Thursday, July 31, 2008

Rules and Regulations for SPNI


Rules and Conditions for the Annual Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls

July ...... at Texas Tech University (TTU) in Lubbock, Texas

The annual Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls, the most prestigious all-girls event in the United States, will be held at the Frazier Pavilion at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Starting time of each round will be at 1:30 P.M., except for round 1 and 6.

Round 1 will be at 3:00 PM and round 6 will be at 10 AM., and the time control is 90 minutes for the entire game with 30 seconds increment added per move. Pre-tournament registration is required.

The open ceremony will be at 1:30 PM on July ... The closing ceremony will take place 30 minutes after the conclusion of the last game on July ...

Each state is allowed one representative. Official representative alternates may be substituted no later than June 1. (If there are an odd number of entrants in the tournament, Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee Chairperson may allow the host state to enter an additional qualified player.) Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee Chairperson (Mr. Dewain Barber amchesseq@aol.com) may allow exceptions to the June 1 entry/alternate deadline. Should the state affiliate fail to respond to the notice for this tournament, Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee Chairperson may determine the candidate from that state.

Players must be under the age of 19 as of August 15th of the year in which the tournament is held. Players must have been enrolled in a school (up to 12th grade) located in the state they represent, also of the year in which the tournament is held. Home-schooled students who are under the age of 19 on August 15th of the year in which the tournament is held, students 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 is already attending college, she may still represent her state if nominated. This is the decision of each state affiliate. Players attending college already may not win the scholarship. In such cases scholarship(s) go to the next tournament winner.

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 15th of the year in which the tournament is held) is eligible!

Players are required to play in and complete all six rounds of the tournament. Failure to do so, without permission of the Tournament Director, results in a forfeiture of games and expense monies.

Players are required to furnish the Tournament Director with a legible and complete score sheet.

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

Players are responsible for their own travel and hotel expenses.

If players choose to stay on TTU’s campus, players who complete the tournament will receive free accommodation (based on double occupancy; small, additional fees for single rooms or to share with family members may occur) on campus at Texas Tech University. In addition, all participants will receive free meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 6 days = 18 meals per player). Both are being provided by TTU Provost Office, SPICE and the Susan Polgar Foundation.

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

In addition, a $500 Ursula Foster scholarship is also awarded to the highest finisher under the age of 14. The scholarship is divided in the case of a tie.

The winner of the tournament is crowned the Susan Polgar National Invitational Champion. Co-champions are recognized in the case of a tie, with each champion receiving a Champion’s Plaque or Trophy. The Champion (or Co-Champions) will automatically be invited to defend her title (must meet age requirement).

Texas Tech University agrees to award a four-year academic scholarship (to attend TTU) to the highest finishing player who has not graduated from high school by August. The scholarship must begin the following year. Tie-break calculations will be used in the case of a tie for the TTU scholarship, in the following order:

a. Modified Median
b. Solkoff
c. Cumulative
d. Cumulative of Opposition.

The Polgar Committee’s goal is to have all 50 states (including two representatives for California and two for Texas) and the District of Columbia represented. We strongly encourage each state and the District of Columbia affiliate to hold a scholastic championship tournament to determine each state’s champion and representative. Failing this, rating criteria may be acceptable.

A scholastic girls’ champion or the highest rated girls’ scholastic player in a state who has no state affiliate of the USCF should contact the Polgar Committee Chairman. The Chairman, currently, is Mr. Dewain Barber (amchesseq@aol.com).

Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee Chairman (Mr. Dewain Barber amchesseq@aol.com) and its members may elect to award 2 or more wild cards each year for the Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls.

Additional Optional Events:

a. Susan Polgar National Invitational Blitz Championship for Girls
b. Susan Polgar National Invitational Puzzle Solving Contest for Girls
c. Susan Polgar National Invitational Chess Training Program for Girls

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

The Polgar Committee will award automatic qualifying spots to the reigning winners in each section of the annual Susan Polgar National Open Championship for Girls, the annual Susan Polgar World Open Championship for Girls, and all current qualifiers of the Susan Polgar All-Star Girl’s Chess Team (must meet age requirement).

Contact info: The Susan Polgar Foundation can be contacted at 806-742-7742 (phone) or through SusanPolgar@aol.com (email).

NOTICE TO ALL STATE OFFICIALS: Please send the nomination from your state to Mr. Dewain Barber (amchesseq@aol.com), Chairperson of the Polgar Committee.

The Champions


Past champions:

• 2007: Julia Kerr (New York) and Eunice Rodriguez (Florida)
• 2006: Abby Marshall (Virginia)
• 2005: Anya Corke (California), Alisa Melekhina (Pennsylvania), Abby Marshall (Ohio)
• 2004: Roza Eynullayeva (Massachusetts)
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Governor's Letter

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Sunday, July 27, 2008

Saturday, July 26, 2008

TTU welcomes SPNI participants



Here is the official program book for the 5th annual Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls, the most prestigious all-girls national championship in the U.S.


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Thursday, July 24, 2008

Special milestone


Ashley Carter will represent Michigan for the 5th time next week at the 5th annual Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls. That is an impressive new record. Congratulations Ashley!
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Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Special all-girls camps at SPICE


This is the English Department at Texas Tech University, site of the 2008 All-Girls Chess Camps

The Susan Polgar All-Stars Chess Training for top young female players in the United States and Chess: It’s a Girl Thing chess camp are taking place from July 21-25 on campus at Texas Tech. The ladder camp is a part of the well known Science: It’s a Girl thing camp.

The English department at TTU is generously hosting both camps.
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Monday, July 21, 2008

Important info about the SPNI


Some general information:

The usual temperature in Lubbock is around a comfortable mid to high 60's in the evening and high 80's to mid 90's in the afternoon. The humidity level is quite low because Lubbock is approximately 3,200 feet above sea level. Therefore, it is quite dry compare to other parts of Texas south of Lubbock.

There will be plenty of amenities available such as swimming, tennis, basketball, ping pong, etc. There are also laundry facilities at Gordon Hall. Both buildings (Gordon and Frazier) are wheel chair accessible.

The Frazier Alumni Pavilion and Gordon Hall are both comfortably air conditioned. Wireless Internet access is available in common area at Gordon Hall. Dining will be at "The Fresh Plate" in Gordon Hall. The walking distance between Gordon Hall and Frazier Alumni Pavilion is about 2-3 minutes.

The time control for the SPNI is 90 moves for the entire game for each player with 30 second increments added on per move. This is equivalent to G/120 and it is the official FIDE time control. In addition, the SPNI will be FIDE rated. This will give many players the opportunity to earn valuable FIDE ratings.

Please bring your own clock if you own one. We do have a limited amount of clocks available if you do not own one. Chess sets and boards will be furnished. However, please bring your own equipment if you would like to have casual games or after hour games with other players in Gordon Hall.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact me or Mr. Dewain Barber, Chair of the Polgar Committee.

I am looking forward to seeing all of you in less than a week. It will be a fantastic and memorable event!
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Sunday, July 20, 2008

Lubbock welcomes SPNI participants


Lubbock welcomes top young American female chess talents

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Story last updated at 7/20/2008 - 2:02 am

The fifth annual Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls, the most prestigious all-girls national chess championship in the United States, will commence next Sunday right here in Lubbock. This prominent national championship will take place over six days, from July 27 to Aug. 1, at the Frazier Alumni Pavilion on the Texas Tech campus.

Each state can nominate one talented young female chess player, the top 18-year-old or younger from the state. Thousands of girls compete annually in local, state, regional, national and world events to earn the esteemed invitations.

Tech will host this esteemed event for the next 10 years. In addition, TTU will award a four-year academic scholarship each year to begin the following year to the highest-finishing player who has not graduated from high school by August.

The rules and conditions of this event can be found at http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/2008/06/rules-and-conditions-for-spni.html.

In addition, thanks to the generous sponsorship from the Provost's office, all players will receive free accommodation (based on double occupancy) on TTU's campus, as well as all meals during the six-day national event.

Past champions are:

• 2007: Julia Kerr (New York) and Eunice Rodriguez (Florida)
• 2006: Abby Marshall (Virginia)
• 2005: Anya Corke (California), Alisa Melekhina (Pennsylvania), Abby Marshall (Virginia)
• 2004: Roza Eynullayeva (Massachusetts)

Here is the full article.
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Saturday, July 19, 2008

Special treat for the SPNI


One of the bloggers sent me this link a while back. I was so impressed with their performance in this video which took place before a Texas Tech basketball game. Therefore, I invited the Cactus Cuties to perform at the Opening Ceremony of the 2008 Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls next Sunday. They have accepted the invitation. Click here to view the video of one of their performances.
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Thursday, July 17, 2008

Important info for the SPNI


Here are some more details for the upcoming Susan Polgar National Championship for Girls:

1. Please let us know your flight arrival and departure information if you are flying in to Lubbock and would need help with transportation from the airport to campus. There are taxi service and rental cars at the airport.

2. Please let us know if you are driving or renting a car and therefore will need a parking pass on campus for $6 for the duration of the event (provide name of driver).

3. All participants will receive a complimentary pass to the TTU recreation center http://www.depts.ttu.edu/recsports/ Parents/coaches may also request one for $10 for the duration of the event. Please request it in advance as soon as possible!

4. TTU and the SPF provide free lodging on Campus (at the Gordon Hall dorm on Akron St.

http://www.ttu.edu/campusMap/buildings/gordon.php) for all participants of the SPNI, for up to six nights of stay (July 26 – August 1). Additional room nights are available for $25/pp/night based on double occupancy.

5. Coaches/parents are welcome to stay on the campus dorms as well for $25/pp/night based o on double occupancy (with player or other family member) or $40 for a single dorm room.

6. Meals are complimentary at the “Fresh Plate” (all-you-can-eat buffet style) for all participants of the SPNI starting with breakfast on July 27 and ending with dinner on August 1. There are numerous restaurants at walking distance on University Avenue to eat out on July 26 or August 2.

7. Parents/Coaches may sign up for the meal plan to join their daughters for $22/day.

8. All payments must be made upon arrival by check or cash!!!

9. The event (including the Opening and closing ceremonies) will be held at the Frazier Pavilion, which is 2-3 minute walk away from Gordon Hall dorms.

10. Meal times:

Breakfast 7:30am-9:00am
Lunch 11:30am-1:00pm
Dinner 5:30pm-7:00pm

11. TTU will offer a campus tour(s) at TTU.

12. We will have a basketball game and other optional fun activities.

13. Dress code. Generally causal, but we encourage a bit “nicer” for the opening and closing ceremonies.
See below the schedule of events.

Schedule

July 26
6:00pm: “Warm-Up” Quads (G/30) at Lubbock Room of the STU building

July 27
1:30pm–2:30pm: Opening Ceremony
3:00pm–6:30pm: Round 1 of SPNI

July 28
1:30pm–5:00pm: Round 2 of SPNI and round 1 of Parents/Friends Open
7:00pm: SPNI Chess Puzzle Solving Championship
7:30pm: Free chess lecture by Susan

July 29
1:30pm–5:00pm: Round 3 of SPNI and round 2 of Parents/Friends Open
7:00pm: SPNI Blitz Championship

July 30
1:30pm–5:00pm: Round 4 of SPNI and round 3 of Parents/Friends Open
7:00pm: SPNI Bughouse Championship

July 31
1:30pm–5:00pm: Round 5 of SPNI and final round of Parents/Friends Open

August 1
10:00am–1:30pm: Round 6 of SPNI
2:30pm: Closing Ceremony
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Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Confirmed players as of 7-24-08


Confirmed players for the 2008 SP National Invitational for Girls:

Alabama - Hannah Hellwig
Arizona - Sayaka Foley
Arkansas - Crystal Qian
California (Northern) - Rebekah Liu
California (Southern) - Nisha Deolalikar
Colorado - Alexandra Lasley
Connecticut - Alexandra Wiener
Delaware - Ann Marie Fitch
Florida - Rita Mirchandani
Georgia - Ananya Roy
Hawaii - Ashbea Oyadomari
Idaho - Erica Barkell
Illinois - Sonya Vohra
Indiana - Emily Tallo
Iowa - Dhrooti Vyas
Kansas - Katrina Pritchard
Maine - Sorel Edes
Maryland - Fiona Lam
Massachusetts - Michelle Chen
Michigan - Ashley Carter
Minnesota - Morgan Mahowald
Mississippi - Melanie Newell
Missouri - Joanna Gossell
Nebraska - Elizabeth Oliver
New Jersey - Eve Zhurbinskiy
New Mexico - Rebecca Anne DeLand
New York - Linda Diaz
North Carolina - Amelia Wheeless
Ohio - Brianna Conley
Ohio - Rebecca Lelko
Oklahoma - Michelle Farell
Oregon - Taylor Bailey
Pennsylvania - Shinan Jin
South Carolina - Hannah Whatley
South Dakota - Kaitlynn Loos
Tennessee - Autumn Douthitt
Texas - Sylvia Yang
Texas - Rheanna English
Utah - Jamie Olsen-Mills
Utah - Janice Chen
Virginia - Susan Brown
Washington - Leanne Hwa
Wisconsin - Mira Ensley-Field
Special Invitation - Courtney Jamison

Special Invitation - Angel Bohannon
Special Invitation - Brianna Conley
Special Invitation - Georgia Olvera
Special Invitation - Sarah Garza
SP National Open Qualifier - Claudia Munoz
SP World Open Qualifier - Annie Wang
SP World Open Qualifier - Alisha Chawla

Here are the previous champions:

2007 (Cherry Hill, NJ): Julia Kerr (NY) and Eunice Rodriguez (FL)
2006 (Oak Brook, IL): Abby Marshall (VA)
2005 (Phoenix, AZ): Anya Corke (CA), Alisa Melekhina (PA), Abby Marshall (VA)
2004 (Ft Lauderdale, FL): Roza Eynullayeva (MA)
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Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Frazier Alumni Pavillion



Above is the picture of Frazier Alumni Pavillion on the campus of Texas Tech University, site of the 2008 Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls, the most prestigious all-girls event in the United States.

I just finished an inspection of the Frazier Alumni Pavillion. This is a part of the preparation for the upcoming 2008 Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls which will take place on July 27 - August 1 at Texas Tech University.
We aim to put on a spectacular top-notch annual event. About 50 players have confirmed their participation.


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Thursday, July 03, 2008

Confirmed players as of 7-2-08


July 27 - August 1 at Texas Tech University (TTU) in Lubbock, Texas

The annual Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls, the most prestigious all-girls event in the United States, will be held at the Frazier Pavilion at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Starting time of each round will be at 1:30 P.M., except for round 1 and 6.

Round 1 will be at 3:00 PM and round 6 will be at 10 AM., and the time control is 90 minutes for the entire game with 30 seconds increment added per move. This is the approved FIDE time control. Pre-tournament registration is required.

The open ceremony will be at 1:30 PM on July 27. The closing ceremony will take place 30 minutes after the conclusion of the last game on August 1.

Click here to see the full list of confirmed players so far.

PLEASE CONTACT ME IMMEDIATE (SusanPolgar@aol.com) IF YOU QUALIFIED AND YOUR NAME IS NOT LISTED!

Important information available here.
Rules and conditions are located here.
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