GG Jovanovski

Stefan Jovanovski builds tamburas by hand in Bitola and keeps a running list, updated after nearly every session, of members he intends to meet in person one day, a list that has grown steadily longer without a single name yet crossed off. He mentions it to nobody unless asked, and answers plainly when he is: a good opponent deserves a real conversation eventually, not just a screen. The list currently runs past thirty names, organised loosely by division and not at all by urgency. At the board he plays a deep, patient game, treating each position like an instrument taking shape slowly, and is in no more hurry to finish a match than he is to finally book the flights on his list. The list is why he learned English; he intends to be understood when he finally crosses a name off it.