IM Nepomnyashchiy is currently the highest (unofficially) rated player in NC at 2496/15.  His ELO is 2450.

Mikhail Nepomnyashchiy, the international chess master was born on 1/30/1949 in St. Petersburg, Russia (former Soviet Union, Leningrad). Learned chess at the age of 7½ . He studied in Leningrad's Creative Youth Palace.  National Soviet Master since 1970.  International Master since 1995. Champion of Leningrad in three categories: scholastic, active chess and in blitz. Winner and prize winner in many big chess tournaments in Soviet Union (Russia). and in Europe  In 1996-1999 was vice editor for "Chess in St. Petersburg" (At present 16 grandmasters including world champion Alexander Khalifman, Peter Svidler, Konstantin Sakaev, Etc. live in St. Petersburg. Currently former St. Petersburg grandmasters such as Gata Kamsky, Alex Yermolinsky, Leonid Yadasin live in USA.)In 1973 he graduated from Leningrad Shipbuilding Institute with a masters degree in economics and organization of production. He worked in different engineering positions for more than twenty years. He emigrated from Russia in January 2000 as a refuge. Currently he lives in Greensboro, NC

Rating ELO (International) is 2450.  Rating USA is 2496/15.  At present, this is top (unofficial) rating in North Carolina.Mikhail is a third prize winner of LPO tournament (Grand Prix Events) in Greensboro, NC in 2004. He has a long term and successful coaching experience in Russia and in US.