience as a coach and has animated several chess camps. In day-to-day life, Maarten works as a federal civil servant at the FPS Home Affairs.