SPWO with over $100K in chess prizes (including iPad Mini) and scholarships

Susan Polgar World Open for Boys and Girls 
www.polgarworldopen.com 

November 2 – 3, 2013
Special 3 hour Camp – November 1, 2013
Crowne Plaza Hotel – Northbrook, IL (near Chicago)

Over $100,000 in Chess Prizes (including iPad Mini) and Scholarships to Webster University 

(Home of the #1 ranked College Chess Division 1 team in the nation!) 

The winners of the Girls K-3, 4-5, 6-8 and 9-12 will receive automatic invitations to the Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Invitational
(late July 2014 at Webster University in St. Louis), which includes free room and board.

All winners from the 2012 SPWO (Boys and Girls) receive free entry to the 2013 SPWO

6R-SS in 8 sections: (K-3), (4-5), (6-8), (9-12) 
Time Control (all sections): Game-45 w/5-sec delay 
Round Times (all sections): Sat & Sun: 11:00am, 1:30pm, 4pm 

Side Events: 

Puzzle Solving – Saturday 6:00pm
Simul * – Saturday 7:00pm
Blitz – Sunday – 9:00am

*Simul is limited to 30 participants with maximum 10 adults as available 

Book Signing with GM Susan Polgar: Saturday 3:00pm 

Q&A with GM Susan Polgar: Saturday 12:30pm 

Special 3 hour chess camp with GM Susan Polgar: Friday 11/1 – 5:30pm – 8:30pm 

Unrated Tournament*: Must be unrated, No USCF membership required

K-3, 4-5, 6-8, 9-12 sections
Boys and Girls together
4R-SS Game-45 w/5-sec delay
11am, 1:30pm, 4pm, 6:30pm
Trophies 1st thru 5th per section and top 2 teams 

Prizes (Boys and Girls - rated sections)

9th-12th Grade Section 

1st – Webster University  Scholarship
2nd – $150 value of chess prizes
3rd – $100 value of chess prizes
4th – $75 value of chess prizes 

4-5, 6-8 

1st – iPad Mini
2nd – $150 value of chess prizes
3rd – $100 value of chess prizes
4th – $75 value of chess prizes 

K-3 

1st – $250 value of chess prizes
2nd – $150 value of chess prizes
3rd – $100 value of chess prizes
4th – $75 value of chess prizes 

Trophies (in all rated sections) 

Trophies to Top 10 individuals
Trophies to Top 3 school teams 

Tournament Entry Fees: 

$40 by October 12, 2013
$50 by October 26, 2013
$60 thereafter and onsite

Side events – $15 each or $40 for all three if purchased by 10/26; $20 each thereafter and onsite
1/2 day camp – $40 in advance, $60 onsite – camp limited to 40 participants 

Unrated Tournament Entry Fee 

$10 by October 12, 2013
$15 by October 26, 2013
$20 thereafter and onsite

Questions: sevan@nachess.org or call 847.423.8626 and mention Polgar tournament in your message. 

Chess Vendor Onsite with Huge Selection! 

Payments to be mailed to (payable): 

North American Chess Association
4957 Oakton Street Suite 113
Skokie, IL 60077
All equipment will be provided (boards, sets, clocks). Organizer provided equipment must be used.

Crowne Plaza Chicago-Northbrook Hotel  
2875 N. Milwaukee Avenue 
Northbrook, IL 60062
847.298.2525
$99 room rate; must call hotel directly and ask for CHESS rate.

Webster University: What's Next: "100 Years"

My Life Through Pictures and Music

Some of the interesting people I met during my chess career:

President Mikhail Gorbachev, President George HW Bush, World Champion Bobby Fischer, World Champion Boris Spassky, World Champion Anatoly Karpov, World Champion Mikhail Tal, World Champion Vishy Anand, World Champion Mikhail Botvinnik, World Champion Vasily Smyslov, World Champion Veselin Topalov, World Champion Vladimir Kramnik, World #1 Magnus Carlsen, World Champion Alexander Khalifman, Oscar winner Jane Fonda, Oscar winner Michael Douglas, Oscar winner Robin Williams, Oscar winner Meryl Streep, Oscar winner Paul Newman, Grammy winner Josh Groban, Tony winner Sutton Foster, Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor George Pataki, Best-selling author Katherine Neville, Grammy nominee Bering Strait, IM Josh Waitzkin, US Champion Lev Alburt, Philanthropist Rex Sinquefield, Grand Slam champion Monica Seles, NBA champion Kareem Abdul Jabbar, World Boxing champion Arthur Abraham, etc.

Rules & Conditions for the 10th Annual Susan Polgar Foundation Girls' Invitational ($200K in prizes and scholarships)

Rules and Conditions for the 10th Annual Susan Polgar Foundation Girls' Invitational (SPGI)
July 20 – 25, 2013 at Webster University (St. Louis, Missouri)

- Approximately $200,000 in chess scholarships, chess prizes, and iPad mini, etc. (Full tuition and fees scholarship to the top finisher! *)

- Webster University will provide complimentary room and meal accommodation on campus for qualifiers!
 
The annual Susan Polgar Girl’s Invitational, the most prestigious all-girls event in the United States, will be held at Webster University (St. Louis, Missouri).

• There will be an intense training session with Susan Polgar, followed by a 6 round (g/90+30) championship tournament.
• The traditional Blitz, Puzzle Solving, Bughouse events will stay the same as in previous years.
• There will be many chess prizes awarded, including iPad mini, and scholarships to Webster University.

Each state is allowed one representative to be nominated by June 1, 2013. Official representative alternates may be substituted no later than June 15. (Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee may allow the host state to enter an additional qualified player.) Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee 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 may determine the candidate from that state.

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 July 25th of the year in which the event is held or 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.

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.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: The participants of the Susan Polgar Girl’s Invitational DO NOT have to be high school students. Any qualifier under the age of 19 (by July 25th of the year in which the tournament is held) is eligible!

Special invitation for this year only: All past participants of the SPNI and SPGI (Susan Polgar National Invitational/Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Invitational 2004-2012) are invited to participate in the 2013 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 be made ASAP since space is limited. There will be mutual training sessions for all, however separate section & prizes for alumni participants over the age of 19.

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

There is no entry fee to participate in the 2013 SPGI; however, players are responsible for their own travel. For all state representatives, and qualifiers from the SPNO or SPWO, Webster University will provide complimentary room and meal accommodation on campus. 

For alumni participants, wild card/special invites, coaches, parents, or other family members, inexpensive accommodations are available for housing and dining on Webster’s campus. Please note that all reservations and registrations MUST be made (and accommodation expenses prepaid) no later than June 25, 2013.

Prizes: Trophies / plaques will be awarded to the winners of the Susan Polgar Foundation Girl’s Invitational Puzzle Solving, Blitz, and the SPGI Championship. 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/their title (must meet age requirement).

Champion: Webster University scholarship (approximately $23,000+ per year x 4 years *) + iPad mini + Champion's Plaque / Trophy
2nd and 3rd place: Webster University scholarship (approximately $13,000+ per year x 4 years *)
Top under 13: iPad mini
Top under 10: iPad mini

* The scholarship must be exercised no later than the Fall of 2016.

The New Polgar Committee’s goal is to have all 50 states (including two representatives for California, two for Texas, and two for Missouri) 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.

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

Special qualifying events: The Polgar Committee will award automatic qualifying spots to the reigning winners in each section of the annual Susan Polgar NO for Girls (New Orleans) and the Susan Polgar World Open for Girls (Chicago).

The new SPGI Chairperson is Martha Underwood (AZ).

NOTICE TO ALL STATE OFFICIALS: Please send the nomination from your state to the Polgar Committee (PolgarCommittee@gmail.com).

Contact info: Polgar Committee (PolgarCommittee@gmail.com)

The Susan Polgar Foundation can be contacted at 806-281-7424 or through info@PolgarFoundation.org.

Webster University is located at 470 E. Lockwood Avenue Webster Groves, MO 63119

BIG THANKS to President Dr. Beth Stroble and Webster University for hosting and sponsoring this very prestigious event for girls!

* Scholarships may be upgraded but may not be stacked. For previous winners of partial scholarships, a maximum of $1,000 per year may be added to the previous scholarship.

SPNO to return to beautiful New Orleans! Over $100,000 in scholarships and prizes!

Information and online registration here.

Mar. 1-3 SPNO Boys & Girls Championships

at Holiday Inn Downtown/Superdome, New Orleans, LA. 6 Rd. SS G/45 d/5 scholastic up to 9 sections: USCF Rated Secs. grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8 & 9-12, sep. for Girls & Boys; 1 Unrated K-12 Reserve sec. Side events: 3 hour chess camp (max. 30); GM Polgar Simul (max 25 bds.); Blitz Championship, 2 secs., K-6 and 7-12; Bughouse; Puzzle Solving Championship; "Breakfast with Susan" at Brennan's Restaurant (former home of World Champ. Paul Morphy).  

Schedule: Rds. Sat., 3/2 - 10 a.m., 12, 2 p.m.; Sun 3/3 - 11 a.m., 1, p.m., 3 p.m.;  

Side events: Fri 3/1 - Camp 2-5 p.m.; Puzzles, 6 p.m., Bughouse 7 p.m.; Sat. 3/2 - Blitz 4.p.m., Simul 7 p.m.; Sun. 3/3 - Breakfast 8:30 a.m.; side event awards before rds 4 & 5; main event awards 4:45 p.m.  

Prizes: Over $100,000 in Webster U. Scholarships, tablet computers & chess prizes; Trophies to top 5 ea. sec. (more poss. in lg secs.; top 20% based on pre-reg. as of 2/10); Side event awards: Blitz - top 3 boys & top 3 girls ea. sec. Bughouse - top 3 teams. Puzzles - top 3 Boys & Girls in rating gps. Under 800, Under 1500 & Open. All players receive commemorative medals. Team awards: top 3 school & top club team ea. sec. of main event & blitz (Student may rep. only 1 team; commit by rd 2).  

Reg. fees: All secs. of G/45 Main Event: $45 by 1/10/13 ; then $55 by 2/1/13; $65 thereafter. Camp - $40 by 1/10/13; then $50. Puzzles $10 by 2/1/13; then $15. Bughouse - $20/team by 2/1/13; then $30. Blitz - $15 by 2/1/13; then $20. Simul - $25: "Breakfast with Susan" Sunday Brunch at Brennan's Rest. (Paul Morphy home) $55 adults; $30 children.   

Host hotel: Holiday Inn Downtown Superdome, King or 2 Doubles $149/nt, 2 night min. til sold out or 1/18/13. Overnight Parking $15; free wi-fi, fitness center, pool; 10% food & bev. disct. if staying on-site. To reserve call 1-800-535-7830 & request Polgar Chess Rate. Alt./Overflow hotel: SpringHill Suites downtown, 301 St.Joseph St., (1 mile from Holiday Inn): King + sofa sleeper or 2 Queens + sleeper, $209/nt. til sold out or 2/8/13. To reserve call 1-888-364-1200 & request Polgar Chess Rate. 

Email questions to: ChessNOLA@yahoo.com. 

Susan Polgar New Orleans Commemorative Tee-Shirt with Players' Names Printed on Back 

A commemorative Tee-Shirt will be available for $18 at the tournament with the Players' names printed on the back. In order to have your name printed on the shirt you must place your order by February 1, 2013. Those who do not order by that date may not have their names added to the shirt, so please order early by clicking the link below:

Susan Polgar New Orleans Championship Commemorative Tee-Shirt