Sunday, March 25, 2007

Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls


The Annual Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls, the most prestigious All-Girls tournament in the United States, will be held this year from July 29 to August 3, 2007, alongside with the 2007 US Open in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Each state will be allowed one representative with the exception of Texas and California (2 representatives each).

There are 2 additional OFFICIAL QUALIFIERS each year:

- The Annual Susan Polgar National Open Championship for Girls (Corpus Christi, Texas)
- The Annual Susan Polgar World Open Championship for Girls (Las Vegas, Nevada) Click here for info

The winner of each section (must meet age requirement) in these 2 qualifers will receive an AUTOMATIC invitations to the Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls.

In addition, the Polgar Committee will award three automatic qualifying spots at the 2009 SuperNationals Chess Championship to the top finishing girls in the open division of the Elementary (K-6), Junior High (K-9) and High School (K-12) Championship sections.

Contact info:

The Susan Polgar Foundation (www.SusanPolgarFoundation.org - www.polgargirls.blogspot.com - www.SusanPolgar.blogspot.com)
PolgarFoundation@aol.com


Contact: FM Paul Truong (Chairperson of the Polgar Committee)
E-mail: PaulTruong@aol.com

Contact: GM Susan Polgar
Telephone: (718) 897-4600
E-mail: SusanPolgar@aol.com
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Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Sylvia Yang - Susan Polgar All-Star Team Member


Sylvia Yang, 10 years old, Texas - 1762 (Highest rating 1819)

Sylvia has only been playing chess for 3 years and yet she achieved so much!

She represented the United States at the World Youth Championship twice (2005 and 2006). She is one of a very few girls to also qualify for the All American Team . Sylvia won the 2006 National Scholastic Championship in Orlando, Florida.

Congratulations to Sylvia!
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Caroline Zhu - Susan Polgar All-Star Team Member


Caroline Zhu, TX - 1681 (Highest rating 1697)

I started playing chess when I was in kindergarten. I learned to play the game in the after school where we had a group chess lesson. I won the 1st place trophy and cup in the Texas Girls Scholastic Chess Championship when I was eight years old in 2004.

From then on, my parent realized that I might have some talent in chess, and send me to take chess lessons from GM Babakuli Annakov at his home. He is a great teacher. I’ve enjoyed taking chess lessons, and learn a lot from him with plenty of fun. I won 2nd place in the 9th Annual Grade Championship Nov. 2005, got 1st place in the Texas Region III Scholastic Chess Championship in January, 2006. I also received 2nd place in the US Junior Open in July, 2006.

I love to play chess and win trophies. I will keep practice and win more and bigger trophies.

Congratulations to Caroline!
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Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Rules for 2007 SP National Invitational for Girls


Rules and Conditions for the Annual Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls
(March 2007)
July 29 – August 3, 2007 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey

1. The tournament will be played during the U.S. Open Championship each year. Starting time of each round will be at 11:00 A.M. The time control will be 90 minutes for the entire game with 30 seconds increment added on per move. This is the approved FIDE time control. Registration will be required at pre-tournament registration.

2. Each state will be allowed one representative. Alternates may be substituted as the official representative no later than June 1. (If there are an odd number of entrants in the tournament, the Chairperson of the Polgar Committee may allow the host state to enter an additional qualified player.) The Chairperson of the Polgar Committee may allow exceptions for cause from the entry deadline of June 1. Should the state affiliate fail to respond to the notice for this tournament, the Chairperson of the Polgar Committee and/or USCF may determine in its sole discretion the candidate from that state. Alternates may be substituted as the official representative no later than June 1.

3. All players must be under the age of 19 as of August 15 of the year in which the tournament is held, and have been enrolled, in a school (up to 12th grade) located in the state they represent. Home schooled students who are under the age of 19 on August 15 of the year in which the tournament is held and who have never attended college on a full time basis prior to June 1 of the year in which the tournament is held, are eligible to represent the state in which they reside. Proof of eligibility will be the responsibility of the players and of the state official certifying the representative and alternate.

Exception: If a player graduates from High School early and already attended college, she may still represent her state if nominated. This is solely the decision of each state. However, that player may not win the scholarship.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: Unlike the Denker Tournament of High School Champions, the participants of the Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls DO NOT have to be High School students. Any qualifier under the age of 19 (by August 15 of the year in which the tournament is held) is eligible!


4. Players will be required to play in and complete all six rounds of the tournament. Failure to do so, without permission of the Tournament Director, will result in a forfeiture of expense monies.

5. Player will be required to furnish the Tournament Director with a legible and complete score sheet.

6. Players will be required to furnish the Tournament Director an emergency phone number and an e-mail address of a parent/guardian.

7. Players are responsible for their own travel and hotel expenses.

8. Players who complete the tournament will receive an equal amount from the sum of $5,000 in travel stipend, which is provided by the Susan Polgar Foundation.

9. The prize fund, sponsored by the Susan Polgar Foundation and the US Chess Trust, will be $1,250 divided into four scholarship prizes: 1st $500, 2nd $300, 3rd $250, 4th $200. These prizes will be paid to the players directly by the Susan Polgar Foundation and the US Chess Trust, but only upon receipt of proof of enrollment in a college, trade or technical school.

There will also be a $500 Ursula Foster scholarship awarded to the highest finisher who is under the age of 14. This is donated by the family of the late Ursula Foster in her memory. If there are ties then the money will be divided.

10. The winner of the tournament will be crowned the Susan Polgar National Invitational Champion. In case of ties, co-champions will be recognized and each will receive the Champion’s Plaque or Trophy.

11. Texas Tech University agrees to award a four-year academic scholarship to the highest finishing player who has not graduated from high school by August. In the case of ties for these scholarships, tie-breaks used will be:

1. Modified Median
2. Solkoff
3. Cumulative
4. Cumulative of Opposition, in that order.

12. It is the goal of the Polgar Committee to have all 50 states (2 for California and 2 for Texas) and the District of Columbia represented. Consequently, we strongly encourage each state affiliate and the District of Columbia to hold a scholastic championship tournament to determine its girls’ champion. Failing this, rating criteria may be acceptable.

13. A scholastic girls’ champion or the highest rated girls’ scholastic player in a state that has no state affiliate of the USCF should contact the Chairman of the Polgar Committee who is currently:

FM Paul Truong c/o Polgar Chess Center 103-10 Queens Boulevard (Suite 1C) Forest Hills, NY 11375 - Tel: (212) 748-9587 - E-mail: PaulTruong@aol.com

14. The Chairman of the Polgar Committee and its members may elect to award 2 or more wild cards each year for the Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls based on very special circumstances and in its sole discretion.

15. Additional Optional Events:

- Susan Polgar National Invitational Blitz Championship for Girls
- Susan Polgar National Invitational Puzzle Solving Contest for Girls
- Susan Polgar National Invitational Chess Training Program for Girls

These events are opened to all participants and alumni of the Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls.

16. In addition, the Polgar Committee will award three automatic qualifying spots at the 2009 SuperNationals Chess Championship to the top finishing girls in the open division of the Elementary (K-6), Junior High (K-9) and High School (K-12) Championship sections.

The Polgar Committee will also award automatic qualifying spots to the top finishing girls in each section of the annual Susan Polgar National Open Championship for Girls and the annual Susan Polgar World Open Championship for Girls (must meet age requirement).

17. Contact info:

The Susan Polgar Foundation (http://www.susanpolgarfoundation.org/) PolgarFoundation@aol.com

Contact: FM Paul Truong
Phone number: 212-748-9587

E-mail: PaulTruong@aol.com
Contact: GM Susan Polgar
Telephone: (718) 897-4600
E-mail: SusanPolgar@aol.com
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Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Michelle Chen - Susan Polgar All-Star Team Member


Michelle Chen, 9 MA 1636 (Highest ever rating 1659)

I started to learn chess when I was almost six. About a year later, I started to go to chess tournaments and began my trophy collections. I started playing adults about a year ago. Playing adults is fun and help improving my chess skills. Recently, in February 2007, I won in tiebreakers in a first place tie in the MA state championship for 11 & under. I also won first place for fourth grade in MA grade chess championship. I love to play chess and hope to beat a master soon. Besides playing chess, I also enjoy playing the piano and building LEGOS.
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Monday, March 12, 2007

Alisa Melekhina - Susan Polgar All-Star Team member


Alisa Melekhina - 2149 (Highest ever rating 2186)

Women FIDE Master (WFM) at 9

2-Time USA Girl's Champion:
1. Winner of the first annual 2004 All-Girls National Chess Championships in Chicago, May 15 - 16, 2004 (12 and under section)
2. Co-Champion at second annual 2005 Susan Polgar National Invitational Championship for Girls (under 19)

2001 Pan-American Chess Champion (G/U10) in Argentina
2002 Pan-American Silver Medalist (GU12) in Argentina
2006 Pan-American Silver Medalist (GU16) in Ecuador
2001 World Girl's Under 10 Championship in Spain, 4th place
2004 World Girl's Under 14 Championship in Greece, 4th place
2006 World Girl's Under 16 Championship in Georgia, 4th place
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Yang Dai - Susan Polgar All-Star Team Member


Yang Dai - 1930 (Highest ever rating 1956)

Co-champion of 2007 VA SCHOLASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS K-8 champion section
Co-champion of 2006 VA SCHOLASTIC CHAMPIONSHIPS K-8 champion section
3rd place in 2006 National Elementary Championships K-6 championship
Top rated girl under age 13 in 2006
Qualified as a team member for the 2006 World Youth Championship
Qualified as a team member for the 2005 World Youth Championship
Participated in the 2005 Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls as the Top girl (K-6 section) in 2005 Supernationals
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Alena Kuzniatsova - Susan Polgar All-Star Team Member

Alena Kuzniatsova - 1883

2006 Champion of America in in the girls under 12 section
Represented the US at the 2006 World Youth Championship in Batumi
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