Rules & Conditions for the 13th Annual Susan Polgar Foundation Girls' Invitational - the richest all-girls championship in the world!

Rules & Conditions for the 13th Annual Susan Polgar Foundation Girls' Invitational - the richest all-girls championship in the world!
($200,000+ in scholarships + $7,500 cash prizes)
July 23 (arrival day) – 28, 2016 at Webster University (St. Louis, Missouri)

The Annual SPF Girls' Invitational, in its 13th year, is the most prestigious All-Girls event in the United States. It is also the first All-Girls event approved and sanctioned by the USCF back in 2003. It is an invitational event, and will once again be held at Webster University (St. Louis, Missouri).

Each state, as well as each country in the American Continent (South, Central, and North America) is allowed to nominate one representative. Each Canadian province is allowed one representative to be nominated. In addition, automatic qualifying spots will be awarded to the reigning winners in each section of the annual Susan Polgar Foundation National Open for Girls and the Susan Polgar Foundation World Open for Girls.

Webster University will provide complimentary room and meal accommodation on campus for all qualifiers!

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

Official representatives should be nominated by June 10, 2016. Official representative alternates may be substituted no later than July 11, 2016. (Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee may allow the host state / country to enter an additional qualified player.) Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee may allow exceptions to the June 10 entry/alternate deadline. Should the state / country affiliate fail to respond to the notice for this tournament, Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee may determine the candidate from that state / country.

Players must have been enrolled in a school (up to 12th grade) located in the state or country they represent, also of the year in which the tournament is held. Home-schooled students who are under the age of 19 on July 22nd 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 or country.

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 22nd of the year in which the tournament is held) is eligible!

Special invitation for this year: All past participants of the SPNI and SPFGI (Susan Polgar National Invitational/Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Invitational 2004-2015) are invited to participate in the 2016 SPFGI. 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 2016 SPFGI; however, players are responsible for their own travel.

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 15, 2016.

Prizes: Trophies / plaques will be awarded to the winners of the Susan Polgar Foundation Girl’s Invitational Puzzle Solving, Blitz, Bughouse and the SPFGI 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) of the main event will automatically be invited to defend her/their title (must meet age requirement).

Champion: Webster University scholarship* (full tuition and fees approximately $25,000 + per year x 4 years)

2nd place: Webster University scholarship (approximately $14,000 + per year x 4 years)

3rd place: Webster University scholarship (approximately $12,000 + per year x 4 years)

(In case of a tie, a playoff will used to determine the level of scholarships)

* The scholarships to Webster University must be exercised no later than Fall of 2019, and are not transferable. In addition, these scholarships cannot be combined with other academic scholarships, or stacked. If players won scholarships in past events, they can choose to exercise the highest one.

Additional CASH SCHOLARSHIP this year!

1st place = $2,500
2nd place = $1,500
3rd place = $1,000

Top under 13 = $500
Top under 10 = $500

Triple-crown champion (main event, blitz, and puzzle solving) = $1,000

Biggest upset prize (each round) = $50 x 6 = $300 gift certificate

Best dressed player = $100 gift certificate

Best written essay about the SPFGI experience = $100 gift certificate

There will also be additional surprised prizes which challenge intellect and wit!

(In case of a tie, cash prizes will be shared)

The Polgar Committee’s goal is to have all 50 states (including two representatives for California, two for Texas, and two for Missouri), the District of Columbia, as well as each country in the American Continent (South, Central, and North America) 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 a limited number of 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 Foundation National Open for Girls and the Susan Polgar Foundation World Open for Girls.

The SPFGI 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.

11th annual SPF Girls' Invitational - Additional prizes for World Youth Qualifiers

Rules & Conditions for the 11th Annual Susan Polgar Foundation Girls' Invitational
(Over $200K in prizes and scholarships)
July 10 – 15, 2014 at Webster University (St. Louis, Missouri)

Webster University will provide complimentary room and meal accommodation on campus for all qualifiers!

The annual Susan Polgar Girls’ Invitational, in its 11th year, is the most prestigious all-girls event in the United States. It will once again be held at Webster University (St. Louis, Missouri).

• There will be an intense training session with Susan Polgar and members of the SPICE team, followed by a 6 round (g/90+30) FIDE rated championship tournament.

• The traditional Blitz, Puzzle Solving, Bughouse events will stay the same as in previous years.

• There will be many chess prizes awarded, as well as scholarships to Webster University.

Each state is allowed one representative to be nominated by May 20, 2014. 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 May 20 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 10th 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 10th of the year in which the tournament is held) is eligible!

Special invitation for this year only: All past participants of the SPNI and SPFGI (Susan Polgar National Invitational/Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Invitational 2004-2013) are invited to participate in the 2014 SPFGI. 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 2014 SPFGI; 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 15, 2014.

Prizes: Trophies / plaques will be awarded to the winners of the Susan Polgar Foundation Girl’s Invitational Puzzle Solving, Blitz, and the SPFGI 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) of the main event will automatically be invited to defend her/their title (must meet age requirement).

Champion: Webster University scholarship* (approximately $24,000+ per year x 4 years) Champion's Cup. (In case of a tie, a playoff will used to determine the level of scholarships)

2nd place: Webster University scholarship (approximately $14,000+ per year x 4 years)

3rd place: Webster University scholarship (approximately $12,000+ per year x 4 years)

Brand new additional prizes this year!

Top under 16: $1,000 scholarship to help defray expenses to the 2014 World Youth (if participating**)

Top under 14: $1,000 scholarship to help defray expenses to the 2014 World Youth (if participating**)

Top under 12: $1,000 scholarship to help defray expenses to the 2014 World Youth (if participating**)

Top under 10: $1,000 scholarship to help defray expenses to the 2014 World Youth (if participating**)

* The scholarships to Webster University must be exercised no later than Fall of 2017, and are not transferable. In addition, these scholarships cannot be combined with other academic scholarships, or stacked. If players won scholarships in past events, they can choose to exercise the highest one.

** After flight ticket has been purchased, a $1,000 reimbursement check will be sent to the winners.

The 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 a limited number of 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 SPFGI 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.

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 will host the Ninth Annual Susan Polgar Girls' Invitational

Susan Polgar Girls' Invitational Chess Competition to be Held at Webster University July 22-27
ST. LOUIS, July 16, 2012

ST. LOUIS, July 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Webster University will host the Ninth Annual Susan Polgar Girls' Invitational, the most prestigious all-girls chess event in the United States, July 22 through July 27. The tournament, which is a partnership between the Susan Polgar Foundation and Webster University, will showcase some of the top young (under age 19) female chess talent from across the United States.

The Girls' Invitational begins with two days of intensive, world-class training sessions with Susan Polgar and her team, followed by a six-round championship tournament. More than $100,000 in chess prizes and scholarships will be awarded. The first- and second-place winners will each receive a four-year, $13,000-per-year scholarship to Webster University.

The formal opening ceremony for the Girls' Invitational will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 24 at the Loretto Hilton Center on the Webster University campus, 130 Edgar Rd. in Webster Groves. Round 1 of the tournament will begin immediately following on the Loretto Hilton stage, at 2:30 p.m. The ceremony and all tournament rounds are free and open to the public.

Rounds 2 and 3 will take place on Wednesday, July 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., respectively. Rounds 4 and 5 will be held on Thursday, July 26, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The tournament wraps up on Friday, July 27, with Round 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., immediately followed by the closing ceremony.

St. Louis native Margaret Hua, 13, is the tournament's top seed.

Chess is increasingly valued for its instructional impact. Globally, educators recognize chess as a tool to cultivate interest and success in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines.

About Susan Polgar

Chess Grandmaster Susan Polgar, World and Olympiad Champion, and her Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE) relocated to Webster University in June from Texas Tech University. In addition, all members of the reigning national collegiate champion Texas Tech "A" chess team are transferring to Webster to be enrolled at the University this fall.

At Webster University, SPICE and Susan Polgar are leaders in promoting chess as a vehicle for global diversity and academic excellence, enriching the education of children and for promoting women's chess. The mission of PSICE is to be the nation's premier center for chess education and outreach.

Susan Polgar is one of the strongest female chess players in history. She is the winner of four world championships and the only world champion in history – male or female – to win the Triple Crown (Rapid, Blitz and Classical Chess world championships). Polgar also is the first woman to break the gender barrier to qualify for the Men's World Championship Cycle, earn the Men's Grandmaster title, and to receive the Grandmaster of the Year Award. In 2011, Polgar became the first female head coach to lead a men's Division 1 team (Texas Tech University) to the national title. Polgar led her team to a second national title in 2012.

Polgar is considered a trailblazer who has made an enormous impact in the chess world. She is recognized as the one who laid the foundation for female chess players everywhere. She also believes in the ability of chess to help children of all ages to do better in school as well as develop important like skills.

About Webster University

With its home campus in St. Louis, Webster University (www.webster.edu) is the only Tier 1, private, non-profit U.S.-based university providing a network of international residential campuses. Founded in 1915, Webster University's campus network today includes metropolitan, military and corporate locations around the world, as well as traditional residential campuses in Asia, Europe and North America. The university is committed to delivering high-quality learning experiences that transform students for global citizenship and individual excellence.

Source: http://www.digitaljournal.com

Susan Polgar World Open for Boys and Girls 2012, over $100K in scholarships and prizes!

Official website: http://www.polgarworldopen.com/

Susan Polgar World Open for Boys and Girls
Main Event – October 6 – 7*, 2012
Special 3 hour Camp – October 5, 2012

Doubletree Hotel – Oakbrook, IL

Over $100,000 in prizes and scholarships to Webster University

**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 2013 at Webster University in St. Louis), which include free room and board!

All winners from the 2012 SPWO (Boys and Girls) will 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
Bughouse – Sunday – 9:00am
Blitz – 6:00pm
*Simul is limited to 25 participants with maximum 10 adults as available
Book Signing with GM Susan Polgar:
Between rounds 2 and 3 on Saturday
Between rounds 4 and 5 on Sunday
Q & A with GM Susan Polgar
12:30pm on Saturday
Special 3 hour chess camp with GM Susan Polgar
Friday 10/5 – 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Prizes (Boys and Girls)
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 – Netbook
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 sections)
Trophies to Top 10 individuals
Trophies to Top 3 school teams
Tournament Entry Fees:
$40 by September 15, 2012
$50 by September 29, 2012
$60 thereafter and onsite
Side events – $15 each or $40 for all three if purchased in advance; $20 each onsite
1/2 day camp – $40 in advance, $60 onsite – camp limited to 40 participants
Questions: sevan@nachess.org or call 847.423.8626 and mention Polgar tournament in your message
Our chess vendor is Checkmate Chess Supply
Payments to be mailed to (payable):

North American Chess Association
4957 Oakton Street Suite 113
Skokie, IL 60077

Register online at: http://www.polgarworldopen.com

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.

Doubletree Hotel – 1909 Spring Road – Oakbrook, IL 60523 – 630.472.6000
$91 room rate; must call hotel directly and ask for North American Chess rate.

9th Annual Susan Polgar Foundation Girl’s Invitational (FREE rooms and meals for official qualifiers)

Rules and Conditions for the 9th Annual Susan Polgar Foundation Girls' Invitational (SPGI)
July 22 – 27, 2012 at Webster University (St. Louis, Missouri)

Over $100,000 in chess scholarships, chess prizes, netbook computers, etc.

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). The opening ceremony will be at 1:00 PM on July 22. The format this year is similar to 2011.

• There will be a two (2) day intense world class training sessions with Susan Polgar and her team, 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 scholarship(s) to Webster University.

Each state is allowed one representative to be nominated by June 1, 2012. 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 27th 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 27th 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 2004-2011) are invited to participate in the 2012 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 2012 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, 2012.

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 $13,000 per year x 4 years) + netbook computer + Champion's Plaque / Trophy
2nd place: Webster University scholarship (approximately $13,000 per year x 4 years)
Top under 13: netbook computer
Top under 10: netbook computer

The scholarship must be exercised no later than the Fall of 2015.

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 Nationwide Open 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).

For information and rates to stay and/or dine and other logistics on Webster’s campus, please send an email to michellenelson30@webster.edu

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

Michelle at Webster University michellenelson30@webster.edu 314-968-7468

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!

Susan Polgar Nationwide Open for Boys and Girls

THE SUSAN POLGAR FOUNDATION’S NATIONWIDE OPEN FOR GIRLS & BOYS (K-12)
A Fantastic Tournament in a Great Location!

http://www.cajunchess.com/tourns/tournament20.shtml

June 1 – 3, 2012
(Friday – Sunday *** SAVE THE DATES!!)

Holiday Inn Downtown Superdome
330 Loyola Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70112

The Holiday Inn Downtown-Superdome is located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, just 3 blocks from the French Quarter. Hotel features include: free shuttle, restaurant, pool, and more!

UP TO $100,000 IN PRIZES – SCHOLARSHIPS TO TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

MAIN EVENT: Team & Individual - 6-Round Swiss System

SIDE EVENTS: Bughouse – Blitz – Puzzle Solving – Polgar Simul – Aquatic Simul

$99 Hotel Room Rate

* Top 3 player scores count toward team result

* School or club team trophies awarded in each section

* Special Camp with Susan Polgar

* Breakfast With Susan Polgar (Q & A Session)

Team & Individual Competition

---

• Open Championship Details (for Main Event and Side Events)
  
  
• Secure On-line Registration/Entry for Open Championship (6SS, G/45)
  
  
• Secure On-line Registration/Entry for GM Susan Polgar Chess Camp
  
  
• Secure On-line Registration/Entry for Chess Puzzle Solving Championship
  
  
• Secure On-line Registration/Entry for Bughouse Championship
  
  
• Secure On-line Registration/Entry for Blitz Championship (7SS, G/5)
  
  
• Secure On-line Registration/Entry for ADULT Breakfast at Brennan's with GM Susan Polgar
  
  
• Secure On-line Registration/Entry for CHILD Breakfast at Brennan's with GM Susan Polgar

If you will be in New Orleans long enough to experience some of the wonderful culture that the city has to offer, may we suggest some of the following tours:

Louisiana Swamp Tour: Weave through the back bayous of the Honey Island Swamp on a small 20- passenger boat and visit an authentic Cajun Village accessible only by boat . . . and then pass through the alligator area where the gators come right alongside the boat for feeding time!

Steamboat Natchez Cruise: Cruise the Mississippi River on a paddlewheeler from the port of New Orleans to the Audubon Zoo and see the city skyline from the best view possible . . . the River View!

Oak Alley or Laura Plantation Tour: Go back to the glory of the old South as you walk through one of these plantation homes, rich in Creole Louisiana's storied past!

Other tours you may enjoy: French Quarter Walking Tour, Garden District Walking Tour, Cemetery Walking Tour (visit St. Louis Cemetery #1 and see the gravesites of Paul Morphy - World Chess Champion in the mid-1850s - and Marie Laveau (the infamous Voo-Doo Queen of New Orleans); visit Mardi Gras World (where Mardi Gras floats are built and Carnival comes alive!).

Other Interesting Places to Visit and Things to Do Around Town:

Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Audubon Insectarium, national World War II Museum, Louisiana Children's Museum, Audubon Park & Zoo, take a ferry boat ride across the Mississippi River, and take a street car ride up St. Charles Avenue in the Garden District to see all of the mansions along the Avenue.

A MUST FOR EVERY TOURIST:

Take a walk down to Decatur St. by the River in the French Quarter and see Jackson Square, St. Louis Cathedral, the French Quarter, and be absolutely sure that you get a chance to have some Cafe au Lait (Cafe O-lay) and Beignets (ben-yeh's) - also known as Coffee & Doughnuts - at the famous Cafe du Monde across from Jackson Square! This will be an experience you will not soon forget! If you have time you can also take a Horse & Carriage ride through the streets of New Orleans with a driver who is an experienced tour guide.

But, whatever you do in New Orleans, make sure you HAVE FUN ! ! ! !

http://www.cajunchess.com/tourns/tournament20.shtml

Teach them Math, Science, and Chess

Maybe Teach Them Math, Science and Chess
By JAMES WARREN
New York Times
Published: October 15, 2011

The 120 elementary school children sat so quietly and intently that you might have assumed this was a mass detention period.

But it was chess, not confinement, in an Oak Brook hotel ballroom on Columbus Day. And the lessons learned might assist school leaders everywhere, including those attempting a systemwide resuscitation for Rahm Emanuel, Chicago’s very disciplined, if impatient, mayor.

“My dream is to get in front of education decision makers and convince them to make chess part of the curriculum for K through second grade,” said Susan Polgar, the star of the show. “That’s when thinking patterns and habits are formed. It should be mandatory, like physical education.”

Ms. Polgar, 42, was a Hungarian chess prodigy taught by her psychologist father after she stumbled on chess pieces in a closet at home. At age 4, she stunned Budapest by winning the 11-and-under category in the city championships, sitting on phone books and pillows to reach across the board.

She was the first woman to become a grandmaster and the first to qualify, in 1996, for what was still known as the Men’s World Championship. She was one of the three highest-ranked female players for more than two decades, traveling the world and winding up fluent in seven languages.

I’d made my way to the Susan Polgar Foundation’s World Open Championship for Boys and Girls with an ulterior motive: to explore why boys dominate every class or tournament to which chess-ignorant me has taken my 7-year-old son.

“It’s interesting,” said Ms. Polgar. “Socially, I think, they’re not supported enough, so in general girls drop out of chess by fourth and fifth grades,” she said as 5-to-9-year-olds competed nearby.

When she was a girl, “it was very much ingrained that women were not able to play,” Ms. Polgar said. “A lot of experts and elite players believed that we were not physically able to do it, our brain was not big enough or that we couldn’t keep quiet long enough.”

She became an advocate for girls, especially through the Susan Polgar Foundation, which she founded while living in New York. She’s now in Lubbock, Tex., with her husband and their two children, where she runs the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence at Texas Tech University.

The foundation supports chess for boys and girls, but especially girls, and sponsors events nationwide. The institute lures young players, with the university offering scholarships and excelling in college tournaments.

Ms. Polgar’s mantra is that chess teaches discipline, analytical thinking, time management, focus and patience — skills that can be useful throughout life. She cites countries, like Armenia, where chess is either a mandatory part of school curriculums, especially in the early elementary years, or strongly encouraged.

It cuts across socioeconomic divides, exemplified by impressive performances of high-poverty students in Brownsville, Tex., who have whipped privileged Manhattan rivals — “kids who get individual lessons from grandmasters,” she said — and shown how “a boost in self-confidence can change lives.”

Indeed, there is no shortage of hedge fund managers and corporate leaders who are chess players, some of whom link the habits of mind learned at chess with their success. As we fret about China’s economic success, we might note that it’s a growing chess force, including four female world champions in 20 years.

Last week’s tournament in Oak Brook brought children from all over the country; perhaps 70 percent were boys. Many of the children were Asian-Americans, including Ashley Ceohas, 6, of Wilmette, the child of a Chinese-American mother who smilingly swore to me that she was “not a Tiger mom!” as her daughter segued from a chess match to drawing a crowd as she played a nearby piano beautifully.

“She’s aware of there being more boy players,” said her mother, Yijia Ceohas. “But we tell her anything boys can do, girls can do better. And she knows that Susan Polgar’s dad said geniuses are not born but made through hard work.”

My investigation into the gender divide led me to Shiva Maharaj, a private investor who teaches the game throughout the Chicago area, including a free Saturday morning session that my son has attended at the Edgebrook Library on the Northwest Side.

Mr. Maharaj had students competing in Oak Brook and cited an American Girl mentality of parents, referring to the store that sells high-priced dolls and accessories. He sees the parents succumbing to cultural stereotypes of daughters being pretty rather than intellectually empowered.

I’ve watched him teach diverse groups of children, mostly boys, and effectively insist they sit up straight, concentrate, take time to assess problems critically and learn to deal with losing. He offers seemingly creative solutions to challenges faced on the board.

On the heels of the impressive inaugural Chicago Ideas Week, here’s a free idea for its energetic, ambitious promoters: a panel next year on “American Education: Should We Make a Move to Chess?”

Source: http://www.nytimes.com