FMJan Saminskij

Jan Saminskij learned chess by playing with his brothers and began formal lessons at five. His early teacher was Manuel Valdivia; he later trained with Michael Prusikin after meeting him at the 2023 European Youth Championship. A student at Zurich's Gymnasium Rämibühl, he has played for Schachgesellschaft Zürich and Wollishofen. He won Swiss classical youth titles in the under-10, under-12 and under-14 divisions in 2022, 2024 and 2026 respectively. His national successes also include four youth rapid titles. In May 2026, at thirteen, he became Switzerland's youngest FIDE Master.