Wednesday, August 24, 2011
The "Unofficial" TTU Mascot Video
The Knight Raiders are features at the SPICE Chess Park on campus at the 11th minute
UIL Invitational - Chess Puzzle Solving
UIL Invitational - Chess Puzzle Solving
Saturday, September 24, 2011
at the Science Spectrum
Sections: K-3, 4-5, 6-8, 9-12 Grades
Entry fee is only $5!
On-site registration: 9:00 am-12:15 pm | Competition: 12:30 pm-1:00 pm
Awesome chess prizes for the winners in each section!
Info: SPICE 806-742-7742 or email SPICE@ttu.edu
Please register at www.spice.ttu.edu (and then click on Events on the left hand side) or send Entry Blank and Fees
to TTU-SPICE send to: SPICE Box 45080 Lubbock, TX 79409-5080.
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Entry Form 9-24-11- UIL: Please PRINT all information and make check/money order to TTU-SPICE.
Name: _____________________ Phone: (_____) _________School____________
Address: ___________________ City/State: _____________ Zip:___________
Email: ______________________________ DOB: _________Section___________
8th “Get Smart! Play Chess!” Open
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE)
The Susan Polgar Foundation
and the Knight Raiders present
8th “Get Smart! Play Chess!” Open
Saturday, September 24, 2011
A 4 Round Swiss USCF Rated Tournament (Game/30)
Event Site: Science Spectrum 2579 S. Loop 289, Lubbock, TX
Contact Info: 806-742-7742 E-mail: Spice@ttu.edu
Description of Tournament: An open tournament for all players. USCF membership required.
Registration: On-site registration and check in 8:30am-10:00am. All players must check in by
10:15am. Late arrival will receive a ½ point bye for the first round. Chess boards and sets
provided, bring clock.
Round schedule: 10:30am - 12:00pm - 1:30pm and 3:00pm
Entry Fee: $15 by 9/16, $20 by 9/22; after or onsite $25. K-12 or TTU students $15.
Entry fee includes access to the museum OR one free IMAX movie.
Prizes: 1st $125 2nd $75 3rd $25Top U-2000 $50 Top U-1600 $50. All prizes are based on 20 paid entries.
Please send Entry Blank and Entry Fee to Susan Polgar Foundation at 6923 Indiana Ave. #154 Lubbock, TX 79413
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9-24-11 Open Entry Form: Please PRINT all information and make check to Susan Polgar Foundation.
Name: _________________________Phone: (_____)__________
Address: ________________ City/State:____________ Zip:_____
Email:____________________________________DOB:_______
USCF ID# and expiration date:________USCF Rating (if any) ______
Sibling Team_____Parent/Child Team___ Student/Coach Team____
Amount paid____Check#_____Cash_____ Bye request R1 R2 R3 R4
8th “Get Smart! Play Chess!” Fall Scholastic Chess Championship
TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY
Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE)
The Susan Polgar Foundation
and the Knight Raiders present
8th “Get Smart! Play Chess!” Fall Scholastic Chess Championship
Saturday, September 24, 2011
A 4 Round Swiss System Tournament (Game/30)
Event Site: Science Spectrum, 2579 S. Loop 289 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-12 (no USCF membership required). There is a total of 30 minutes maximum per player per game.
On-site registration and check in 8:30am-9:30am. All players must check in by 9:45am. Later arrival will receive a ½ point bye for the first round.
Round schedule: 10:15am -11:30am-1:15pm and 2:30pm
UIL Invitational Puzzle-Solving at 12:30pm.
Entry Fees: $10 received by 9/16; $15 received by 9/22, or on site $20. A valid USCF membership required in all sections, except Novice K-12. It can be obtained at www.uschess.org or onsite on 9/24 until 10am. The entry for the UIL Puzzle Solving is $5.
Prizes: Trophies for top 3 finishers in each section. Trophies to top 3 school teams in each section.
Special valuable chess prizes to the top overall finisher in each section sponsored by the Susan Polgar Foundation! Team prizes are based on the top 3 individual scores from the same school within the same section. Also special trophy for top Sibling, top Parent/Child and top Coach/Student teams. Prize giving ceremony will be held shortly after the end of the last game which is around 3:45pm.
Chess boards and sets will be provided. Bring a chess clock if you have one.
Please register at www.spice.ttu.edu (and then click on Events on the left hand side) or send Entry Blank and Fees to TTU-SPICE send to: SPICE Box 45080 Lubbock, TX 79409-5080.
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Entry Form 9-24-11: 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) $_____
Sibling Team____Parent/Child Team____ Student/Coach Team___ Bye request R1 R2 R3 R4
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Big National Chess Day Celebration on October 8th!
Big National Chess Day Celebration on October 8th! There will be many additional surprise events during the tournament!
The 2011 SP World Open for Boys and Girls has moved from Las Vegas (in June 2011) to Chicago (in October 2011) per the request of many parents and coaches. I expect this event will be bigger and better than ever! I would like to thank the organizer of the LV Chess Festival for hosting this event in previous years. The North American Chess Association will be the new host this year.
Susan Polgar World Open for Boys and Girls 2011
October 7 – 10, 2011
Doubletree Hotel – Oakbrook, IL
Over $100,000 in Chess Prizes and Scholarships
7R Swiss System; 8 sections: (K-3), (4-5), (6-8), (9-12)
| Time Controls: | (K-3) G/30 + 5/sec delay
(4-5) G/45 + 5/sec delay (6-8) G/45 + 5/sec delay (9-12) G/60 + 5/sec delay |
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| Round Times: | (K-3) Sat/Sun 11am, 1pm, 3pm; Mon 10am
(4-5) Sat/Sun 11am, 1:30pm, 4pm; Mon 10am (6-8) Sat/Sun 11am, 1:30pm, 4pm; Mon 10am (9-12) Sat/Sun 11am, 2pm, 5pm; Mon 10am |
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| Side Events: | Bughouse – Friday 7:30pm
Puzzle Solving – Saturday 7:30pm Blitz – Sunday 7:30pm |
Ongoing Side Event: Walk-in simul presented by the Chicago Blaze US Chess League team. Done with your game or waiting for your child to finish? Take on a member of the Chicago Blaze between the hours of 12pm and 6pm!
Additional side events to be listed closer to event date. Please check the tournament website for more details.
All equipment will be provided (boards, sets, clocks). Organizer provided equipment must be used. Equipment will be on discounted sale upon tournament completion for school clubs and parents to purchase.
Cajun Chess will be equipment vendor onsite.
All 4th – 12th grade participants who are not a current member of the US Chess Federation will receive a 1-year free membership (no magazine option) included with their tournament entry fee.
All (K-12) participants will receive a free 1-year membership to ChessKid.com (a $49.95 value!)
Prizes(Boys and Girls – All sections)
All 4th – 12th grade participants who are not a current member of the US Chess Federation will receive a 1-year free membership (no magazine option) included with their tournament entry fee.
All (K-12) participants will receive a free 1-year membership to ChessKid.com (a $49.95 value!)
1st place: Netbook Computer
2nd place: $250 in Chess Prizes
3rd place: $175 in Chess Prizes
4th place: $100 in Chess Prizes
1st place in 9-12 to receive scholarship to Texas Tech University!
Trophies to top 15 individuals
Trophies to top 4 school teams*
Trophies to top 4 club teams*
Certificate of Participation for all players
Tournament Fees
$45 post-marked by 8/27/2011
$50 post-marked by 9/10/2011
$55 post-marked by 9/24/2011
$60 thereafter and onsite
Side events are each $15 mailed in with entry or $20 on-site
Register Online Now
Payments to be mailed to (payable):
North American Chess Association
4957 Oakton Street Suite 113
Skokie, IL 60077
Questions: sevan@nachess.org
or call 847.423.8626
Mention Polgar Tournament in your message
* Top 4 player scores count toward school team prizes; school team trophies awarded in each section; Top 4 player scores count towards club team prizes; club team trophies awarded overall (not based on sections).
| Doubletree Hotel – 1909 Spring Road – Oakbrook, IL 60523 – 630.472.6000
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Friday, August 19, 2011
First SPICE Training of the new semester
Training session with GM Bykhovsky, GM Meier, GM Boros, SM Aleskerov
Thursday, August 18, 2011
The 2011 Texas Tech Knight Raiders A Team
L to R: Dr. Hal Karlssson (Iceland), SM Faik Aleskerov (Azerbaijan), GM Anatoly Bykhovsky (Israel), Me, GM Georg Meier (Germany), IM Vitaly Neimer (Israel), GM Denes Boros (Hungary), GM Andre Diamant (Brazil)
Friday, August 5, 2011
Checkmating Hardship
SPICE Checkmates HardshipAugust 4, 2011
The Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence Invitational was a life-changing event for two young women.
Written by Melanie Hess
At Texas Tech, chess represents more than a challenging game and checkered board.
For two young women who visited Texas Tech last week to participate in the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE) Invitational, it was a life-changing event. Meet Dyhemia Young and Vanita Young.
Dyhemia, age 15, has spent most of her life in the California foster care system. She was selected as a wild-card invitee by Susan Polgar. The SPICE invitational was Dyhemia’s first officially rated tournament. Vanita, a 17-year-old who lost both of her parents by her early teens, currently lives in Pennsylvania with her grandparents. Vanita beat out 600 other young women in her state to win a spot at the Polgar invitational.
But there was one problem. In the few weeks leading up to the invitational, neither girl was in a position to pay for travel expenses.
SPICE and many other generous donors, namely Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith and Pennsylvania U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, helped sponsor the two young ladies, and at the end of the competition, Dyhemia and Vanita were awarded out-of-state scholarships worth up to $40,000 to attend Texas Tech once they graduate high school.
Dyhemia and Vanita, who are not related, recently shared their experiences of their time at Texas Tech with Texas Tech Today.
Q & A:
How did you feel when you found out you had been invited?
Dyhemia: It’s been really exciting. I was just, wow. That’s all I could say. “Wow! For real? Really?”
Vanita: I was definitely more excited than nervous. Since I was top at state, I had a big head for a while. I thought I could beat anybody, but when weeks turned into days, I got nervous.
How did you feel about the support you received from so many people?
D: When they asked me that question before, I nearly started crying. When I started talking about Susan, I never, ever, ever thought I was going to meet her in person. And then I met her, and now I’m teary-eyed because I’ve been here all week, and now I’m fixing to leave. I have learned so much.
How was your time with Susan Polgar?
D: I’d always heard of her. People spoke very highly of her, and then when I met her when we got off the plane, we talked. She gave me a ride all the way to the dorm and showed me around. She gave me some gifts, and I got so emotional I nearly cried. Well, I did cry. I was so emotional today. I think I cried about four different times for just about ten minutes straight. I’ve really enjoyed my time being here.
Again, I’m speechless. Susan, I think you know I am very thankful and happy to have you in my life. Oh my gosh, I’m going to have tears again, but Susan has done a lot for me while I’ve been here, and I am most definitely going to keep in touch with her when I do leave. I think so highly of her.
V: You would not believe the first time I saw her. I was at middle school nationals in Fort Worth and I was in the elevator with her. I was running late, and I didn’t know who she was at the time. I was in eighth grade. Then later people were talking about her and I asked, “Who’s Susan Polgar?” and they said, “top female,” and they showed me her and I was like, “Wait, I was on the elevator with her!”
What kind of training did you receive last week?
D: My class was kind of like Vanita’s, but she’s a higher level. We mainly focused on puzzle solving and basically making sure you know the main key things when you open, making sure you know your openings and key pieces, making sure each move you do is either to attack, or you’re defending. Then we played against each other in class using the tactics and notations. I had to learn notations. I don’t use them well, but I do know how to notate now.
It was like a 180-degree turn around from when I got here. My first game, it was like I was playing blitz. For real, I got down to the end and had to resign because the girl didn’t want to draw, and I knew I was going to lose. Then my second game was way better. I was down a bishop. I could have won if I had a bishop, but it was a good game. I gave the girl a run for her money. The game I played after that, I won. And the one I just played, I lost. But I had the girl show me the moves that I made that I should have not done. Luckily, she was my friend, so she was able to show me.
V: We had a lot of training this week. They were three-hour classes each, four classes altogether. We did a lot of analyzing, deep analyzing, and imagining things in your head without looking at the board. It was fun.
What was your favorite experience about last week?
D: I finally won a game! Oh, and I have my face on my own chess board. It’s my face on the board, and it says Dyhemia Young Cinderella! It has a list of all the people that helped me get here.
V: Meeting female chess players and working with top chess players. Susan and her husband have been amazing this week. I’ve learned so much from them in thinking steps ahead in my game. You know, when he said the tactic of visualize the pawn? I’d never thought of looking at the board like that, so I definitely learned something new.
What are your plans after high school?
D: Oh yeah. I’m going to college, I am going to college!
At first I didn’t know anything about Texas Tech, so I couldn’t really give an answer of whether I wanted to come here or not, but now I’ve read the brochure and spent some time here. I will always keep Texas Tech in mind, especially since I know I’d be on the same campus as Susan. I know if I needed anything, I could just call her and be like, “Susan, can you please come to my dorm? I need help!”
V: I definitely plan on going to college. I wouldn’t mind going to Texas Tech because I want to be in computer science as a computer engineer, and I want to be part of Susan’s chess team.
Polgar on Dyhemia and VanitaPolgar said both girls represent hope for many other young women in difficult situations.
Speaking specifically about Dyhemia’s story, Polgar said last week’s experience was not only life changing for Dyhemia, but for many others.
“I think Dyhemia is a very special girl. The way I look at it is that she’s just one of the many Cinderella potentials, and her story can inspire thousands of other girls in difficult situations that they are in. It can become hope and encouragement.”
Source: http://today.ttu.edu
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