Top Chess Players Travel to Lubbock

October 27, 2010
Top Chess Players Travel to Lubbock for SPICE Cup 2010
Players include youngest American ever to earn Grandmaster title, at age 14.
Written by Karin Slyker

Ray Robson, who celebrated his 16^th birthday this week, is among the top Chess competitors scheduled to compete in the SPICE Cup International Invitational Tournament. The event, now in its fourth year, will be held at Texas Tech University.

The 2010 SPICE Cup Festival will take place from Oct. 28-Nov. 7 in the Matador Room of the Student Union Building.

Lubbock Mayor Tom Martin will join SPICE director Susan Polgar for the kickoff to the event. He will also declare Oct. 28 as “Susan Polgar Day” in Lubbock. Round-robin game play will begin immediately after the reception.

Players will be broken into two groups. The six-player A Group will meet in a category 16 event – the highest rated international invitational Chess tournament in U.S. history.

• Grandmaster Zoltan Almasi, Hungary, 2707
  No. 1 ranked Hungarian on the live rating list, 2010 Olympiad Silver Medalist
• Grandmaster Alexander Onischuk, United States, 2688
  Former U.S. Champion and No. 1 ranked American, Olympiad Medalist
• Grandmaster Wesley So, Philippines, 2668
  No. 1 ranked Filipino, member of the 2008-2010 Filipino Olympiad team
• Grandmaster Georg Meier, Germany, 2659
  No. 2 ranked German, member of the 2008 German Olympiad team
• Grandmaster Ray Robson, United States, 2539
  Former U.S. Junior Champion, youngest ever American Grandmaster
• Grandmaster Eugene Perelshteyn, United States, 2528
  2007 SPICE Cup Champion, 2009 SPICE Cup B Group Co-Champion, winner of multiple National Collegiate Team Championships

Ten players form the B Group tournament, a Category 10 event comprised of mostly grandmasters or international masters:

• Grandmaster Davorin Kuljasevic, Croatia, 2555
  Texas Tech business major graduate student, 2-time winner of the National Collegiate Team Championship, member of the Texas Tech Knight Raiders, first Texas Tech Grandmaster
• Grandmaster Ben Finegold, United States, 2534
  2-time U.S. Open Champion, 2-time National Open Champion, 2009 SPICE Cup B co-champion, former winner of the prestigious Samford fellowship
• Grandmaster Gergely Antal, Hungary, 2526
  Texas Tech Economics Major Graduate, 2009 National Collegiate Chess Champion, member of the Knight Raiders, second Texas Tech Grandmaster
• Grandmaster Andre Diamant, Brazil, 2498
  Top rated Brazilian Junior, former Brazilian National Champion, member of the 2008 & 2010 Brazilian Chess Olympiad team, member of the Knight Raiders
• Grandmaster Anatoly Bykhovsky, Israel, 2497
  One of the top young players in Israel, member of the Knight Raiders
• International Master Irina Krush, United States, 2490
  Reigning and multiple time U.S. Women’s Champion, multiple time Olympiad medalist
• International Master Bryan Smith, United States, 2478
  Highest rated player ever from Alaska, winner of multiple National Collegiate Team Championships
• International Master Dean Ippolito, United States, 2469
  Prominent chess coach, former winner of the prestigious Samford fellowship, 11-time All-American
• International Master Danny Rensch, United States, 2404
  Prominent chess coach, former National Elementary, Junior High, and High School Champion, 6-time All-American
• FIDE Master Darwin Yang, United States, 2402
  Currently one of the top rated American juniors, earned first IM norm at the 2010 SPICE Spring Invitational

The Festival will also include a World Chess Federation (FIDE) Rated Open, a Scholastic event and an Open competition. Spectators are welcome, daily admission is free.

Live updates will be available at http://www.chessdailynews.com/.

http://today.ttu.edu/2010/10/top-chess-players-travel-to-lubbock-for-spice-cup-2010/

Tech to host top-tier chess tournament

Tech to host top-tier chess tournament
Posted: October 27, 2010 - 1:30am
By Matthew McGowan

Several titans of the chess world will converge on Lubbock during the next few weeks, competing in a tournament that organizers at Texas Tech are calling one of history’s most epic chess showdowns.

Tech’s Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence, or SPICE, is hosting its fourth annual SPICE CUP on the university’s campus from Thursday to Nov. 7 in the Student Union Building on campus.

Lubbock Mayor Tom Martin and institute director Susan Polgar will kick off the event during a 1:30 p.m. ceremony in the SUB.

Round-robin game play is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. in the SUB Matador Room.

The 11-day tournament will host some the game’s biggest names, including grandmasters such as Hungarian Zoltan Almasi, American Alexander Onischuk and Filipino Wesley So — all rated as their respective countries’ best players.

SPICE spokesman Paul Truong said the World Chess Federation-rated tournament’s list of competitors qualifies it as “the highest-rated international invitational round-robin chess tournament in U.S. history.”

The roster of competitors also includes several of Texas Tech’s own Knight Raiders. Tech graduate students Davorin Kuljasevic of Croatia and Gergely Antal of Hungary, both grandmasters, will compete.

More than 30 million chess enthusiasts across the world are expected to follow the tournament.

The tournament also includes an open team and individual scholastic tournament for U.S. Chess Federation-registered students from kindergarten through 12th grade.

The chess-playing public is also invited to register for a Nov. 5-7 individual single-section tournament. Fifty spots are available to those with a U.S. Chess Federation rating of at least 1600 or to those with any World Chess Federation rating.

For those who’d like to come catch a glimpse of the games and try to meet some of the game’s superstars, admission is free and open to the public.

For a complete schedule, log on to www.depts.ttu.edu/spice/events/spicecup.php or call SPICE at 742-7742.

Want to play? Here’s how:

Oct. 30

Spice cup 2010 Scholastic Chess Championship (students K-12)

* Four-round Swiss system USCF-rated individual and team tournament

* Event Site: Tech Student Union Building

* Contact Info: 806-742-7742 or e-mail SPICE@ttu.edu

* USCF membership required.

* Games are played in four sections: primary (grades K-2), elementary (grades 3-5), middle school (grades 6-8), and high school (grades 9-12).

* $25 on-site registration. All players must check in by 10:15 a.m.

Nov. 5-7

2010 SPICE Cup FIDE-Rated Open

* Six-round Swiss system USCF- and FIDE-rated individual single-section tournament

* Event Site: Tech Student Union Building

* Contact Info: 806-742-7742 or e-mail SPICE@ttu.edu

Description of tournament:

* USCF membership required: Participants must be rated 1600 USCF or any FIDE rating; limited to first 50 entries. (Bring chess set and clock if possible).

* On-site registration: All players must check in by 10:30 a.m. Nov. 5.

* Round schedule: Nov. 5 — 11 a.m. round one; 4 p.m. round two

Nov. 6 — 10 a.m. round three; 3 p.m. round four

Nov. 7 — 9 a.m. round five: 2 p.m. round six

* Entry fees: U.S. players with FIDE Rating $50, without FIDE rating, $75 by Nov. 2 plus $25 more on site. Titled players and foreign FIDE rated players free, but $50 deducted from prize if won.

* Prizes: First place, $1,000; second, $500; third, $250; fourth, $150; fifth, $100.

http://lubbockonline.com/education-/-tech/2010-10-27/tech-host-top-tier-chess-tournament

Texas Tech Graduate Earns Prestigious Title

Graduate Earns Prestigious Chess Title

Gergely Antal scored 6.5 points in his final seven games, at the Budapest First Saturday Chess Championship. In his final round victory, Antal defeated grandmaster Bui Vinh to tie for first place and clinch the grandmaster title.

(Media-Newswire.com) - Checkmate.

A Texas Tech graduate has just become one of the top chess players in the world.

Gergely Antal scored 6.5 points in his final seven games, at the Budapest First Saturday Chess Championship. In his final round victory, Antal defeated grandmaster Bui Vinh to tie for first place and clinch the grandmaster title.

Antal, already a Hungarian international master, came to Texas Tech in 2008, to be trained by Susan Polgar, director of the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence ( SPICE ). Polgar was recently nominated by the World Chess Federation as one of the top coaches in the world.

Under Polgar’s direction, Antal’s rating jumped approximately 100 points, a difficult feat at this high level of competition.

In 2009, Antal won the prestigious National Tournament of College Champions and the Southwest Open. In December of the same year, he played an important role in helping the Knight Raiders make the Final Four for the first time in Texas Tech history.

In March 2010, he narrowly missed his final grandmaster norm by just half a point. And a few weeks later, he defended his Lubbock Open title with a perfect 4-0 score.

Antal graduated from Texas Tech in August 2010 with a degree in economics. He plans to return next year as a graduate student.

Grandmaster Antal’s next tournament will be the 2010 SPICE Cup, beginning Oct. 28.

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

South African Zuma urges school children to play chess

Zuma urges school children to play chess
Monday, October 25, 2010 - 09:32

Pretoria - Jacob Zuma, South Africa's president has urged school children to play chess, "We want to convince parents and teachers that chess is one of the most powerful educational tools available to strengthen and enhance a child's mind," Zuma said at the Moves for LIfe Chess Programme on Sunday.

Shockingly, one thing very few people know about Jacob Zuma is that he himself is also a chess player and believes that chess is a "serious sport". "It is an important game in many respects, the main benefit being that it contributes to the development of strategic thinking as well as concentration, analytical skills and problem solving. These are traits that are important for school going children," said Zuma.

One thing he is right about is that the game of chess stood the test of time and still does, remaining one of the best mind building games there is even with today's technology. "No amount of video games can teach a child the same level of patience, strategic thinking, concentration, analytical skills and the attention to detail that they would gain from this timeless intellectual game."

The good news is that the government said they will do everything they can to promote the playing of chess and to create a culture where people play chess "We will play our part as government. Both the Departments of Basic Education as well as Sports and Recreation are involved and already working to promote the game," said the President.

Source: http://fromtheold.com

Lubbock, the famous American chess destination

Lubbock, the famous American chess destination
Posted: October 24, 2010 - 12:40am

The question of the week is do top-level chess players from around the world know of Lubbock?

The short answer is absolutely. Not long ago when Texas Tech SPICE organized the first SPICE Cup in November 2007, I remember having a very difficult time inviting 10 strong chess players to come to Lubbock to compete. One of the first questions they asked was where is Lubbock?

Today, I am proud to say that our city has become one of the hottest chess destinations. When I recently was at the Khanty-Mansiysk Chess Olympiad a few weeks ago, many world class players or their managers came to me to seek invitations to participate in the 2011 SPICE Cup.

This is stunning because the 2010 SPICE Cup does not start until later this week. Almost everyone knows about Texas Tech, SPICE and Lubbock. This is an incredible turnaround in less than three short years.

In fact, the five highest-rated international invitational chess tournaments in the United States since the fall of 2007 have all been held in Lubbock at Texas Tech. This is like having the Wimbledon of tennis or the Masters of golf in our great city. It takes a colossal effort from many people to make something like this happen.

And how could chess affect Tech and Lubbock? Chess is a huge sport with approximately 45 million players in the U.S. and over 700 million worldwide. Some of the biggest scholastic chess tournaments in this country draw between 13,000 and 15,000 players, parents and coaches. Imagine how much revenue our city can generate from hotels, meals, rental cars, gas, souvenirs, entertainment, flights, etc.

Students who play chess usually excel academically. Through chess, Tech could potentially attract hundreds and thousands of top-notch students from all over the country and around the world. The cumulative grade of the Texas Tech Knight Raiders chess teams (A team, B team, and women’s team) last year was approximately 3.28, with three student chess players earning a perfect 4.0.

They also have a wide range of majors, such as economics, finance, math, electrical engineering, psychology, law, Spanish, English, political science, biotech, microbiology, etc. Chess can also help many local students do better in school.

Unfortunately, we are not there yet. SPICE does not have the manpower, financial resources, or scholarships to pull things like this off right now. I am hoping to have more support in the future to make even a bigger positive difference for Tech and Lubbock.

2010 SPICE Cup

The 2010 SPICE Cup A group is tied with the 2009 SPICE Cup A group as the highest-rated International Invitational Chess Tournament in U.S. history. The opening ceremony will take place at 1:30 pm Thursday at the Texas Tech Student Union Building (Matador room). Here are the participants:

• Grandmaster Zoltan Almasi, Hungary, 2707 — No. 1-ranked Hungarian on the LIVE rating list, 2010 Chess Olympiad Silver Medalist

•Grandmaster Alexander Onischuk, United States, 2688 — Former U.S. Champion and No. 1-ranked American, multiple time Chess Olympiad Medalist

•Grandmaster Wesley So, Philippines, 2668 — No. 1-ranked Filipino, member of the 2008 and 2010 Filipino Olympiad team

•Grandmaster Georg Meier, Germany, 2659 — No. 2-ranked German, member of the 2008 German Olympiad team

•Grandmaster Ray Robson, United States, 2539 — Former U.S. Junior Champion, youngest ever American Grandmaster

•Grandmaster Eugene Perelshteyn, United States, 2528 — 2007 SPICE Cup Champion, winner of multiple national collegiate team championships

The SPICE Cup B group is tied with the 2010 SPICE Spring Invitational as the second-highest-rated International Invitational Chess Tournament in the U.S. in 2010 behind the SPICE Cup A group. Here are the participants:

•Grandmaster Davorin Kuljasevic, Croatia, 2555 — Texas Tech business major graduate student, two-time winner of the national collegiate team championship, member of the TTU Knight Raider Chess Team

•Grandmaster Ben Finegold, United States, 2534 — two-time U.S. Open Champion, two-time National Open Champion, 2009 SPICE Cup B co-champion, former winner of the prestigious Samford fellowship

•Grandmaster Gergely Antal, Hungary, 2526 — Texas Tech Economics Major Graduate, member of the TTU Knight Raider Chess Team, 2009 National Collegiate Champion

•Grandmaster Andre Diamant, Brazil, 2498 — Top-rated Brazilian Junior, former Brazilian National Champion, member of the TTU Knight Raider Chess Team

•Grandmaster Anatoly Bykhovsky, Israel, 2497 — One of the top young players in Israel, member of the TTU Knight Raider Chess Team

•International Master Irina Krush, United States, 2490 — three-time and reigning U.S. Women’s Champion, multiple time Olympiad medalist

•International Master Bryan Smith, United States, 2478 — Highest-rated player ever from Alaska, winner of multiple national collegiate team championships

•International Master Dean Ippolito, United States, 2469 — Former winner of the prestigious Samford fellowship and 11-time All-American

•International Master Danny Rensch, United States, 2404 — Former National Elementary, Junior High, and High School Champion, six-time All-American

•FIDE Master Darwin Yang, United States, 2402 — Currently one of the top-rated American juniors, earned first IM norm at 2010 SPICE Spring Invitational

Kids do warm up event to international Lubbock chess tournament

10/23/10
Kids do warm up event to international Lubbock chess tournament
Saturday, October 23, 2010 8:00 PM EST

By Ann Wyatt Little Posted By James

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - Lubbock area students were encouraged to "Get Smart Play Chess" which was the title of Saturday's event hosted by SPICE of Texas Tech. SPICE is short for Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence. Participants ranged in age from kindergarten, up through high school, with trophies awarded to top finishers.

Program director and Chess Grandmaster, Susan Polgar, says chess opens-up a world of opportunity for children. Saturday's event comes just before many of the world's most prestigious chess players arrive for SPICE Cup 2010. It is the highest rated international invitational tournament, and it will be right here in Lubbock, next week.

Source: http://www.kcbd.com/]

Texas Tech GM Kuljašević turns 24

GM Davorin Kuljašević (Texas Tech graduate student in finance and Knight Raider chess team top player) turns 24 today! Happy Birthday Davorin!

He is the top seed at the upcoming SPICE Cup B group which will start on October 28.

TX Governor Rick Perry welcomes SPICE players

Greetings:

As Governor of Texas, I welcome everyone to the 4th Annual Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE) Cup. We are privileged to have world-class chess champion Susan Polgar and this prestigious event here at Texas Tech University.

Chess requires discipline, strong analytical ability and strategy. These three skills are applicable to many areas of life and show strong intellectual capabilities useful in many disciplines. It is also an international game that allows people from all over the world to come together in a spirit of friendly competition.

First Lady Anita Perry joins me in wishing you a rigorous, competitive and fun tournament.

Sincerely,
Rick Perry
Governor

SPICE Cup B Group Pairings

SPICE Cup B Group Pairings

October 28 2pm Round 1
Krush - Smith
Diamant - Finegold
Kuljasevic - Bykhovsky
Yang - Antal
Rensch - Ippolito

October 29 2pm Round 2
Smith - Ippolito
Antal - Rensch
Bykhovsky - Yang
Finegold - Kuljasevic
Krush - Diamant

October 30 2pm Round 3
Diamant - Smith
Kuljasevic - Krush
Yang - Finegold
Rensch - Bykhovsky
Ippolito - Antal

October 31 2pm Round 4
Smith - Antal
Bykhovsky - Ippolito
Finegold - Rensch
Krush - Yang
Diamant - Kuljasevic

November 1 2pm Round 5
Kuljasevic - Smith
Yang - Diamant
Rensch - Krush
Ippolito - Finegold
Antal - Bykhovsky

November 2 1pm Round 6
Smith - Bykhovsky
Finegold - Antal
Krush - Ippolito
Diamant - Rensch
Kuljasevic - Yang

November 3 2pm Round 7
Yang - Smith
Rensch - Kuljasevic
Ippolito - Diamant
Antal - Krush
Bykhovsky - Finegold

November 4 2pm Round 8
Smith - Finegold
Krush - Bykhovsky
Diamant - Antal
Kuljasevic - Ippolito
Yang - Rensch

November 5 10am Round 9
Rensch - Smith
Ippolito - Yang
Antal - Kuljasevic
Bykhovsky - Diamant
Finegold - Krush

SPICE Cup A Group Pairings

SPICE Cup A Group Pairings

Thursday, October 28 2pm- Round 1
Robson - Meier
Almasi - Perelshteyn
So - Onischuk

Friday, October 29 2pm - Round 2
Meier - Onischuk
Perelshteyn - So
Robson - Almasi

Saturday, October 30 2pm - Round 3
Almasi - Meier
So - Robson
Onischuk - Perelshteyn

Sunday, October 31 2pm - Round 4
So - Meier
Onischuk - Almasi
Perelshteyn - Robson

Monday, November 1 2pm - Round 5
Meier - Perelshteyn
Robson - Onischuk
Almasi - So

Wednesday, November 3 2pm - Round 6
Meier - Robson
Perelshteyn - Almasi
Onischuk - So

Thursday, November 4 2pm - Round 7
Onischuk - Meier
So - Perelshteyn
Almasi - Robson

Friday, November 5 2pm - Round 8
Meier - Almasi
Robson - So
Perelshteyn - Onischuk

Saturday, November 6 2pm - Round 9
Meier - So
Almasi - Onischuk
Robson - Perelshteyn

Sunday, November 7 1pm - Round 10
Perelshteyn - Meier
Onischuk - Robson
So - Almasi

SPICE Cup 2010 Drawing of Lots

The drawing of lots process took place today at the Texas Tech International Cultural Center. U.S. Ambassador Dr. Tibor Nagy drew the names of the players of both SPICE Cup A and B group.

Here is the order:

B Group

1. IM Irina Krush (2490 - USA) 2010 U.S. Women's Champion
2. GM Andre Diamant (2498 - Brazil) Texas Tech Knight Raiders
3. GM Davorin Kuljasevic (2555 - Croatia) Texas Tech Knight Raiders
4. FM Darwin Yang (2402 - USA) One of the most talented young players in the U.S.
5. IM Daniel Rensch (2404 - USA) Prominent chess coach
6. IM Dean Ippolito (2469 - USA) Prominent chess coach
7. GM Gergely Antal (2526 - HUN) Texas Tech Knight Raiders
8. GM Anatoly Bykhovsky (2497 - Israel) Texas Tech Knight Raiders
9. GM Ben Finegold (2534 - USA) 2009 SPICE Cup B group co-champion
10. IM Bryan Smith (2478 - USA) Professional chess player

A Group

1. GM Ray Robson (USA) 2539 (Youngest American GM)
2. GM Zoltan Almasi (HUN) 2707 (#1 in Hungary on the current LIVE rating list)
3. GM Wesley So (Philippines) 2668 (#1 in the Philippines)
4. GM Alexander Onischuk (USA) 2688 (#3 in the U.S., former U.S. #1 and Champion)
5. GM Eugene Perelshteyn (USA) 2528 (winner of 2007 SPICE Cup)
6. GM Georg Meier (Germany) 2659 (#2 in Germany)

Magnificent chess artwork

Fantastic artwork by the incredibly talented artist Serkan Ergün. Click on image to see the full size artwork.

Serkan Ergün, born in Izmir in 1980, has adopted realism. He has rendered “individuals in society” in an attitude of expression in his works. Besides having the talent for visualization of each individual’s character, Ergün tries to provide a unique confrontation for grasping the subject, to the beholder, in all his portraits.

Please feel free to check out his website at http://serkanergun.org/.

Texas Tech Graduate Earns Prestigious Chess Title

October 15, 2010
Texas Tech Graduate Earns Prestigious Chess Title
Checkmate. A Texas Tech graduate has just become one of the top chess players in the world.
Written by Karin Slyker

Checkmate.

A Texas Tech graduate has just become one of the top chess players in the world.

Gergely Antal scored 6.5 points in his final seven games, at the Budapest First Saturday Chess Championship. In his final round victory, Antal defeated grandmaster Bui Vinh to tie for first place and clinch the grandmaster title.

Antal, already a Hungarian international master, came to Texas Tech in 2008, to be trained by Susan Polgar, director of the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE). Polgar was recently nominated by the World Chess Federation as one of the top coaches in the world.

Under Polgar’s direction, Antal’s rating jumped approximately 100 points, a difficult feat at this high level of competition.

In 2009, Antal won the prestigious National Tournament of College Champions and the Southwest Open. In December of the same year, he played an important role in helping the Knight Raiders make the Final Four for the first time in Texas Tech history.

In March 2010, he narrowly missed his final grandmaster norm by just half a point. And a few weeks later, he defended his Lubbock Open title with a perfect 4-0 score.

Antal graduated from Texas Tech in August 2010, with a degree in economics. He plans to return next year, as a graduate student.

Grandmaster Antal’s next tournament will be the 2010 SPICE Cup, beginning Oct. 28.

Thinking big - only smaller

Click on images to read the full size article.

Knight Raider Gergely Antal earns GM title

Gergely Antal (Texas Tech Economics Major), has just earned his final GM norm! He was the first titled player to come to Texas Tech in 2008 and also the first to capture a national chess title for the Knight Raiders. He missed his final GM norm at the 2010 SPICE Spring Invitational by just 1/2 point.

This time, he scored 6.5 points in his final 7 games, including the final round victory against GM Bui Vinh, to tie for 1st and clinch the final GM norm.

Congratulations to GM Antal!

His next tournament will be the SPICE Cup B group in a few weeks.

Rk.		Name	FED	Rtg	Pts.	TB1	TB2	TB3	Rp	n	w	we	w-we	K	rtg+/-
1	GM	Neelotpal Das	IND	2454	7,0	28,00	0,0	5	2627	9	7	5,07	1,93	10	19,3
2	IM	Banusz Tamas	HUN	2550	7,0	26,50	0,0	5	2616	9	7	6,29	0,71	10	7,1
3	IM	Antal Gergely	HUN	2526	7,0	25,50	0,0	6	2619	9	7	6,00	1,00	10	10,0
4	GM	Czebe Attila	HUN	2479	5,0	19,00	0,0	3	2447	9	5	5,38	-0,38	10	-3,8
5	FM	Natsidis Christoph	GER	2318	4,0	16,50	0,0	1	2379	9	4	3,28	0,72	15	10,8
6	IM	Wittmann Walter	AUT	2303	4,0	14,25	0,0	1	2381	9	4	3,08	0,92	10	9,2
7	GM	Bui Vinh	VIE	2449	4,0	13,75	0,0	2	2364	9	4	5,01	-1,01	10	-10,1
8	FM	Hagen Andreas Skytte	DEN	2311	3,0	11,50	0,0	2	2298	9	3	3,19	-0,19	15	-2,8
9	FM	Lorand Norbert	HUN	2369	2,5	7,50	0,0	1	2250	9	2,5	3,93	-1,43	15	-21,5
10	FM	Kislik Erik Andrew	USA	2357	1,5	5,00	0,0	1	2145	9	1,5	3,77	-2,27	15	-34,0

Texas Tech freshman Andre Diamant shines at World Chess Olympiad

Texas Tech freshman Andre Diamant shines at World Chess Olympiad
Posted: October 10, 2010 - 12:03am

The World Chess Olympiad just ended Oct. 3 in West Siberia, Russia. Approximately 1,500 players, coaches and captains of 264 men’s and women’s teams from over 150 countries were in Khanty-Mansiysk for two weeks to battle for the individual and team gold, silver and bronze medals.

Here were the final team standings:

Men’s (Open) Olympiad

1. Ukraine: 8 wins, 3 ties, 0 losses, 19 points, gold medal
2. Russia (A): 8 wins, 2 ties, 1 loss, 18 points, silver
3. Israel: 7 wins, 3 ties, 1 loss, 17 points, bronze

Women’s Olympiad

1. Russia (A): 11 wins, 0 ties, 0 losses, 22 points, gold medal
2. China: 9 wins, 0 ties, 2 losses, 18 points, silver
3. Georgia: 7 wins, 2 ties, 2 losses, 16 points, bronze

Texas Tech freshman Andre Diamant (Brazil) recorded fantastic results at the Chess Olympiad. He scored 5 wins and 3 draws (0 losses) for a winning percentage of 81.3, which was the second highest overall of the Olympiad, and a rating performance of 2644, which was sixth overall of the Olympiad on board five for Brazil. This was his best ever Olympiad performance. He qualified for his first Olympiad appearance in 2008 in Dresden, Germany, at the age of 17.

As I mentioned in a prior column, chess is a part of the IOC (International Olympic Committee). The Chess Olympiad enjoys the second position behind the Summer Olympics with around 150 countries battling every two years.

• 2008 Summer Olympics (Beijing, China): 204 nations.
• 2008 Chess Olympiad (Dresden, Germany): 152 nations.
• 2006 Winter Olympics (Turin, Italy): 86 nations.

Next, Andre and his teammates will represent Tech at the SPICE Cup later in October at the Texas Tech Student Union Building, Texas State Championship in November in Corpus Christi, and the PanAm Intercollegiate Chess Championship in December in Milwaukee, Wis.

I am very proud of what Andre achieved on the world stage in Khanty-Mansiysk where millions of chess enthusiasts followed the live action over a two-week period on the Internet. He handled the immense pressure very well. Andre proudly wore his Knight Raider/SPICE shirts, which served as a great promo for our university. This speaks volumes for the kind of international talent we attract to Tech through the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence.

Tech is now one of the most respected universities with a chess program in the world. We are also the only university with a chess institute. The Knight Raiders have won a total of one regional, two state and five national championships in the past two years.

Chess in schools boom

I recently interviewed Ali Nihat Yazici, president of the Turkish Chess Federation, about the incredible chess in the schools program in his country. Here is what he had to say:

In 2002, Ali approached the minister of education of Turkey with the idea of introducing chess in the schools. At that meeting, he was asked, what is his goal with the project? He made a “blunder” by responding: “Can you imagine Turkey having the next Karpov or the next Kasparov?” His dream was rejected at that time. However, he learned his lesson. He realized that the approach had to be modified.

Ali had to wait another three years before he got the next opportunity to present the “new plan” to the next minister of education. He was asking for an appointment for over two years. One night out of nowhere, he received a phone call from a contact to come and meet in 10 minutes. The minister was having kebab with the contact and he was willing to give Ali 10 minutes! He was on his way immediately.

When Ali met the minister, he presented the idea of chess in the schools to help educate the next generation of Turkish children to grow up more intelligent.

After his presentation, the minister said thank you and told him that it sounded very interesting. He said he would be in touch. Ali left the restaurant and thought sure the minister would call … one day.

To his biggest surprise, the next morning shortly after nine, his phone rang. It was an unknown number. It was none other than the minister. The minister invited him to meet and discuss the idea further. As Ali was driving, he almost caused a mass accident in his (pleasant) shock.

Well, that was 2005, the year when chess was introduced for the first time in some Turkish schools. Since that time, the number of schoolchildren involved in the chess program has grown to 2,250,000 in over 10,000 schools, with around 50,000 chess teachers! Mind-boggling numbers!

The chess in the school project in Turkey currently receives 1.5 million euros in governmental support. That is a huge number! However, through the various forms of taxes, the project also generated 1.8 million euros in revenues for the government.

In addition to the support from the public sector, last year the TCF succeeded in attracting major contribution from the private sector. IS Bank supports scholastic chess with 1.6 million euros to enable schools in need to also introduce chess to underprivileged children.

The TCF has developed its own teaching manuals and recommended learning materials for students; 300,000 of the first edition of the student “source-book” was printed by the nonprofit branch of the TCF Satranc. Many doubted Ali’s decision at the time, asking “what will we do with all those copies?” Since then, over two million copies have been sold, and it became a major source of revenue for the TCF.

In Turkey, chess for the past five years has been a part of the curriculum as an elective. There are only four elective subjects: art, painting, religion (general) and chess. The children who choose chess as an elective learn it two hours a week throughout the entire 32-week school year.

This year in the city of Burdur (west of Turkey) the Turkish Chess Federation started a pilot project with kindergarten-age children, starting at age 4. So far it has been very well received, and the TCF has already donated 10,000 chess sets and boards to the project.

While the above project mostly focuses on the social benefits of chess as a side effect, a certain percentage of kids naturally will take a more serious interest in the game and desire to compete. At Turkey’s 2009 scholastic championship, 30,000 schoolchildren took part.

There are around 1,300 chess clubs in Turkey today. Fourteen of them compete in the first division. Each of those clubs receives 12,500-euro support yearly from the TCF. The TCF currently has 200,000 paid members, including 60,000 rated players.

In the first division team league, many of the players have contracts guided by the template designed by TCF. The league is designed after the most successful professional sport in Turkey, which is soccer.

A very impressive story. Certainly today Turkey is a place to learn from and an example to follow for any country that would like to see chess being a part of the curriculum.

Source: Avalanche Journal

TTU Chancellor Kent Hance congratulates Andre Diamant

October 5, 2010
Mr. Andre Diamant
c/o Susan Polgar
SPICE
MS 5080
Campus

Dear Mr. Diamant:

Congratulations on your outstanding success at the 2010 World Chess Olympiad. This is a great accomplishment, and we are proud of your hard work and dedication, as it takes an extremely talented individual to finish so high among 1,500 competitors. We are proud to call you a student at Texas Tech University. I wanted to wish you the best of luck as you continue competing.

Thank you for representing our university so well. It is students, like you, who continue to make Texas Tech one of the finest institutions in the country.

Please do not hesitate to contact me, or my staff, if we can assist you in any way.

Very truly yours,
Kent Hance
Chancellor

TTU President Guy Bailey congratulates Andre Diamant

October 5, 2010
Mr. Andre Diamant
c/o SPICE
Texas Tech University
Campus Mail: MS 5080

Dear Andre:

It is a pleasure to congratulate you on your excellent performance at the World Chess Olympiad held recently in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. Your outstanding play and placement at the Olympiad are a testament to your astute knowledge of chess and the game's strategy of anticipating the moves of your competitors.

I enjoyed hearing that you wore your Knight Raider/SPICE shirts during the games. We are proud of you for the recognition your competition has brought to you and to Texas Tech. You are an excellent Ambassador for SPICE and for Texas Tech.

Congratulations again and best wishes to you and the Knight Raiders in your competition at the upcoming Texas State Championship and the PanAm Intercollegiate Chess Championship in December.

Sincerely,
Guy Bailey
President

GB / lel

xc: Susan Polgar

2010 PanAm Intercollegiate Team Championships

Dec. 27-30, Wisconsin 2010
Pan American Intercollegiate Team Championships

Note: This year’s edition includes an Open + rated Scholastic sections (12/28-30) and an unrated Scholastic section (12/29 one day only), see Wisconsin TLA section. Blitz tournament on 12/28.

Playing site: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 6401 South 13th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53207. 1-414-764-5300. Free shuttle from the airport. Free parking and wireless internet. Mention Special Chess Rate $78 (single or double). Reserve by December 10th or rate may increase. Intercollegiate Section (12/27-30): 6SS, g/90+30sec/move increment. Open to College and University teams from North and South America, including the Caribbean (4 player teams, up to 2 alternates). Teams must supply letter from school stating the players meet eligibility requirements. Prize Fund: Championships are awarded in 4 divisions (based on average rating) and $4,300GG: Division One $1,200-800- 600-400, best International team $500; Division two winner $400, Division three and four winners: plaques. $100 + plaques to best scores on ea ch board. Schedule: late registration an d check in 3:00-5:00pm on 12/27; opening ceremony: 5:00pm; Rds.: 6:00pm on 12/27, 11:00am and 5:00pm on 12/28, 11:00am and 5:00pm on 12/29, 11:00am on 12/30. Closing ceremony at 4:00pm on 12/30. FIDE and USCF rated; USCF rules used. EF: $240/team priority registration by December 1st, 2010; $295/team thereafter. Please make checks payable to Wisconsin Chess Academy and send to Alex Betaneli, PO Box 260122, Madison, WI 53726. All entries will be confirmed over email and posted on www.wichessacademy.com and www.monroi.com INFO: abetaneli@wichessacademy.com or abetaneli@hotmail.com, 1-608- 334-2574. Boards and sets provided, please bring clocks.

Dec. 28, 2010
Pan American Blitz Championship

(QC) 8SS, G/5. Open to any individual. First round begins at 8:30pm. Playing site: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 6401 South 13th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53207. 1-414- 764-5300. Free shuttle from the airport. Free parking and wireless internet. Mention Special Chess Rate $78 (single or double). Reserve by December 10th or rate may increase. Prize Fund (75% of the entries): 1st, 2nd and class prizes. EF: $25 by December 1, $30 thereafter. Please make checks payable to Wisconsin Chess Academy and send to Alex Betaneli, PO Box 260122, Madison, WI 53726. All entries will be confirmed over email and posted on www.wichessacademy.com and www.monroi.com. INFO: abetaneli@wichessacademy.com or abetaneli@hotmail.com, 1-608-334- 2574. Boards and sets provided, please bring clocks.

TTU Freshman Diamant Shines at Chess Olympiad

Texas Tech Freshman Andre Diamant Shines at World Chess Olympiad
Knight Raider earns second-best individual score in the chess world's largest event.
Written by Cory Chandler
October 5, 2010

Texas Tech University freshman Andre Diamant recorded five wins and three draws representing his home country of Brazil in the 2010 Khanty-Mansiysk World Chess Olympiad in West Siberia, Russia.

The 81.3 percent winning percentage was enough to give Diamant, a Texas Tech Knight Raiders chess team member, the second best individual score in the Olympiad. His rating performance of 2644 was the sixth best overall of the event that drew approximately 1,500 players, coaches and captains from 150 countries.

Diamant, a grandmaster, played on the fifth board for Brazil. He qualified for his first Olympiad appearance in 2008 in Dresden, Germany at the age of 17.

Chess is a part of the IOC (International Olympic Committee). There have been various discussions in recent years to include chess as part of the Summer or Winter Olympics. For now the Chess Olympiad enjoys the second position behind the Summer Olympics with approximately 150 countries battling every two years.

• 2008 Summer Olympics (Beijing, China): 204 nations.
• 2008 Chess Olympiad (Dresden, Germany): 152 nations.
• 2006 Winter Olympics (Turin, Italy): 86 nations.

Next Andre and his teammates will represent Texas Tech at the SPICE Cup later in October at the Texas Tech Student Union Building, Texas State Championship in November in Corpus Christi, and the PanAm Intercollegiate Chess Championship in December in Milwaukee, Wisc.

“We are so proud of what Andre achieved on the world stage in Khanty-Mansiysk where tens of millions of chess enthusiasts followed the live action over a two-week period on the internet”, said Susan Polgar, director of the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE) and head coach of the Knight Raiders. “This speaks volumes for the kind of international talent we attract to Texas Tech through SPICE.”

Diamant’s round-by-round results follow (1 = win, ½ = draw):

1 CM Kassis Antoine 2236 Libya 5,0 w 1
2 GM Zhou Jianchao 2660 China 5,5 s ½
3 FM Gameel Mohamed 2216 Yemen 4,5 s 1
4 CM Samhouri Bilal 2269 Jodan 6,0 w ½
6 IM Norri Joose 2330 Finland 2,5 w 1
8 Samakov Nurdin 2356 Kazakhstan 6,5 w 1
10 GM Palac Mladen 2561 Croatia 7,0 s ½
11 IM Sebenik Matej 2516 Slovenia 4,0 w 1

Visit http://ugra-chess.com/boardprizes.php for more information about Diamant’s performance and rakings.

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About SPICE:

The Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE) joined the Division of Institutional Diversity & Community Engagement in June 2010. SPICE works with Texas Tech students, faculty, LISD, and other communities to enhance chess, education, technology, research, and creative scholarship. College Chess is a critical bridge between Scholastic and Adult Chess. The successful promotion of College Chess to youth helps with the development of critical thinking, team and individual play, and leadership. SPICE not only works with youth across the Lubbock region but extends to many countries through the work of Susan Polgar. During the summer, SPICE held several camps on campus designed to introduce, challenge, and train students on the skills needed for chess and pursuing a higher education.