The 2010 Annual Susan Polgar Girls Invitational starts today

The 2010 Annual Susan Polgar Girls Invitational starts today
Posted: July 25, 2010 - 12:37am
http://lubbockonline.com

The seventh annual Susan Polgar Girls Invitational, the most prestigious all-girls chess championship in the United States, will commence today in Lubbock. This prominent national championship will take place over six days, through Friday, 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. This year more than 40 participants from all across the United States are coming to town to do battle on the 64 squares. In addition to the championship, these fierce competitors will compete for chess prizes and scholarships.

Rules and Conditions for the Susan Polgar Girls Invitational (SPGI)

The annual Susan Polgar Girls Invitational, the most prestigious all-girls event in the United States, will be held at Texas Tech. The opening ceremony will be at 1 p.m. today. There will be a brand new format this year.

• Instead of a six-day tournament, there will be a five-day intense world-class training program with Susan Polgar, followed by a six-round G/30 championship tournament.
• The traditional Blitz, Puzzle Solving and Bughouse events will stay the same as previous years.
• There will be many prizes awarded, including scholarship(s) to Texas Tech.

Each state is allowed one representative. Official representative alternates could be substituted no later than June 25. (Susan Polgar and/or the new Polgar Committee may allow the host state to enter an additional qualified player.) Susan Polgar and/or the new Polgar Committee could 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 could determine the candidate from that state.

Players must be under the age of 19 as of Aug. 15. Players must have been enrolled in a school (up to 12th grade) located in the state they represent, in which the tournament is held. Home-schooled students who are under the age of 19 on Aug. 15 or students who have never attended college on a full-time basis prior to June 1 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 already enrolled in college are not eligible to receive the scholarship. In such cases scholarship(s) go to the next tournament winner.

• Very important note: The participants of the Susan Polgar Girls Invitational do not have to be high school students. Any qualifier under the age of 19 by Aug. 15 is eligible!

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

There is no fee to participate in the 2010 SPGI; however, players are responsible for their own travel, room and meal expenses. If players choose to stay and/or dine on TTU’s campus, inexpensive accommodations are available. Please note that all reservations and registrations must have been made (and accommodation expenses prepaid) no later than June 25.

Trophies / plaques will be awarded to the winners of the Susan Polgar Girls Invitational Puzzle Solving Championship, Blitz Championship and the Rapid Championship. The player with the highest combined score in the Puzzle Solving, Blitz and Rapid will be crowned the Susan Polgar Girls Invitational Grand Champion. Co-champions are recognized in the case of a tie, with each champion receiving a Grand Champion’s Plaque or Trophy. The Grand Champion (or Co-Champions) will automatically be invited to defend her/their title if she/they meet the age requirement.

The player with the highest combined score in the Puzzle Solving, Blitz and Rapid will also receive a $1,000 scholarship to attend Texas Tech (equivalent to over $36,000 for an out-of-state student). The scholarship must begin the following year (fall 2011). A one-game playoff (G/5) will be held in the case of a tie for the TTU scholarship.

The New 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 as soon as possible.

Special invitation for this year only

All past participants of the SPNI (Susan Polgar National Invitational 2004-09) are invited to participate in the 2010 SPGI. The idea is to have the past participants learn my method of training so they can go back home and share their knowledge with the younger players. However, registration must have been made no later than June 25, since space is limited.

Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee and its members may elect to award wild cards each year for the Susan Polgar Girls Invitational.

Special qualifying events

The Polgar Committee will award automatic qualifying spots to the reigning winners in each section of the annual Susan Polgar National Open for Girls (Arizona) and the annual Susan Polgar World Open for Girls (Las Vegas).

Champions of the past six years are:

• 2009: Yang Dai (Virginia)
• 2008: Courtney Jamison (Texas)
• 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)

Daily updates of this championship will be available at www.ChessDailyNews.com and www.TexasTechChess.blogspot.com. Spectators are welcome to attend the championship at the Rawls College of Business Rotunda at Texas Tech on Thursday from 1:30 to 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The closing ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m.