Friday, February 26, 2010

2010 Lubbock Open


TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE)
The Susan Polgar Foundation and the Knight Raiders

present

3rd Annual Lubbock Open Chess Championship

Saturday, March 27, 2010
A 4 Round Swiss System Tournament (Game/30)

Event Site:
Monterey High School “New Box”, Lubbock, TX

Contact Info: 806-742-7742 E-mail: Spice@ttu.edu

Description of Tournament: A USCF rated Individual Championship

Games are played in one section. There is a total of 30 minutes maximum per player per game.

On-site registration and check in 9am-10:00am. All players must check in by 10:15am.

Round schedule:

1 10:30 AM
2 11:45 AM
3 1:15 PM
4 2:30 PM

Entry Fees: $15 received by 3/14; $20 received by 3/26, or on site $25. A valid USCF membership required. It can be obtained at www.uschess.org or onsite on 3/27 until 10am.

Prizes: Cash prizes: $100 (plus trophy)-$75-$40, Top U-1600, Top U-1200, Top Unrated $40 each. All cash prizes are based on a minimum of 20 paid entries. Prize giving ceremony will be held shortly after the end of the last game which is around 4:00pm.

Chess boards and sets will be provided. Bring a chess clock if you have one.

Please register send Entry Blank and Fees to Susan Polgar Foundation send to: 6923 Indiana Avenue #154 Lubbock, TX 79413
Additional information on www.SPICE.ttu.edu

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Entry Form: Please PRINT all information and make check/money order to Susan Polgar Foundation

Name: ________________________ Phone: (_____) _____________School___________
Address: ___________________________ City/State: _____________ Zip:___________
Email: ________________________________ DOB: ___________Section____________
USCF Rating (if any) ______USCF ID#:__________ Amount Enclosed (No cash, please) $____
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2010 Annual Lubbock Scholastic Open


TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE)
The Susan Polgar Foundation and the Knight Raiders

present

3rd Annual Lubbock Open Scholastic Chess Championship
Saturday, March 27, 2010
A 4 Round Swiss System Tournament (Game/30)
Event Site: Monterey High School “New Box”, Lubbock, TX
Contact Info: 806-742-7742 E-mail: Spice@ttu.edu

Description of Tournament: A USCF rated Individual and Team Scholastic Championship

Games are played in five sections: Primary (K-2), Elementary (K-5), Middle School (K-8), High School (K-12) and Novice section K-8 (no USCF membership required). There is a total of 30 minutes maximum per player per game.

On-site registration and check in 8:45am-10:00am. All players must check in by 10:15am, if arrives later will receive a ½ point bye for the first round.

Round schedule:

1 10:30 AM
2 11:45 AM
3 1:15 PM
4 2:30 PM

Entry Fees: $10 received by 3/14; $15 received by 3/26, or on site $20. A valid USCF membership required in all sections, except Novice K-8. It can be obtained at www.uschess.org or onsite on 3/27 until 10am.

Prizes: Trophies for top 6 finishers in each section. Trophies to top 3 school teams in each section. Team prizes are based on the top 3 individual scores from the same school or same club within the same section.

Also special trophy for top Sibling, top Parent/Child and top Coach/Student teams.

Special valuable chess prizes to the top overall finisher and top girl in each section sponsored by the Susan Polgar Foundation! Prize giving ceremony will be held shortly after the end of the last game which is around 4:00pm.

Chess boards and sets will be provided. Bring a chess clock if you have one.

Please register send Entry Blank and Fees to TTU-SPICE send to: SPICE Box 45080 Lubbock, TX 79409-5080
Additional information on www.SPICE.ttu.edu

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Entry Form: Please PRINT all information and make check/money order to TTU-SPICE.
Name: ________________________ Phone: (_____) _____________School_________
Address: ____________________ City/State: __________ Zip:___________________
Email: ______________________________ DOB: ___________Section____________
USCF Rating (if any) _____USCF ID#:_______ Amount Enclosed (No cash, please) $______
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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

SPICE Spring Invitational Drawing of Lots


The drawing of lots for the 2010 SPICE Spring Invitational was done this morning at 9:30 am at the Texas Tech Student Union Building.

Michael Gunn, Assistant Director of Student Organizations, drew the 10 names in front of Dr. Hal Karlsson, student advisor to the Texas Tech Knight Raiders, and assistant tournament director.

Here is the order:

1. IM Irina Krush
(USA) 2492 USCF - 2460 FIDE (GM norm - previous participant of the SPICE Cup)
2. IM Gergely Antal (HUN) 2557 USCF - 2511 FIDE (2 GM norms) - Texas Tech Student
3. IM Davorin Kuljasevic (CRO) 2585 USCF - 2552 FIDE (2 GM norms) - Texas Tech Student
4. FM Eric Hansen (CAN) 2426 USCF - 2406 FIDE
5. IM Gabor Papp (HUN) 2578 USCF - 2542 FIDE (GM norm) - Texas Tech Student
6. GM Julio Becerra (USA) 2610 USCF - 2538 FIDE (2-time participant of the SPICE Cup)
7. IM Dean Ippolito (USA) 2534 USCF - 2465 FIDE (Previous participant of the SPICE Cup)
8. GM Jesse Kraai (USA) 2550 USCF - 2508 FIDE
9. FM Darwin Yang (USA) 2398 USCF - 2369 FIDE (Youngest ever participant of a SPICE Invitational)
10. GM Ben Finegold (USA) 2616 USCF - 2533 FIDE (earned GM title at the 2009 SPICE Cup B group)

Average FIDE rating: 2488.5

The 2010 SPICE Spring Invitational will take place in March (13-19) at the beautiful campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX.
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Sunday, February 21, 2010

Chess open to whole world


After decades of Russian domination, chess open to whole world

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Story last updated at 2/21/2010 - 11:34 pm

The question of the week is: Does Russia still dominate the chess world?

For many decades, Russia as a part of the Soviet Union used to dominate the chess world. As we all know, Bobby Fischer broke through the Iron Curtain to defeat Boris Spassky in the 1972 World Championship in Iceland. But that was a very rare exception.

The Soviet Union also dominated women’s chess. The Soviets ruled the world chess rankings for many decades, and they also won every single chess Olympiad they competed in. Things changed in the 1980s.

In 1984, I broke through that barrier to become the number-1-ranked female player in the world. Since then, my sister Judit and I have kept the number ranking in the family. That is more than 25 straight years. In fact, Judit is still No. 1 today by a significant margin.

In 1988, my sisters Judit, Sofia, and I, along with Ildiko Madl, shocked the chess world by winning the team gold medal at the Thessaloniki chess Olympiad in Greece. This was the first time any team had finished ahead of the Soviet Union. We came back with the same team and won gold again at the 1990 Novi Sad chess Olympiad. In addition to the team gold medal, my sisters and I also won individual gold as well. This was the end of the Soviet dominance in women’s chess.

When the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia emerged as some of the top chess nations in the world. But other nations have since caught up, largely due to the Internet and computer technology. Now any player can have access to millions of chess games in the chess database, as well as top computer software. This is why the playing field is now a lot more even.

In fact, on the men’s side, the No. 1 player in the world is from Norway, while No. 2 is from Bulgaria, and No. 3 is from India. On the women’s side, the No. 1 player is from Hungary, while No. 2 is from India, and No. 3 is from China.

Here is another good example. The annual Aeroflot Open Chess Tournament in Moscow, Russia is by far the strongest open chess tournament in the world. But this year, this tournament just ended and the winner is a young Vietnamese chess grandmaster. The same Vietnamese player also tied for first in the very strong Moscow Open, which ended the day before the Aeroflot Open started. Here are the top finishers of the 2010 Aeroflot Open:

Rank, title, name, score, federation, rating

1. GM Le, Quang Liem 7.0 (Vietnam) 2647
2. GM Korobov, Anton 6.5 (Ukraine) 2648
3. GM Motylev, Alexander 6.0 (Russia) 2697
4. GM Zhou, Jianchao 6.0 (China) 2632
5. GM Nguyen, Ngoc Truong Son 6.0 (Vietnam) 2616
6. GM Grachev, Boris 6.0 (Russia) 2653
7. GM Cheparinov, Ivan 5.5 (Bulgaria) 2660
8. GM Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime 5.5 (France) 2730
9. GM Nepomniachtchi, Ian 5.5 (Russia) 2658
10. GM Bu, Xiangzhi 5.5 (China) 2673
11. GM So, Wesley 5.5 (Philippines) 2656
12. GM Sargissian, Gabriel 5.5 (Armenia) 2680
13. GM Savchenko, Boris 5.5 (Russia) 2638
14. GM Bacrot, Etienne 5.5 (France) 2713
15. GM Timofeev, Artyom 5.5 (Russia) 2652
16. GM Bareev, Evgeny 5.5 (Russia) 2643
17. GM Najer, Evgeniy 5.5 (Russia) 2665
18. GM Iturrizaga, Eduardo 5.5 (Venezuela) 2616
19. GM Dreev, Alexey 5.5 (Russia) 2650, etc.

Another major chess invitational is coming to Texas Tech. The 2010 SPICE Spring Invitational will take place in March (13-19) at the beautiful campus.

Young chess phenom Robert Hess got his second grandmaster norm last year in this event and he went on to become a grandmaster shortly after that, along with a break through year. Another young chess phenom Ray Robson came to SPICE for the first at the same event last year. Ray will be back at Tech to compete in the fourth annual SPICE Cup in November.

We will have a very diverse and interesting field this year, including three Knight Raiders, and a 13-year-old star from Texas.

Here are the confirmed players:

-IM Davorin Kuljasevic (CRO) 2585 USCF — 2552 FIDE (2 GM norms) — Texas Tech Student
-IM Gabor Papp (HUN) 2578 USCF — 2542 FIDE (GM norm) — Texas Tech Student
-GM Julio Becerra (USA) 2610 USCF — 2538 FIDE (2-time participant of the SPICE Cup)
-GM Ben Finegold (USA) 2616 USCF — 2533 FIDE (earned GM title at the 2009 SPICE Cup B group)
-IM Gergely Antal (HUN) 2557 USCF — 2511 FIDE (2 GM norms) — Texas Tech Student
-GM Jesse Kraai (USA) 2550 USCF — 2508 FIDE
-IM Dean Ippolito (USA) 2534 USCF — 2465 FIDE (Previous participant of the SPICE Cup)
-IM Irina Krush (USA) 2492 USCF — 2460 FIDE (GM norm — previous participant of the SPICE Cup)
-FM Eric Hansen (CAN) 2426 USCF — 2406 FIDE
-FM Darwin Yang (USA) 2398 USCF — 2369 FIDE (13 years old — Youngest ever participant of a SPICE Invitational)

Average FIDE rating: 2488.5

A Grandmaster norm is expected to be 6 points (out of 9 games) and an International Master norm is expected to be 4 points (out of nine games). I will announce more details in an upcoming column.

Local chess activities:

-“Super Saturday” SPICE Fun Chess, April 3–May 1. Two levels: Novice and Intermediate. Class dates: April 3, 10, 17, 24 and May 1 (five sessions). Hours: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays at Texas Tech Administration building. Instruction will be provided by members of the nationally ranked Texas Tech Knight Raider Chess Team, based on my popular and highly effective chess curriculum and direct guidance.

Registration fee: $99 by March 27, after then, add $20 late fee. Please send registration form to: Texas Tech, SPICE, Box 45080, Lubbock, TX 79409. For information, please go to: http://www.spice.ttu.edu/ or e-mail spice@ttu.edu.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

2010 SPICE Spring Invitational


Artwork by Tin Kuljasevic

The 2010 SPICE Spring Invitational will take place in March (13-19) at the beautiful campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX.

Robert Hess got his 2nd GM norm last year in this event and he went on to become a GM shortly after that, along with a break through year. GM Robson came to SPICE for the first at the same event last year.

Who will get the GM norm(s) or IM norm(s) this year?

Here are the confirmed players:

- IM Davorin Kuljasevic (CRO) 2585 USCF - 2552 FIDE (2 GM norms) - Texas Tech Student
- IM Gabor Papp (HUN) 2578 USCF - 2542 FIDE (GM norm) - Texas Tech Student
- GM Julio Becerra (USA) 2610 USCF - 2538 FIDE (2-time participant of the SPICE Cup)
- GM Ben Finegold (USA) 2616 USCF - 2533 FIDE (earned GM title at the 2009 SPICE Cup B group)
- IM Gergely Antal (HUN) 2557 USCF - 2511 FIDE (2 GM norms) - Texas Tech Student
- GM Jesse Kraai (USA) 2550 USCF - 2508 FIDE
- IM Dean Ippolito (USA) 2534 USCF - 2465 FIDE (Previous participant of the SPICE Cup)
- IM Irina Krush (USA) 2492 USCF - 2460 FIDE (GM norm - previous participant of the SPICE Cup)
- FM Eric Hansen (CAN) 2426 USCF - 2406 FIDE
- FM Darwin Yang (USA) 2398 USCF - 2369 FIDE (Youngest ever participant of a SPICE Invitational)

Average FIDE rating: 2488.5

GM norm is expected to be 6 points (out of 9 games) and IM norm is expected to be 4 points (out of 9 games).

http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/2010/02/best-of-best.html


www.SPICE.ttu.edu
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Tuesday, February 9, 2010

The history of women's chess


Here are the list of all the women who achieved or earned the Grandmaster title:
Name Country
Date Age Earned World Champion Peak
Rating
Notes
Nona Gaprindashvili Georgia
1978 37 WCC 1962–1978 ?? First female grandmaster
Maia Chiburdanidze Georgia
1984 23 WCC 1978–1991 2550
Susan Polgar Hungary
United States

1991 22 norms 1996–1999 2577 First to be awarded the title traditionally
Judit Polgár Hungary
1991 15 norms 2735 Youngest grandmaster ever at the time
Xie Jun China
1991 21 WCC 1991–1996,1999–2001 2574
Pia Cramling Sweden
1992 29 norms 2550
Zhu Chen China
Qatar

2001 25 norms 2001–2004 2548
Koneru Humpy India
2002 15 norms 2622
Antoaneta Stefanova Bulgaria
2003 25 norms 2004–2006 2560
Alexandra Kosteniuk Russia
2004 20 EWC 2008–current 2540
Peng Zhaoqin China
Netherlands

2004 36 EWC 2472
Hoang Thanh Trang Vietnam
Hungary

2007 27 norms 2501
Kateryna Lahno Ukraine
2007 17 norms 2509
Xu Yuhua China
2007 30 WCC 2006–2008 2517
Marie Sebag France
2008 21 norms 2533
Zhao Xue China
2008 23 norms 2544
Hou Yifan China
2008 14 norms 2590 Youngest ever female grandmaster
Nana Dzagnidze Georgia
2008 21 norms 2536
Monika Soćko Poland
2008 30 norms 2505
Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant Georgia
Scotland

2009 40 norms 2506
Tatiana Kosintseva Russia
2009 23 norms 2539
Source: Wiki
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2010 SPICE Spring Invitational


The 2010 SPICE Spring Invitational will take place in March (13-19) at the beautiful campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX. Robert Hess got his 2nd GM norm last year in this event and he went on to become a GM shortly after that, along with a break through year. Who will get the GM norm(s) or IM norm(s) this year?

Confirmed players so far include:

- IM Davorin Kuljasevic (CRO) 2585 USCF - 2552 FIDE (2 GM norms) - Texas Tech Student
- IM Gabor Papp (HUN) 2578 USCF - 2542 FIDE (GM norm) - Texas Tech Student
- GM Julio Becerra (USA) 2610 USCF - 2538 FIDE (2-time participant of the SPICE Cup)
- GM Ben Finegold (USA) 2616 USCF - 2533 FIDE (earned GM title at 2009 SPICE Cup B group)
- IM Gergely Antal (HUN) 2557 USCF - 2511 FIDE (2 GM norms) - Texas Tech Student
- GM Jesse Kraai (USA) 2550 USCF - 2508 FIDE
- IM Dean Ippolito (USA) 2534 USCF - 2465 FIDE (Previous participant of the SPICE Cup)
- IM Irina Krush (USA) 2492 USCF - 2460 FIDE (GM norm - previous participant of the SPICE Cup)
- FM Eric Hansen (CAN) 2426 USCF - 2406 FIDE
- FM Darwin Yang (USA) 2398 USCF - 2369 FIDE (Youngest ever participant of a SPICE Invitational)

GM norm is expected to be 6 points (out of 9 games) and IM norm is expected to be 4 points (out of 9 games).

http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/2009/10/major-growth.html

www.SPICE.ttu.edu
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"Super Saturday" SPICE Fun Chess


April 3 – May 1, 2010

Two levels: Novice and Intermediate

Class dates: April 3, 10, 17, 24 and May 1 (5 sessions)

Hours: 11:00am to 1:00pm on Saturdays at TTU’s Administration building.

Instruction will be provided by members of the nationally ranked Texas Tech Knight Raider Chess Team, based on Grandmaster Susan Polgar’s very popular and highly effective chess curriculum and direct guidance.

Registration fee: $99 by March 27, after add $20 late fee.

Please send registration form to: Texas Tech University, SPICE, Box 45080, Lubbock, TX 79409.

For information, please go to: www.spice.ttu.edu or email spice@ttu.edu

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Sunday, February 7, 2010

Best of the best


The school was established in 1923. Today, Texas Tech University has more than 39,000 students and 18,000 faculty / staff from over 100 countries. The main campus in Lubbock, Texas has 30,049 students.

Texas Tech University comprised a vast 1,850 acres, but elegant Spanish Renaissance-style buildings and attractively landscaped grounds give the campus an old-fashion collegial feel. Located in Lubbock, Texas Tech enjoys the area’s High Plains climate and four distinct seasons.

Texas Tech offers students a choice of more than 150 bachelor’s, 100 master’s, and 50 doctoral programs. Faculty members are nationally known for their work in a wide variety of fields. It is the ONLY institution in Texas with a graduate school, a law school, and a medical school in the same location as the main undergraduate campus. Overall, there are 14 colleges at Texas Tech University with 62 academics departments and 198 degree programs.

More than 400 clubs and organizations provide enrichment outside of the classroom.

Texas Tech also many other locations such as San Angelo, El Paso, Spain, and Germany, etc. It is expected to be designated as a tier one university soon.

Gender breakdown:

Undergraduate: Approximately 56% male - 44% female
Graduate & Professional: Approximately 52.5% male - 47.5% female
New Transfer Students: Approximately 57% male - 43% female

Top countries:

1. USA
2. India
3. China
4. Mexico
5. South Korea
6. Canada
7. Taiwan
8. Nigeria
9. Turkey
10. Nepal

SPICE (Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence) was established in 2007. It is the only established university chess institute in the United States and possibly in the world. The goal of SPICE is to work with our friends and colleagues to enhance chess, education, technology, and research, etc.

Why should a student / chess player come to Texas Tech?

Here are just a few of the many benefits:

1. To receive top notch education.
2. To receive world class intense chess training.
3. To have the opportunity to compete in multiple major SPICE chess tournaments (SPICE Cup, SPICE Spring Invitational, Get Smart! Play Chess!, Lubbock Open, and many more) every year.

SPICE is a premier center for chess education, research, technology, and outreach.

The goal of SPICE is to:

- Recruit outstanding undergraduate and graduate students to TTU and TTU-HSC

- Provide a substantial amount of scholarships to chess players

- Be a world leader in promoting women's chess

- Support the nation's most elite chess programs

- Promote chess as vehicle for enriching the education of children

- Serve as a center for chess education and research

- Support and promote competitive chess at the college level

Monday, February 1, 2010

Texas Tech Summer Camp 2010


Beginners to advanced K-12 players welcome. Campers will practice writing and computer skills. Sports and other activities offered.

• Commuter Plan: $295/week

Check-in Sunday 2pm-3pm. Camp hours are 3pm-5:30pm on Sunday, and 9am-5:30pm daily Monday - Thursday. Camp ends at 3pm on Friday. Lunch and snacks included.


• Residential Plan: $595/week

Arrive Sunday from 1pm-3pm. Dorm lodging and all meals are included, including dinner on Sunday through lunch on Friday. Camp ends at 3pm on Sunday. Residential plan is based on double occupancy. 5-12 Grades only.

Early bird discount: 10% off by March 1, 2010.

Optional Saturday tournament follows.

See http://www.SPICE.ttu.edu, email SPICE@ttu.edu, or call (806) 742-7742.

Another big turn out at the Lubbock Chess Club


The newly formed Lubbock just had its second meeting tonight. As I mentioned last week, chess has been growing at warp speed in Lubbock. Now chess enthusiasts can enjoy casual games on multiple nights each week at various locations.

A group of dedicated chess aficionados in Lubbock have decided to re-open the Lubbock Chess Club and the primary goal is to have chess enthusiasts get together and have fun playing chess.

I am happy to say that the new Lubbock Chess Club has found a new long term home and a wonderful partner. Lin's Buffet at 5608 Slide Road (near South Plains Mall) has agreed to host the club on Mondays from 5-9 p.m.

A room full of players were on hand tonight to enjoy a fun night of chess action.

Another challenging night of chess fun will be on Friday nights starting at 5:30 p.m. at J&B Coffee, 2701 26th St., just off Boston Avenue.

After school/after work chess club at Science Spectrum: Thursdays, 4:30-6 p.m.; Science Spectrum Atrium, 2579 S. Loop 289; www.sciencespectrum.org. The club is free and all ages and levels are welcome.

Springboard Chess Nights: Mondays and Wednesdays 5-7 p.m., 4204 Boston Ave. The event is free and all ages and levels are welcome.

There is no cost to play at either location. Members of SPICE/Texas Tech Knight Raiders will be on hand to give you a mental work out. You can get more information at www.texastechchess.blogspot.com or www.lubbockchessclub.wordpress.com.
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Scientific conference: Chess should be taught at elementary classes


Scientific conference: Chess should be taught at elementary classes

Scientific conference: Chess should be taught at elementary classes
February 01, 2010

On the last day of January research and practice conference “Chess as an innovating school subject in educational system” started within the framework of international Moscow Open chess festival. Greeting speeches from RSSU rector Vasily Zhukov, the Federation Council and others government structure was read out to participants.

The head of the “pedagogic and chess work organization” department RSSU Aleksandr Kostiev told about the successful undertaking – publishing the information from chess education conference, which took place in RSSU, and a publication of premiere collection “Project “Chess in RSSU”. Volume 1. International research and practice conference materials “Chess in Russian and World educational system” (2009).

The leitmotif of the conference was the article “Russian Chess Education” of the First President of Sakha Republic (Yakutia), deputy chairman of the Federation Council Mikhail Nikolaev. This article was quoted in many speeches.

Aleksandr Schegortsov, Doctor of Social Sciences, director of Federation Council chairman deputy secretariat, impressed the audience with his speech. He noticed that chess should be involved not only in life of each school, but in each family life.

Reports from regions-leaders of chess education were also of great interest. Methodist Tatiana Partys (Tomsk) and director of Internet-center of chess skills Galina Kovaleva (Khanty-Mansiysk) speeches and presentations covered a lot of methodical aspects of general compulsory education. The main feature of Khanty-Mansiysk autonomous area is using information technology during the chess lessons, the main feature of Tomsk district – narrow facility preparation to general compulsory education and good covering of compulsory schools. Guests from Tomsk brought the just published substantial collection “Problems and prospects of chess education development in Russia: All-Russian research-to-practice conference data”.

The report of the deputy director of the school №758 Elvira Umanskaya (Moscow) was about chess lesson characteristics for “The Teacher of the Year” contest and also about the quality of teaching chess at elementary school.

The speeches of Alexander Timofeev, Vladimir Mechitov and others were dedicated to different issues arising at chess lessons at comprehensive schools. There was no special mood – there was a constructive, quite tough and emotional conversation among specialists.

Nevertheless, all the speakers were of the same opinion that a chess lesson at school is very essential. It should be in the main draw of the lessons and chess should be taught at elementary classes.

Source: http://www.moscowchessopen.ru/press/press_6_eng.php
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TTU the Victors


TTU the Victors: Red Raiders raked in the awards in 2009

By Matthew Mcgowan
AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Monday, February 01, 2010
Story last updated at 2/1/2010 - 12:36 am


The trophies have been lining up at Texas Tech.

Forget football, basketball, track, or other sports. You won't find these - with one possible exception - on ESPN.

Red Raiders have been racking up the victories against rival groups across the country.

Since the beginning of classes last fall, they've won victories in chess, meat and livestock judging, paintball, plant science quiz bowls, and interior design.

Most, like the agronomy quiz bowl team, compete in groups - small cadres of participants who have spent months preparing for their respective fields of competition.

Others, like interior design champ Allison Yank, went it alone.

But regardless of whether in groups or solo, Tech's students have returned home with accolades.

The year's not over yet, so many of these extracurricular teams are still

competing for national and state titles.

This article doesn't include them all, but here's a rundown of some of the different student groups and their accomplishments.

Chess

Thirty-two pieces in two colors on 64 squares.

Then add to that four national and two state titles on top of one open championship and you've got chess on Tech's terms.

"Other schools have chess teams," said Paul Truong, assistant coach and director of marketing for Tech's 21/2-year-old Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence. "It's not about teams. We have an institute. It's not just about chess competitions. It's multi-faceted."

And, judging from the string of victories above, all won by Red Raiders in the past six months, Truong is right. SPICE has become a hot-spot breeding ground of chess champions.

The institute's select few Knight Raider chess teams have tacked a slew of accomplishments onto their resumes in the past few months.

Knight Raiders A-Team members Gergely Antal, Davorin Kuljasevic, Gabor Papp and Chase Watters - all international masters - collectively came home from Houston with a Texas collegiate championship in November.

In the same tournament, Hungarian-born Antal and Croatian-born Kujasevic won first and second place, respectively, in the individual competition.

The next month, the same team tied for second place for Division 1 of the 2009 Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship on South Padre Island.

Again at South Padre, Antal and Kujasevic took individual honors, tying for first place.

By that point, however, Antal, an economics student, had already been on a roll.

He won September's 75th Annual Southwest Open in Fort Worth. That's to say he took the No. 1 spot out of 245 players at the open.

But that was after he made history for Tech in August by winning the 2009 World Chess Live Tournament of College Champions - a major win, the first major national title for a Knight Raider.

The Knight Raiders A-Team's win in December qualified them for a seat at the President's Cup in March, which Truong described as "college chess' Final Four Championship.

Source: Avalanche Journal
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