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