TTU Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE)

My Brilliant Brain – Make Me A Genius
www.topdocumentaryfilms.com

Susan Polgar is the world’s first female chess grandmaster. But she wasn’t born with her brilliant brain – it was created by the unique experiment that dominated her childhood. From the age of four her father trained her for up to six hours a day at chess alone.

Growing up in the early 1970s, no woman had ever held the title of chess grandmaster. It was widely believed that female brains weren’t wired with adequate spatial awareness for the game. Nowadays, memory and pattern recognition are recognized as they key areas used by experts in all fields – everyone from waiters to fire-fighters.

Neither of these however, has the trained memory of a chess grandmaster. Able to recreate a chess game glimpsed only on the side of a passing van, Susan’s true genius is revealed when she plays an entire chess match over a mobile phone. Her opponent can see the board but she can’t, instead using her memory to imagine the game.

Click here to see the documentary.

Chess Daily News · at 9/15/2009 12:41:00 AM

Tech chess champion fueled by competition

By Sherrel Jones, Staff Writer

Published: Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Updated: Tuesday, September 15, 2009

While children his age were learning 4th-grade science, one future Texas Tech student was traveling throughout Europe participating in chess competitions.

Chess has been part of Gergely Antal’s life since he was 4, and he began competing at age 8 or 9 in tournaments around Europe.

“My grandfather was the first to teach me the game,” said Antal, an international master of chess from Hungary. “My father, uncles and my sister play chess. It is like a chess family, but they are not serious chess players. They just play for fun.”

Antal said he likes to compete in chess tournaments rather than playing leisure games because he likes the feeling of being under pressure during a chess tournament.

Hal Karlsson, faculty adviser for Knight Raiders, said he thinks Antal is a strong player.

“I always thought he had potential when he came,” Karlsson said. “He played in our spring tournament and didn’t do so well, but I think it was jitters. He also won the Southwest Open. I think he has done extremely well this year.”

The Southwest Open was hosted in the DFW area and had 160 players in attendance. Antal won first place and took home the $1,500 prize.

“Usually, they rank people by their strength, and he was the fifth-highest-rated player,” Karlsson said. “He was not the highest-rated player, but won it.”

Antal is a talented player, Karlsson said, but he is not the only talented player at Tech.

Antal did not have competition from his own team last year because he was the only international master on the team. This year, Tech has acquired two other strong players who are international masters.

“We have three international masters, and all of them are quite strong,” Karlsson said. “They all just need one more grandmaster norm to become grandmaster.”

Davorin Kuljasevic, who won second place at the Southwest Open, said Antal’s international master status would be the equivalent to master’s degree in college, and a grandmaster would be the equivalent of a doctoral degree.

“He also has two grandmaster norms,” said Kuljasevic, an international master of chess, “which means he is very close to achieving his grandmaster title. He has a grandmaster strength, which makes him probably top 500 chess players in the world.”

Antal has achieved many accomplishments to be an international master, including his most recent victory in the 2009 World Chess Live Tournament of College Champions during the summer.

“It was a collegiate tournament in Indianapolis,” Antal said. “Universities sent their best students to the competition.”

Antal was the only student from Tech to attend the competition.

“I was the strongest player at that time,” Antal said.

Kuljasevic said the upcoming individual tournaments are scheduled Sept. 19 through Sept. 27 and will be hosted in the matador room in the Student Union Building.

The tournament is going to be difficult, Kuljasevic said, because talented international players will be competing. Grandmasters and chess players from different areas of the United States will also gather in the matador room to compete.

Despite all the talented players and tough competition, Kuljasevic said it is possible for Antal to achieve his goal of becoming a grandmaster.

Source: http://www.dailytoreador.com

Chess Daily News · at 9/14/2009 07:49:00 PM

TTU Students and SPICE Members Earn Chess Titles

Texas Tech takes top two spots at 75th annual Southwest Open in Fort Worth.
Written by Jessica Benham
September 14, 2009

Texas Tech University’s SPICE members took home top honors at the 75th annual Southwest Open in Fort Worth.
International Master (IM) Gergely Antal, an economics major at Texas Tech and member of SPICE, placed first at the tournament, which took place over the Labor Day weekend and drew 245 players.

Antal, who was fresh off his national collegiate championship title in Indianapolis in August, scored six points in seven games with no losses to clinch the title. He yielded only two draws – both from Texas Tech teammates and roommates, IMs Davorin Kuljasevic and Gabor Papp.

Kuljasevic, a graduate student at Texas Tech, placed second scoring, 5.5 points in seven games.

Grandmasters Timur Gareev, of the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB); Amon Simutowe, of the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD); IMs Daniel Fernandez, of UTB and Daniel Ludwig of UTD; and Julio Sadorra tied for 3rd with five points.

This is the second straight major championship where Texas Tech players have finished ahead of two of the nation’s most powerful chess teams – UTD and UTB.

Paul Truong, director of marketing at SPICE, said the members of SPICE who played in the Southwest Open went on their own expense because the Student Government Association’s funds cannot be used to fund non-college tournaments.

“This is essential in order to keep the players in good shape by having them play in strong tournaments,” Truong said. “This is quite an accomplishment considering the youth of the chess program at Texas Tech and it is a great advertisement for the university.”

Story produced by the Office of Communications and Marketing, (806) 742-2136.

Source: http://today.ttu.edu/

Chess Daily News · at 9/14/2009 03:38:00 PM

Tech chess players take top two places in tournament

By Joe Gulick Avalanche-Journal
Monday, September 14, 2009
Story last updated at -

Texas Tech international chess masters Gergely Antal and Davorin Kuljasevic placed first and second, respectively, in chess competition at the recent 75th annual Southwest Open in Fort Worth.

The match drew 245 players, and among them were Antal, Kuljasevic and two other members of Tech's Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE). Paul Truong, marketing director for SPICE, said this is the institute's second full year.

Antal, an economics major, had won the national collegiate championship title at the Tournament of College Champions in Indianapolis in August. In the Fort Worth tournament, he scored six points in seven games with five wins and no losses. He had two draws - against Tech teammates Kuljasevic and Gabor Papp - and the draws counted half a point each.

Because of the nature of chess tournaments, players sometimes have to play against their teammates, Truong said.

Kuljasevic, a Tech graduate student, scored 5.5 points in seven games in finishing second.

This is the second consecutive major championship, following the Tournament of College Champions, where Tech players have finished ahead of players on two of the nation's most powerful chess teams - the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Texas at Brownsville. Truong said the two Texas schools are among the top four universities in the nation in chess competition.

"To beat them in our second year is a phenomenal accomplishment," Truong said. "If we did the same thing in football, there would be a parade."

A five-way tie for third place at the Fort Worth tournament included grandmaster Timur Gareev and international master Daniel Fernandez of the University of Texas at Brownsville and grandmaster Amon Simutowe and international masters Daniel Ludwig and Julio Sadorra of the University of Texas at Dallas. All five scored five points.

Grandmaster is the highest title conferred by the World Chess Federation, and international master is the second-highest, Truong said. Both Antal and Kuljasevic are close to grandmaster status and could reach it at the 2009 SPICE Cup International Invitational Tournament, which will begin at Tech Saturday, he said.

Truong said the SPICE members who played in the Southwest Open went at their own expense because the Student Government Association's funds cannot be used to fund non-college tournaments.

The SPICE members call their chess team the Knight Raiders. Truong said the "knight" in the title referred to the chess piece and joked that it did not have anything to do with former Tech men's basketball coach Bob Knight.

Source: Avalanche Journal

Chess Daily News · at 9/13/2009 11:25:00 PM

The Wimbledon of Chess' coming to Texas Tech next weekend

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Sunday, September 13, 2009
Story last updated at 9/13/2009 - 2:06 am

The 2009 SPICE Cup International Invitational Tournament will bring a high-powered lineup of world-class young chess talent to Texas Tech. The competition is set to start beginning Saturday.

The tournament, in its third year, will once again set the record for the highest-rated international invitational round robin tournament in the United States. This is equivalent to bringing Wimbledon or the PGA championship to Texas Tech and Lubbock.

SPICE Cup will take place from Saturday through Sept. 29 at the Matador Room in the Student Union on the Tech campus.

The 16 top-notched players will be broken into two groups. The six-player A Group will meet in a category 16 event - up from category 15 in 2008. The players are all grandmasters with an average age of just 20 and an average rating is 2,631, based on the September 2009 World Chess Federation rating list.

The 10 players forming the B Group tournament, a Category 11 event, will be mostly grandmasters and international masters, with an average rating of 2,502. Three of the 10 players in this group are members of the Texas Tech Knight Raiders chess team.

• A Group players include:

Grandmaster Dmitry Andreikin, Russia, 2,659, age 18; top-rated Russian Junior and reigning Russian Junior Champion.

Grandmaster Wesley So, Philippines, 2644, 15 years old; top-rated Filipino and member of the 2008 Filipino Olympiad team.

Grandmaster Varuzhan Akobian, United States, 2,636, 26 years old; 2008 SPICE Cup Co-Champion and two-time Olympiad Bronze Medalist.

Grandmaster Yuriy Kuzubov, Ukraine, 2,636, 19 years old; second ranked Ukrainian Junior and eighth in the world.

Grandmaster Rauf Mamedov, Azerbaijan, 2,626, 21 years old; fifth ranked Azerbaijani and member of the 2008 Azerbaijani Olympiad team.

Grandmaster Jon Ludwig Hammer, Norway, 2,585, 19 years old; second ranked Norwegian and member of the 2008 Norwegian Olympiad team.

• B Group Players include:

International Master Gabor Papp, Hungary, 2,562, 22 years old; Texas Tech student and member of the TTU Knight Raiders.

International Master Davorin Kuljasevic, Croatia, 2,547, 22 years old; Texas Tech student and member of the TTU Knight Raiders.

Grandmaster Eugene Perelshteyn, United States, 2,542, 29 years old; 2007 SPICE Cup Champion and former winner of the prestigious Samford fellowship.

International Master Ray Robson, United States, 2,527, 14 years old; reigning U.S. Junior Champion and winner of the prestigious Samford fellowship.

Grandmaster Andre Diamant, Brazil, 2,526, 19 years old; top-rated Brazilian Junior and Reigning Brazilian National Champion.

International Master Ben Finegold, United States, 2,515, 40 years old; two-time U.S. Open Champion and two-time National Open Champion.

International Master Gergely Antal, Hungary, 2,486, 24 years old; Texas Tech student and member of the TTU Knight Raiders, 2009 National Collegiate Champion.

Grandmaster Vinay Bhat, United States, 2,474, 25 years old; 2007 USCL MVP and former winner of the prestigious Samford fellowship.

International Master Dean Ippolito, United States, 2459, 30 years old, (Former winner of the prestigious Samford fellowship and 11-time All-American)

FIDE Master Danny Rensch, United States, 2,388, 23 years old; former National Elementary, Junior High and High School Champion and six-time All-American.

Come by to watch world-class players compete in the most prestigious international invitational chess tournament in the United States. There is no admission fee.

Source: Avalanche Journal

Chess Daily News · at 9/13/2009 05:34:00 PM

Q Are there any women chess masters?—David Zwerling, Portland, Ore.

A While men dominated the game for centuries, the same social advances that brought the world a great influx of female athletes in the ’70s also gave us a spate of fresh female faces on the chess scene, such as the amazing Polgar sisters of Hungary—grandmasters Susan, 40, and Judit, 33, and international master Sofia, 34—all of whom have notched significant tournament victories over men.

Source: http://www.parade.com/celebrity/2009/09/personality-parad e-80s-teen-stars.html

Here is an older article on Parade Magazine back in July 2005.

www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=2565

Top 50 Smartest People

1 Albert Einstein
2 Bill Gates
3 Marie Curie
4 Stephen Hawking
5 Condoleezza Rice
6 Bill Clinton
7 Sandra Day O'Connor
8 Oprah Winfrey
9 Warren Buffett
10 Jane Goodall
11 Steven Spielberg
12 Dalai Lama
13 Sally Ride
14 George S. Patton Jr.
15 Jon Stewart
16 J.K. Rowling
17 Dr. Phil (McGraw)
18 Ben Carson
19 Susan Polgar
20 Pablo Picasso
21 Rosalyn Yalow
22 Linda Buck
23 Yo-Yo Ma
24 Johnny Carson
25 Georgia O'Keeffe
26 Katharine Graham
27 Mary Matalin
28 James Carville
29 Meryl Streep
30 Sergey Brin
31 Toni Morrison
32 Dr. Ruth (Westheimer)
33 Jackie Chan
34 Quincy Jones
35 Hayao Miyazaki
36 Maya Lin
37 Meg Whitman
38 Edward Albee
39 Pat Summitt
40 Wynton Marsalis
41 Mikhail Baryshnikov
42 Martha Graham
43 Ralph Lauren
44 Bette Davis
45 Antonia Novello
46 Allison Fisher
47 Frank Gehry
48 Mike Nichols
49 Annie Duke
50 Annika Sorenstam

Chess Daily News · at 9/11/2009 09:19:00 PM

Kings & Queens: Wolfforth Library has made first move when it comes to chess
Posted by Karen Michael on September 11th, 2009

Kings and queens will now be regulars at the City of Wolfforth Library.

Two chess tables were donated to the library by iBookSwap in Lubbock.

“We’re pretty excited,” said Marie Evans, the founder of the Wolfforth Friends of the Library.

“Kids are not necessarily reading as much anymore, but they are playing computer games. A lot of kids are really not getting the development of their thinking skills that they should be getting,” said Evans.

The introduction of chess will help stimulate those cognitive skills, she said.

“It will also help them as they progress in other activities, classes in their school,” said Evans.

In playing a game, the students may not even realize the real benefit to their cognitive development, said Evans.

But the real draw for the library is pulling just a few more kids in.

“It’s just one more way we can pull these kids in, and if they’re in, they may also accidentally find a book to read,” said Evans.

Evans said eventually, the library hopes to offer chess classes for a “nominal fee.” She said having a fee ensures most people will show up for the class instead of deciding not to go at the last moment because it is free.

Instructors from the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence at Texas Tech will be available to teach the game, Evans said.

“We don’t have those set up yet, for a timed schedule, but we’re working on that. We’ve got a lot more to do on that, as far as it getting organized,” she said.

Judy Bryant, a counselor at Frenship Middle School, said she is excited to hear about the introduction of chess to the Wolfforth Library. Bryant helps run the chess club at FMS and offers chess to as many as 60 students during lunch a few days a week.

“There are so many good points about that,” she said.

Chess, she said, helps students to build self-esteem and get involved.

“Chess is a thinking game,” she said. “It just brings out the best in people, I think.

“I think it affects the brain in many different ways. You’ve got to learn strategy and problem solving,” she said, noting those are skills all students need to learn.

Parents also love for their kids to get involved in chess, she said.

In general, she said board games are also a good way for families to interact with each other.

“Board games are a very good way for families to turn off that TV,” she said.

The Wolfforth Friends of the Library will unveil the new children’s area shelving and chess tables at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the library. The Texas Tech chess group and Grandmaster Susan Polgar of SPICE will be in attendance to host demonstrations.

Source: http://www.frenshiptoday.com/

Chess Daily News · at 9/10/2009 09:30:00 PM

Texas Tech Students and SPICE Members Earn Chess Titles
Texas Tech University’s SPICE members took home top honors at the 75th annual Southwest Open in Fort Worth.

Written by Jessica Benham
September 10, 2009

Texas Tech University’s SPICE members took home top honors at the 75^th annual Southwest Open in Fort Worth.

International Master (IM) Gergely Antal, an economics major at Texas Tech and member of SPICE, placed first at the tournament, which took place over the Labor Day weekend and drew 245 players.

Antal, who was fresh off his national collegiate championship title in Indianapolis in August, scored six points in seven games with no losses to clinch the title. He yielded only two draws – both from Texas Tech teammates and roommates, IMs Davorin Kuljasevic and Gabor Papp.

Kuljasevic, a graduate student at Texas Tech, placed second scoring, 5.5 points in seven games.

Grandmasters Timur Gareev, of the University of Texas at Brownsville (UTB), and Amon Simutowe, of the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD), and International Masters Daniel Fernandez, of UTB and Daniel Ludwig of UTD, and Julio Sadorra tied for 3rd with five points.

This is the second straight major championship where Texas Tech players have finished ahead of two of the nation’s most powerful chess teams – UTD and UTB.

Paul Truong, director of marketing at SPICE, said the members of SPICE who played in the Southwest Open went on their own expense because the Student Government Association’s funds cannot be used to fund non-college tournaments.

“This is essential in order to keep the players in good shape by having them play in strong tournaments,” Truong said. “This is quite an accomplishment considering the youth of the chess program at Texas Tech and it is a great advertisement for the university.”

Source: http://today.ttu.edu

Chess Daily News · at 9/10/2009 05:28:00 PM

Photo by Mike Strong

College football is BIG in Texas, especially in Lubbock, Texas!

During an upcoming Texas Tech football game, I will present the National Collegiate Champion plaque to IM Gergely Antal, winner of the 2009 WCL Tournament of College Champions, on the football field during the half time ceremony. He will also be recognized for winning clear first at the prestigious 75th annual Southwest Open in Fort Worth.

Between 30-40 members of the Texas Tech Knight Raiders Chess Club are expected to be on hand to cheer for IM Antal during this very special occasion.

IM Antal will be going for his final GM norm at the SPICE Cup next week.

Chess Daily News · at 9/08/2009 05:58:00 PM

Chess Daily News · at 9/08/2009 03:41:00 PM

The drawing of lots for the SPICE Cup A & B was conducted this morning. Dr. Juan Munoz, Texas Tech Vice President, started the procedure with the A group, followed by the B group. Dr. Hal Karlssson and International Arbiter Bill Snead will provide me with the exact round by round pairings based on the drawing of lots shortly.

Here is the order for both groups:

A group

1. GM Varuzhan Akobian
2. GM Dmitry Andreikin
3. GM Wesley So
4. GM Yuriy Kuzubov
5. GM Jon Ludvig Hammer
6. GM Rauf Mamedov

B group

1. GM Vinay Bhat
2. IM Ben Finegold
3. IM Ray Robson
4. IM Gabor Papp
5. IM Gergely Antal
6. GM Andre Diamant
7. FM Daniel Rensch
8. GM Eugene Perelshteyn
9. IM Oliver Barbosa
10. IM Davorin Kuljasevic

Chess Daily News · at 9/08/2009 12:59:00 AM

IM Gergely Antal of Texas Tech University, fresh off his national collegiate championship title in Indianapolis, just won clear first at the 75th Annual Southwest Open in Fort Worth. He scored 6/7 with only 2 draws to his Texas Tech teammates and roommates IMs Davorin Kuljasevic and Gabor Papp.

In clear second is IM Kuljasevic of Texas Tech with 5.5 / 7.

GM Gareev (UTB) and GM Simutowe (UTD), along with IM Fernandez (UTB) and IM Ludwig (UTD), and Julio Sadorra tied for 3rd with 5.0 points.

IM Antal had big wins over IM Ludwig (2543) and John Bryant (2440).

1 | GERGELY ANTAL                  |6.0  |W  29|W  45|W  28|D   2|W   4|D   8|W   9|
TX | 13714777 / R: 2518   ->2542    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 | DAVORIN KULJASEVIC             |5.5  |W  16|W  14|W   9|D   1|D   8|W   7|D   3|
TX | 13218291 / R: 2562   ->2576    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 | TIMUR GAREEV                   |5.0  |W  37|W  10|D   5|D   6|D   9|W  13|D   2|
TX | 13262157 / R: 2652   ->2643    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 | DANIEL J LUDWIG                |5.0  |W  36|W  15|D  13|W  34|L   1|W   6|H   0|
FL | 12717400 / R: 2543   ->2541    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 | AMON SOLOMON SIMUTOWE          |5.0  |W  18|W  40|D   3|L   8|W  28|W  21|H   0|
TX | 12840765 / R: 2474   ->2480    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 | DANIEL FERNANDEZ               |5.0  |W  22|W  12|D   8|D   3|W  15|L   4|W  18|
TX | 20058682 / R: 2466   ->2474    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 | JULIO CATALINO C SADORRA       |5.0  |W  17|L  28|W  29|W  13|W  10|L   2|W   8|
TX | 12697187 / R: 2072P9 ->2364P16 |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 | GABOR PAPP                     |4.5  |W  26|W  19|D   6|W   5|D   2|D   1|L   7|
TX | 14244681 / R: 2622P10->2587P17 |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 | JOHN DANIEL BRYANT             |4.5  |W  11|W  30|L   2|W  27|D   3|W  17|L   1|
TX | 12796667 / R: 2440   ->2443    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 | CHRIS K LAND                   |4.5  |W  39|L   3|W  23|W  16|L   7|W  28|D  12|
TX | 12449564 / R: 2242   ->2250    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 | LU GAO                         |4.5  |L   9|W  49|L  14|W  32|W  16|W  27|D  13|
TX | 13495524 / R: 2085P16->2181P23 |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 | ALEXANDER BALKUM               |4.5  |W  48|L   6|W  47|L  15|W  37|W  25|D  10|
TX | 12780751 / R: 2136   ->2144    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 | TYLER B HUGHES                 |4.0  |W  38|W  32|D   4|L   7|W  20|L   3|D  11|
CO | 12799460 / R: 2352   ->2350    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
14 | DANIEL A YEAGER                |4.0  |W  43|L   2|W  11|D  18|L  17|W  26|D  15|
TX | 12876648 / R: 2364   ->2350    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
15 | JAROD M PAMATMAT               |4.0  |W  31|L   4|W  24|W  12|L   6|D  18|D  14|
TX | 12894895 / R: 2181   ->2194    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
16 | BOB SIYUAN SHAO                |4.0  |L   2|W  37|W  42|L  10|L  11|W  34|W  21|
TX | 13664333 / R: 2152   ->2158    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
17 | MATTHEW E MICHAELIDES          |4.0  |L   7|D  39|W  48|W  40|W  14|L   9|H   0|
TX | 12844429 / R: 2106   ->2121    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 | TOMMY O HE                     |4.0  |L   5|W  46|W  35|D  14|W  19|D  15|L   6|
TX | 13354250 / R: 2065   ->2110    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19 | ABHISHEK MALLELA               |3.5  |W  49|L   8|H   0|W  36|L  18|W  20|U   0|
TX | 12888811 / R: 2212   ->2213    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 | MITCHELL POWELL                |3.5  |L  32|W  22|H   0|W  41|L  13|L  19|W  29|
TX | 13035461 / R: 2145   ->2144    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21 | DREW J SARKISIAN               |3.5  |H   0|L  25|W  44|W  30|W  34|L   5|L  16|
TX | 11520481 / R: 2147   ->2138    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22 | DEVIN L HUGHES                 |3.5  |L   6|L  20|W  46|L  29|W  44|W  42|D  25|
OK | 12910233 / R: 2068   ->2062    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23 | DAVID W PHILLIPS               |3.5  |H   0|D  27|L  10|D  31|D  40|W  32|H   0|
TX | 12071920 / R: 2047   ->2054    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
24 | SARAH CHIANG                   |3.5  |L  34|W  26|L  15|W  42|L  27|D  30|W  37|
TX | 13091081 / R: 2021   ->2029    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
25 | MICHAEL M SIMPSON              |3.5  |H   0|W  21|L  34|D  35|W  29|L  12|D  22|
TX | 12362520 / R: 1943   ->1972    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26 | LARRY MOSS                     |3.0  |L   8|L  24|W  33|H   0|W  36|L  14|H   0|
TX | 10395551 / R: 2200   ->2200    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
27 | MARK W DEJMEK                  |3.0  |H   0|D  23|W  32|L   9|W  24|L  11|U   0|
TX | 12350320 / R: 2142   ->2140    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
28 | SETH THOMPSON                  |3.0  |W  46|W   7|L   1|W  45|L   5|L  10|U   0|
TX | 12911188 / R: 2074   ->2101    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
29 | BENJAMIN CORARETTI             |3.0  |L   1|W  43|L   7|W  22|L  25|W  33|L  20|
NM | 12705539 / R: 2104   ->2098    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 | JEFFERY XIONG                  |3.0  |W  41|L   9|D  40|L  21|H   0|D  24|D  31|
TX | 13648621 / R: 2049   ->2054    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31 | DANIEL H LIU                   |3.0  |L  15|D  36|H   0|D  23|H   0|D  37|D  30|
NC | 10211247 / R: 2000   ->2003    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
32 | STEVEN CHEN                    |3.0  |W  20|L  13|L  27|L  11|W  48|L  23|W  46|
TX | 12946130 / R: 1990   ->1992    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
33 | VINCENT ZHANG                  |3.0  |L  40|L  41|L  26|W  46|W  43|L  29|W  49|
TX | 12923387 / R: 1991   ->1985    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
34 | CAROLINE ZHU                   |3.0  |W  24|D  35|W  25|L   4|L  21|L  16|D  38|
TX | 12888833 / R: 1913   ->1946    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
35 | SELBY K ANDERSON               |2.5  |H   0|D  34|L  18|D  25|W  41|U   0|U   0|
TX | 10380405 / R: 2232   ->2218    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
36 | ARTUR K SAFIN                  |2.5  |L   4|D  31|W  39|L  19|L  26|W  44|U   0|
TX | 12910992 / R: 2110   ->2101    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
37 | DACHEY LIN                     |2.5  |L   3|L  16|W  49|W  38|L  12|D  31|L  24|
TX | 13147854 / R: 2086   ->2069    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 | KEVIN CHANDRA                  |2.5  |L  13|L  44|W  43|L  37|L  39|W  49|D  34|
TX | 12918855 / R: 2063   ->2033    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
39 | NAVEEN KISHORE BALAKRISHNAN    |2.5  |L  10|D  17|L  36|D  44|W  38|D  41|U   0|
TX | 13479723 / R: 1937   ->1947    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
40 | NICHOLAS SCHOONMAKER           |2.0  |W  33|L   5|D  30|L  17|D  23|U   0|U   0|
TX | 11270972 / R: 2205   ->2200    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
41 | JERRY MILBURN                  |2.0  |L  30|W  33|H   0|L  20|L  35|D  39|U   0|
TX | 10391911 / R: 2176   ->2151    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
42 | SHAUN GRAHAM-BOWCASTER         |2.0  |H   0|H   0|L  16|L  24|W  47|L  22|U   0|
OK | 12590577 / R: 1939   ->1929    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
43 | ANDY SHAO                      |2.0  |L  14|L  29|L  38|W  49|L  33|D  46|D  44|
TX | 13498545 / R: 1939   ->1914    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
44 | STEVEN D YOUNG                 |2.0  |L  45|W  38|L  21|D  39|L  22|L  36|D  43|
NM | 12330930 / R: 1782   ->1798    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
45 | ALFRED BLAKE CARLIN            |1.5  |W  44|L   1|H   0|L  28|U   0|U   0|U   0|
TX | 10376947 / R: 2225   ->2213    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
46 | JONATHAN CHIANG                |1.5  |L  28|L  18|L  22|L  33|W  49|D  43|L  32|
TX | 13091096 / R: 1904   ->1877    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
47 | STEPHEN DELOS REYES PAMATMAT    |1.0  |H   0|H   0|L  12|U   0|L  42|U   0|U   0|
TX | 12899152 / R: 1915   ->1900    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
48 | DAVID CHIANG                   |1.0  |L  12|H   0|L  17|H   0|L  32|U   0|U   0|
TX | 12455287 / R: 1612   ->1606    |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
49 | THOMAS E READY                 |0.0  |L  19|L  11|L  37|L  43|L  46|L  38|L  33|
TX | 12841347 / R: 1534P17->1519P24 |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |     |

Chess Daily News · at 9/07/2009 02:39:00 PM

Soixante qualifiées représentant 44 états américains avaient rendez-vous à la Texas Tech University de Lubbock, le 25 juillet, pour participer à la plus prestigieuse compétition pour jeunes filles organisée aux États-Unis : le tournoi “Susan Polgar National Invita tional for Girls”.

Les bénévoles – que je voudrais citer, Dr. Hal Karlsson, Dr. Rich Rice, Peggy Flores, Dan DeLeon, Lilia Doibani, Jerry Perez, Lucia Barbato, Stefanie Ballom, Chase Watters, Dewain Barber, Paul Truong et David Grimaud – ont accueilli chacune des compétitrices et sa famille, avant de les conduire à leur logement sur le campus de l’université. La cérémonie d’ouverture, le lendemain, fut spectaculaire. Ce fut l’occasion pour tous les officiels de raconter quelques anecdotes – échiquéennes – et d’encourager chaleureusement les joueuses. On comptait notamment la présence du maire de Lubbock, Tom Martin, ainsi que celle de l’ancien ambassadeur des États-Unis, Tibor Nagy.

Un message positif

J’étais la dernière à intervenir, et j’ai essayé de faire de mon mieux pour délivrer un message inspiré à ces jeunes filles. Le Coeur de mon discours était qu’elles auraient certainement à faire face à des épreuves durant leur vie, et qu’elles devraient surmonter des écueils. Elles auront alors deux possibilités : soit écouter des conseils négatifs et les prendre comme excuses pour renoncer, soit s’en servir comme motivations supplémentaires pour travailler encore plus durement et réussir dans leurs actions ! Je leur ai donné en exemple ma propre expérience. Car c’est exactement ce que j’ai fait quand tant de gens considéraient encore que les femmes – et même les jeunes filles – ne devaient pas jouer aux échecs, et qu’elles n’atteindraient jamais un niveau comparable à celui des hommes. Juste après ce discours, toutes les participantes reçurent une médaille d’or commémorant cet événement. C’était un cadeau de l’un de nos nombreux sponsors. Il ne restait plus qu’à réunir tout ce joli monde pour faire une belle photo souvenir...

Yang Dai héroïque

Le directeur de cette 6e édition du « SPNI for Girls », Dan DeLeon, put alors annoncer les appariements de la 1re ronde. Le tournoi était lancé ! Après trois parties, seules trois joueuses avaient réussi à réaliser un score parfait, parmi lesquelles les deux favorites : Yang Dai (2002) de l’État de Virginie, et la tenante du titre Courtney Jamison du Texas. Samyukta Bhat de la Caroline du Nord complétait le trio de tête. Le lendemain, Dai et Jamison devaient s’affronter à la 1re table. Ce fut un duel très excitant car, alors que l’heure du dîner approchait et que toutes les autres parties étaient terminées, ces deux jeunes championnes combattaient encore ! C’était déjà la partie décisive, puisqu’il ne restait plus que deux rondes à jouer et que Bath, de son côté, venait d’annuler contre la Texane Julia Jones. Ce choc Dai-Jamison fut une partie sauvage, qui s’acheva en extrême zeitnot! La tenante du titre se défendit vaillamment, mais sa rivale de Virginie voulait absolument la détrôner. Ne vous découragez pas, et ne cédez jamais ! Toutes les deux auraient mérité la victoire, mais une seule allait s’imposer. Et au terme d’un combat exténuant, Courtney perdit cette finale dans laquelle elle était entrée avec une position légèrement inférieure. Ce choc fut admirable. Ce fut sans doute le plus beau de toute l’histoire de ce tournoi SPNI. Courtney lutta comme une championne, mais Yang était comme investie par une mission : lui ravir sa couronne!

Emily sur la voie royale

Une autre jeune fille accomplit un parcours magnifique : Emily Nguyen, qui venait de fêter ses sept ans quelques semaines avant le tournoi. Cette jeune débutante – tout juste classée à 862 – gagna notamment trois parties d’affilée en battant des adversaires classées à 1215, 1501 et 1659. Tu es sur le bon chemin, Emily ! Voici d’ailleurs comment elle démontra toute l’étendue de son jeune talent en matant Alexandra Wiener après une belle combinaison, lors de cette 4e ronde. En fait, Emily raisonna comme si elle avait eu à résoudre un problème.

La 6e et dernière ronde se joua le 31 juillet. Mathématiquement, huit joueuses pouvaient encore décrocher le titre. Seule en tête, Yang Dai pouvait se contenter d’une nulle, mais la Virginienne mit un point d’honneur à gagner cette partie. Ce bel engagement aurait pu, néanmoins, lui coûter la victoire finale. Elle affrontait Samyukta Bhat, qui se défendait ardemment. C’est finalement au mental que Yang fit la différence. Elle sortit victorieuse de ce dernier duel. Bravo à la nouvelle championne, qui n’est âgée que de 16 ans ! Elle se distingua encore en finissant 2e du « tournoi de problèmes », démontrant à nouveau sa belle capacité à résoudre des positions critiques. Ce tournoi annexe fut remporté par Epiphany Peters du Michigan, qui doubla la mise en gagnant le tournoi de blitz avec le score parfait de 5/5 ! Elle partagea également le 1er prix de 500 dollars (350 euros) décerné à la laureate de la 1re place au classement general dans la catégorie des moins de 14 ans.

Je voudrais encore remercier la Texas Tech University, le personnel de la Fondation Susan Polgar, ainsi qu’à l’U.S. Chess Trust, DGT America, le site ChessCafe.com, ainsi que tous nos sponsors qui ont permis la réussite de ce tournoi toujours très spécial. Sa dotation globale s’est élevée à près de 250 000 dollars (près de 175 000 euros), en y incluant le montant des bourses d’études récompensant les lauréates! Enfin, j’adresse un remerciement spécial à Tom Martin, Tibor Nagy, Dr. Jim Brink, et à tous nos bénévoles.

Abby 1re dans les Grandes Écoles

Voici maintenant une partie d’un autre événement américain de cet été 2009 : le championnat des Grandes Écoles sponsorisé par « World Chess Live », qui s’est déroulé du 1er au 4 août à Indianapolis. Cet open de six rondes a vu pour la pour la première fois la victoire d’une féminine: Abby Marshall (2181) qui s’est imposée avec 5,5/6. J’ai choisi d’analyser cette partie, car cette jeune joueuse de Virginie a remporté à deux reprises le « SPNI for Girls », en 2005 et 2006. Cette 4e ronde l’oppose à Patrick Tae, qui a fini 20e avec 3/6. Elle vous permettra de mieux juger de son talent. Je dois dire aussi que cette partie m’a rappelé les premiers pas dans la carrière des mes soeurs Judit et Sofia. Toutes deux avaient alors une prédilection pour le gambit du Roi. Je me souviens également des innombrables blitz que nous avions joués à la maison, dans ce style si romantique. C’est rafraîchissant de revoir de temps à autre cette ouverture au 21e siècle...

Source: www.europe-echecs.com

Chess Daily News · at 9/06/2009 01:49:00 AM

Artwork by Mike Magnan

Chess in schools: An inexpensive but effective way to help kids

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Sunday, September 06, 2009
Story last updated at 9/6/2009 - 2:18 am

The question of this week is are there countries that include chess as part of the school curriculum, and why is chess so important?

I have addressed this issue in the past, but I will cover it again since it is so important.

According to research, test scores improved by 17.3 percent for students regularly engaged in chess classes, compared with 4.6 percent for children participating in other forms of enriched activities.

In approximately 30 nations across the globe, including Russia, Brazil, China, Venezuela, Italy, Israel, and Greece, etc., chess is incorporated into the scholastic curriculum. Just as sports are a part of the important agenda at schools in the United States, chess has been that way in the European Nations abroad.

Chess is in many ways like life itself. It is all condensed in a playful manner in a game format, and it is extremely fascinating because you are in complete control of your own destiny. You have to be responsible for your actions. You make a move, you had better think ahead about what is going to happen, not after it happens, because then it's too late.

Chess teaches discipline from a very early age. It teaches you to have a plan and to plan ahead. If you do that, you'll be rewarded. If you break the rules, you will get punished in life and in chess.

Chess has long been regarded as a game that has outstanding beneficial effects on learning and development, especially when it is played from a young age. Below are some of the most critical benefits that chess can provide to a child:

• Develop analytical, synthetic and decision-making skills, which they can transfer to real life.

• Learn to engage in deep and thorough chess research, which will help them build their confidence in their ability to do academic research.

• Help children gain insights into the nature of competition, which will help them in any competitive endeavor.

• When youngsters play chess they must call upon higher-order thinking skills, analyze actions and consequences, and visualize future possibilities.

• In countries where chess is offered widely in schools, students exhibit excellence in the ability to recognize complex patterns and consequently excel in math and science.

Countless researchers and studies have shown over the years that chess does indeed strengthen children's mental clarity, fortitude, stability, and overall health. Many schools are now finding chess as an inexpensive but essential and effective way of helping kids grow mentally. In this technologically driven world, chess helps aid in the synthesis and growth of certain areas in the brain and mind where many children can benefit as they grow older from the game.

I have been working closely with Region 17 and Lubbock ISD regarding chess in education and in the schools. Many schools in Lubbock now have chess. SPICE has also made a presentation to the University Interscholastic League in Austin over the summer to include chess in UIL competition. Stay tuned for further development.

• Here are some of the questions and answers from a recent event of mine:

1. Who, in your opinion, is the most overestimated and the most underestimated player in the history of chess?

Over, not really. Under, some such as Bronstein, Korchnoi, Keres, Polugaevsky, etc.

2. Which slogan would you use in a chess advertisement?

"Get Smart! Play Chess!" I created this slogan and it has been used in many local chess events right here in Lubbock.

3. Which prejudices about you personally or your chess would you like to do away with?

My goal in chess is to promote this game the right way globally so it can benefit generations to come. My love is chess. I will dedicate the rest of my life to promote and expand this game the way it should be. Chess in education is very important to me.

4. Which characteristics of chess players are typical?

Perhaps too much focus in the game and not enough the beauty of life. There should be a balance.

5. Which topics should be discussed more among chess players and in the chess press?

For chess players, how to unite for the best interest of our game in the future. No rule should be made to benefit one player. Rules should be fair for all chess players. For the chess press, let's focus more on the so many benefits, interesting and positive things about chess instead of overdoing it with the negative stories.

6. What would you like to learn in your future life and what do you regret not having learned?

I never stop learning. When I was a professional player, I focused on being the best in chess. Now I focus on promoting chess; promoting chess in education; organizing top-notch tournaments for professionals, amateurs, and young people; getting more sponsorships; writing chess books and columns; making chess DVDs; teaching chess; running SPICE; trying to be a good mother, etc.

I would like to continue to improve in all of those areas. There is no reason why a chess player cannot be successful in many other areas other than playing the game. I am sorry I never learned to play any instrument ... yet.

7. Which dream are you still hoping to come true?

Bringing chess to the mainstream! I believe it can be done. I will do everything in my power to help make this happen for the benefit of our entire sport.

8. What is your life motto?

In chess: "Win with grace, lose with dignity!"

In life: "Each day is a new day for learning and improving." You should never stop learning and improving yourself.

9. Which abuses/injustices around the world you would remedy/abolish if you had the power to do that?

Discrimination of any kind, such as discrimination of race, gender, religion, etc. I faced too much of it in my life and I do not want to see it happen to anyone else.

10. Which question would you like to be asked and what would be your answer to that question?

Why do I still focus so much in chess? I love this game. It has given me so much in my life. But there are many flaws that stop the expansion and growth of it. So instead of criticizing while doing nothing, I decided to fix things and make it better for my colleagues and for chess players of future generations. If everyone only talks about the problems, it will not be fixed. We must take one step at a time to fix things and I am willing to work and cooperate with anyone who also wants good things for chess.

TTU Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE)

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

SPICE Cup Update

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Texas Tech Provost welcomes SPICE Cup players

Texas Tech President welcomes SPICE Cup players

Texas Tech Chancellor welcomes SPICE Cup players

Lubbock Mayor Martin welcomes SPICE Cup players

Texas Governor Perry welcomes SPICE Cup players

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Make me a genius

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Tech Chess Champ fueled by competition

Monday, September 14, 2009

TTU Students and SPICE Members Earn Chess Titles

Tech chess players take top two places

Sunday, September 13, 2009

The Wimbledon of Chess is coming to Texas Tech

Parade Magazine

Friday, September 11, 2009

Bringing chess to Wolfforth Library

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Students and SPICE Members Earn Chess Titles

Spectacular recognition for TTU Chess

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

SPICE A group wall chart

SPICE Cup Drawing of Lots

Texas Tech finished 1-2 at 75th Annual Southwest Open

Monday, September 7, 2009

La plus prestigieuse compétition pour jeunes filles

Sunday, September 6, 2009

An inexpensive but effective way to help kids