Lubbock chess tournament sees a record turnout

Polgar: Lubbock chess tournament sees a record turnout
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Story last updated at 1/31/2010 - 12:22 am

The fourth "Get Smart! Play Chess!" Winter Scholastic Chess Championship was held on Jan. 23 at the Lubbock Science Spectrum. The event drew around 100 players - ages 6 to older than 60 - from Lubbock, San Angelo, Amarillo, and Midland, etc.

The players fought hard for four rounds. However, players managed to have a blast exploring the exciting exhibits between rounds. Some even enjoyed an IMAX movie after the tournament.

This is a wonderful collaboration among Texas Tech SPICE, the Knight Raiders, the Susan Polgar Foundation, and the Science Spectrum. I am hoping to partner up with more local businesses in the future to provide more activities, excitement, and benefits to our community.
Below are the top five individual finishers in each section (when tie, players are listed by the order of tie breaks):

K-2

1. D'Amico-Wong, Luca 4.0 points

2. McClure, Andrew 3.0

3-4. Church, London 2.0

3-4. Kotarski, Bridges 2.0

5. Walden, Sarah 1.0

K-5

1. Cheatham, Benjamin 4.0 points

2-6. McCarty, Danny 3.0

2-6. Polgar, Leeam 3.0

2-6. Mulligan, Brian 3.0

2-6. Simmons, Max 3.0

2-6. Asakawa, Anil 3.0

K-8

1. Simmons, Wolfgang 4.0 points

2-4. Tafoya, Emmanuel 3.5

2-4. Tafoya, Isriel 3.5

2-4. Butler, Anthony 3.5

5-11. Perez, Felix 3.0

5-11. Cassity, Taylor 3.0

5-11. Garcia, Gabriel 3.0

5-11. Arce, Jordan 3.0

5-11. Morris, Gordon 3.0

5-11. Sproles, Nathan 3.0

5-11. Johnson, Sam 3.0

K-12

1. Cortes, Joel 4.0 points

2. Perez, Bernadette 3.5

3-5. Smith, Quinton 3.0

3-5. Reyna, Gilbert II 3.0

3-5. Ball, Charles Adam 3.0

Open section for all ages

1-2. Cassidy, Brian (AZ) 1815 3.5 points

1-2. Polgar, Tom (TX) 1793 3.5

3-5. Haskin, Zachary (TX) 1869 2.5

3-5. Lelko, Rebecca (OH) 1835 2.5

3-5. Metzler, Shane (TX) 1465 2.5

Big thanks to Chase Watters, Brett James, Gabor Papp, Davorin Kuljasevic, Stephanie Ballom, Peggy Flores, Hal Karlsson, Lucia Barbato, Jerry Perez, Rich Rice, and Paul Truong for their help. Special thanks to Dr. Juan Munoz and Jeannie Diaz for their support. Last but not least, a sincere thanks to the Science Spectrum for hosting this event and for supporting chess in education.

Here is the link to 68 pictures from this event: http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/2010/01/4th-get-smart-play-chess_23.html.