Chessdom SPICE Cup wrap up

SPICE Cup 2010

GM Alexander Onischuk takes the trophy in the main A-group

The 2010 SPICE Cup was held from October 28th to November 7th at the beautiful campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock. This was the highest rated international invitational tournament in U.S. history to date.

The format of the A group was a six-player double round robin (category 16) event. The average FIDE rating of the A group was 2631, which is equal with the 2009 SPICE Cup A. The B group was a 10-player (category 10) round robin event, and SPICE Cup FIDE Rated Open was played over 6-round Swiss on 5-7th November.

To make the tournament a lot more exciting, the SPICE Cup committee has unanimously voted to adapt the following new rules for the A group:- No draw offer allowed prior to move 30- A win = 3 points, a draw = 1 point, and loss = 0 point.

The main event saw an interesting chase between the former US Champion Alexander Onischuk and German talent Georg Meier. Meier enjoyed a one point advantage prior to the final act, but he couldn't make more than a draw in the last round, while a crucial victory against the future star Ray Robson propelled Onischuk to the clear first place in the 2010 SPICE Cup GMA.

Final standings:

1. Alexander Onischuk - 18 points
2. Georg Meier - 17
3-4. Wesley So and Zoltan Almasi - 14
5-6. Ray Robson and Eugene Perelshtein - 7

GM Anatoly Bykhovsky and IM Gergely Antal shared the first place in SPICE Cup GMB with 6.0 points each. This tournament was a 10-player round robin.

GM Georgi Kacheishvili (Georgia) won the 2010 SPICE Cup FIDE Open with the score of 5.5 / 6.

More information on the official website. Over 1.100 photos from the SPICE Cup 2010 are available from this list.

Susan Polgar kindly provided the event summary for Chessdom

I am very happy with the fighting spirit at this year's SPICE Cup. With the 3 point for a win scoring system and no draw offer allowed before move 30 in the A group, the intensity on all three boards was very high as anything could still happen in the final round. The outcome was only decided in the final game of the tournament. I am proud to be able to provide excellent playing opportunities for many players. The SPICE Cup will get stronger and better each year. The A group next year will be at least category 17.

Texas Tech University and the Susan Polgar Foundation are proud to support this important annual event. I believe that it is essential to build a solid chess culture in America. Since November 2007, the SPICE Cup has established itself as one of the most important and prestigious round robin annual events in U.S. history. I am confident that this will inspire more top level round robin events in the U.S. in the future.

The Texas Tech Knight Raiders also have the biggest success to date in the SPICE Cup, with GM Anatoly Bykhovsky (1st year student at Texas Tech) and GM-elect Gergely Antal (just graduated from Texas Tech) winning the B group. I am a strong advocate for chess and education. I realize that it is not easy for everyone to establish strong security as professional players. It is also not easy to receive proper chess training to maximize one’s chess ability and potential.

This is why I jumped at the opportunity of establishing SPICE (Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence) at a major university like Texas Tech in 2007. Because of SPICE, we are able to offer players a fantastic college education while getting the chance to improve their chess with serious coaching. Last year, members of the Texas Tech University Knight Raiders chess team gained on an average 90 rating points per player while maintaining a 3.28 / 4 grade point average.

Last but not least, I would like to thank all our sponsors and supporters for making the SPICE Cup a success.

SPICE Cup LIVE games

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Top Chess Players Travel to Lubbock for SPICE Cup 2010

October 27, 2010
Top Chess Players Travel to Lubbock for SPICE Cup 2010
Players include youngest American ever to earn Grandmaster title, at age 14.
Written by Karin Slyker

Ray Robson, who celebrated his 16^th birthday this week, is among the top Chess competitors scheduled to compete in the SPICE Cup International Invitational Tournament. The event, now in its fourth year, will be held at Texas Tech University.

The 2010 SPICE Cup Festival will take place from Oct. 28-Nov. 7 in the Matador Room of the Student Union Building.

Lubbock Mayor Tom Martin will join SPICE director Susan Polgar for the kickoff to the event. He will also declare Oct. 28 as “Susan Polgar Day” in Lubbock. Round-robin game play will begin immediately after the reception.

Players will be broken into two groups. The six-player A Group will meet in a category 16 event – the highest rated international invitational Chess tournament in U.S. history.

• Grandmaster Zoltan Almasi, Hungary, 2707
  No. 1 ranked Hungarian on the live rating list, 2010 Olympiad Silver Medalist
• Grandmaster Alexander Onischuk, United States, 2688
  Former U.S. Champion and No. 1 ranked American, Olympiad Medalist
• Grandmaster Wesley So, Philippines, 2668
  No. 1 ranked Filipino, member of the 2008-2010 Filipino Olympiad team
• Grandmaster Georg Meier, Germany, 2659
  No. 2 ranked German, member of the 2008 German Olympiad team
• Grandmaster Ray Robson, United States, 2539
  Former U.S. Junior Champion, youngest ever American Grandmaster
• Grandmaster Eugene Perelshteyn, United States, 2528
  2007 SPICE Cup Champion, 2009 SPICE Cup B Group Co-Champion, winner of multiple National Collegiate Team Championships

Ten players form the B Group tournament, a Category 10 event comprised of mostly grandmasters or international masters:

• Grandmaster Davorin Kuljasevic, Croatia, 2555
  Texas Tech business major graduate student, 2-time winner of the National Collegiate Team Championship, member of the Texas Tech Knight Raiders, first Texas Tech Grandmaster
• Grandmaster Ben Finegold, United States, 2534
  2-time U.S. Open Champion, 2-time National Open Champion, 2009 SPICE Cup B co-champion, former winner of the prestigious Samford fellowship
• Grandmaster Gergely Antal, Hungary, 2526
  Texas Tech Economics Major Graduate, 2009 National Collegiate Chess Champion, member of the Knight Raiders, second Texas Tech Grandmaster
• Grandmaster Andre Diamant, Brazil, 2498
  Top rated Brazilian Junior, former Brazilian National Champion, member of the 2008 & 2010 Brazilian Chess Olympiad team, member of the Knight Raiders
• Grandmaster Anatoly Bykhovsky, Israel, 2497
  One of the top young players in Israel, member of the Knight Raiders
• International Master Irina Krush, United States, 2490
  Reigning and multiple time U.S. Women’s Champion, multiple time Olympiad medalist
• International Master Bryan Smith, United States, 2478
  Highest rated player ever from Alaska, winner of multiple National Collegiate Team Championships
• International Master Dean Ippolito, United States, 2469
  Prominent chess coach, former winner of the prestigious Samford fellowship, 11-time All-American
• International Master Danny Rensch, United States, 2404
  Prominent chess coach, former National Elementary, Junior High, and High School Champion, 6-time All-American
• FIDE Master Darwin Yang, United States, 2402
  Currently one of the top rated American juniors, earned first IM norm at the 2010 SPICE Spring Invitational

The Festival will also include a World Chess Federation (FIDE) Rated Open, a Scholastic event and an Open competition. Spectators are welcome, daily admission is free.

Live updates will be available at http://www.chessdailynews.com/.

http://today.ttu.edu/2010/10/top-chess-players-travel-to-lubbock-for-spice-cup-2010/

SPICE Cup round 1

SPICE Cup Pairings

B Group

Thursday, October 28 2pm Round 1
Krush (US women's champion) - Smith
Diamant - Finegold
Kuljasevic - Bykhovsky
Yang - Antal
Rensch - Ippolito

A Group

Thursday, October 28 2pm- Round 1
Robson - Meier
Almasi - Perelshteyn
So - Onischuk

Meier, Almasi, Antal and So are already in Lubbock. The rest of the players will arrive later on today while Finegold will arrive early tomorrow since he has an event in St. Louis today.

TX Governor Rick Perry welcomes SPICE players

Greetings:

As Governor of Texas, I welcome everyone to the 4th Annual Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE) Cup. We are privileged to have world-class chess champion Susan Polgar and this prestigious event here at Texas Tech University.

Chess requires discipline, strong analytical ability and strategy. These three skills are applicable to many areas of life and show strong intellectual capabilities useful in many disciplines. It is also an international game that allows people from all over the world to come together in a spirit of friendly competition.

First Lady Anita Perry joins me in wishing you a rigorous, competitive and fun tournament.

Sincerely,
Rick Perry
Governor

2010 SPICE Cup Chess Festival

SPICE Cup FIDE Rated Open
November 5-7, 2010

Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
806-742-7742

6SS, G/90 with 30 second increment.
FIDE/USCF rated
One Section $2,000 based on 40 paid entries: $1000-$500-250-150-100
Open to all FIDE rated players and USCF 1600 and higher

Limit to the first 50 registrants!

Reg: 9-10:30am 11/5.
Rounds: 11/5 11am and 4pm
11/6 10 am and 3 pm
11/7 9 am and 2 pm
No byes in the final 2 rounds.

Entry Fees: US players with FIDE rating $50 / without FIDE rating $75 if rec'd by November 2. $25 more on site.
Titled players and foreign FIDE rated players free, $50 deducted from prize.

Check payable to:
Texas Tech SPICE
6923 Indiana Avenue (Suite 154)
Lubbock, TX 79413

Players in the SPICE Cup FIDE Rated Open will have a chance to play alongside with the players in the SPICE Cup Invitational A and B Group in the final 3 days!

There is also an open tournament for everyone, including players under 1600, schedule for the weekend before.

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SPICE Cup Open Chess Championship
Saturday, October 30, 2010
A 4 Round Swiss System Tournament (Game/45)

Event Site: TTU (Student Union Building) Lubbock, TX
Contact Info: 806-742-7742 E-mail: Spice@ttu.edu

Description of Tournament: A USCF rated event. Open to all USCF members. You may join online or on site on 10/30 before the start of the event.
Registration: On-site registration and check in 9-10am. All players must check in by 10:15am.
Round schedule: Saturday 10:30am- 12:15pm - 1:30pm and 3:15pm.
Entry Fee: $25 received by 10/25. $35 on site. K-12 or TTU students $10 off.
Prizes: $150-$100-$50 Top Under 1600 $50 Top U-1200 $50 based on 24 paid entries.

Other: Chess sets and boards will be provided. Bring your own clock if you have one.

Please send Entry Blank and Fees to TTU-SPICE at Box 45080 Lubbock, TX 79409-5080.

Entry Form: Please PRINT all information and make check / money order to TTU-SPICE.

Name: ______________________________Phone: (_____) ___________ SPICE Cup Open 2010
Address: _____________________________ City/State:______________ Zip:_____________
Email:________________________________ DOB: ____________Section________________
USCF Rating (if any) _______USCF ID#:______________ Amount Enclosed (No cash, please) $____

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SPICE Cup Invitational A & B Group

The 2010 SPICE Cup will take place on Thursday, October 28 - Sunday, November 7 (B group ends on November 5) at the beautiful campus of Texas Tech University. This prestigious event is growing bigger every year. It is the highest rated international invitational tournament in U.S. history to date.

To make the tournament a lot more exciting, the SPICE Cup committee has unanimously voted to adapt the following new rules for the A group:

- No draw offer allowed prior to move 30
- A win = 3 points, a draw = 1 point, and loss = 0 point

The format of the A group will once again be a 6-player DRR (category 16) event. The average FIDE rating of the A group is 2631, which is tied with the 2009 SPICE Cup A group.

GM Zoltan Almasi (HUN) 2707 (#1 in Hungary on the current LIVE rating list)
GM Alexander Onischuk (USA) 2688 (#3 in the U.S., former U.S. #1 and Champion)
GM Wesley So (Philippines) 2668 (#1 in the Philippines)
GM Georg Meier (Germany) 2659 (#2 in Germany)
GM Ray Robson (USA) 2539 (Youngest American GM)
GM Eugene Perelshteyn (USA) 2528 (winner of 2007 SPICE Cup)

The B group will be a 10-player (category 10 - 2486 / 22375) RR event. The players confirmed for the B group are:

GM Davorin Kuljasevic (2555 - Croatia) Texas Tech Knight Raiders
GM Ben Finegold (2534 - USA) 2009 SPICE Cup B group co-champion
IM Gegerly Antal (2526 - HUN) Texas Tech Knight Raiders
GM Andre Diamant (2498 - Brazil) Texas Tech Knight Raiders
GM Anatoly Bykhovsky (2497 - Israel) Texas Tech Knight Raiders
IM Irina Krush (2490 - USA) 2010 U.S. Women's Champion
IM Dean Ippolito (2469 - USA) Famous chess coach
IM Danny Rensch (2404 - USA) Famous chess coach
FM Darwin Yang (2402 - USA) One of the most talented young players in the U.S.

GM norm will be 6/9 and IM norm will be 4/9.

2010 SPICE Cup FIDE Rated Open

SPICE Cup FIDE Rated Open
November 5-7

Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX
806-742-7742 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 806-742-7742 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

6SS, G/90 with 30 second increment.
FIDE/USCF rated
One Section $2,000 based on 40 paid entries: $1000-$500-250-150-100
Open to all FIDE rated players and USCF 1600 and higher

Limit to the first 50 registrants!

Reg: 9-10:30am 11/5.
Rounds: 11/5 11am and 4pm
11/6 10 am and 3 pm
11/7 9 am and 2 pm
No byes in the final 2 rounds.

Entry Fees: US players with FIDE rating $50 / without FIDE rating $75 if rec'd by November 2. $25 more on site.
Titled players and foreign FIDE rated players free, $50 deducted from prize.

Check payable to:
Texas Tech SPICE
6923 Indiana Avenue (Suite 154)
Lubbock, TX 79413

Players in the SPICE Cup FIDE Rated Open will have a chance to play alongside with the players in the SPICE Cup Invitational A and B Group in the final 3 days!

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SPICE Cup Invitational A & B Group

The 2010 SPICE Cup will take place on Thursday, October 28 - Sunday, November 7 at the beautiful campus of Texas Tech University. This prestigious event is growing bigger every year. It is expected to be the highest rated international invitational tournament in U.S. history to date.

To make the tournament a lot more exciting, the SPICE Cup committee has unanimously voted to adapt the following new rules for the A group:

- No draw offer allowed prior to move 30
- A win = 3 points, a draw = 1 point, and loss = 0 point

Confirmed players:

GM Zoltan Almasi (HUN) 2717 (#2 in Hungary)
GM Alexander Onischuk (USA) 2701 (#3 in the U.S., former U.S. Champion)
GM Wesley So (Philippines) 2674 (#1 in the Philippines)
GM Georg Meier (Germany) 2648 (#2 in Germany)
GM Ray Robson (USA) 2562 (Youngest American GM in history)
GM Eugene Perelshteyn (USA) 2523 (winner of 2007 SPICE Cup)

The format of the A group will once again be a 6-player DRR (category 16) event. The average FIDE rating of the A group is 2637.5.

More than 30 GMs inquired about an invitation for the final spot in the A group. I wish I have enough space to invite everyone. Unfortunately, it is not possible. But I am working on getting more sponsors to expand the event in future years.

The B group will be a 10-player (category 10-11) RR event. The players confirmed for B group so far is GM Kuljasevic (2551), GM Finegold (2530), U.S. Women's Champion IM Krush (2476), IM Ippolito (2458), IM Rensch (2404), FM Yang (2396), and 4 more have been tentatively confirmed.

SPICE Cup A & B

A Group – Category 16 (6-player DRR) – Average rating: 2630.17 – Average age: 20

GM Dmitry Andreikin 2659 - Russia (#6 junior under 20 in the world - Russian Junior Champion) 19

GM Wesley So 2644 - Philippines (#7 junior under 20 in the world - #1 in the Philippines - member of the 2008 Filipino Olympiad team.) 16
GM Varuzhan Akobian 2636 - USA (#6 in the U.S. - 2008 SPICE Cup Co-Champion - 2-time Olympiad Bronze Medalist) 26
GM Yuriy Kuzubov 2631 - Ukraine (#8 junior under 20 in the world - #12 in Ukraine) 19

GM Rauf Mamedov 2626 - Azerbaijan (#5 player in Azerbaijan - member of the 2008 Azerbaijani Olympiad team) 21
GM Jon Ludvig Hammer 2585 - Norway (#2 in Norway behind Magnus Carlsen - member of the 2008 Norwegian Olympiad team) 19

This event will break the U.S. record by a big margin. Last year's SPICE Cup was a category 15 event with average rating of 2605.5. This year's average rating will be over 2630!

B Group – Category 11 (10-player RR): 2507

IM Gabor Papp 2562 - HUN (GM norm - Texas Tech Student in 8/2009)
IM Davorin Kuljasevic 2547 - CRO (2 GM norms - Texas Tech Student in 8/2009)
GM Eugene Perelshteyn 2541 - USA (2007 SPICE Cup Champion)

IM Ray Robson 2527 - USA (1 GM norm - Winner of the 2009-2010 Samford Fellowship)

GM Andre Diamant 2526 - Brazil (2008 Brazilian Champion)
IM Ben Finegold 2513 - USA (2 GM norms)
IM Gergely Antal 2487 - HUN (2 GM norms - Texas Tech Student)

GM Amon Simutowe 2473 - ZAM (#1 player in Zambia, first African GM, board 1 of Zambian Olympiad team)

FM Danny Rensch 2386 - USA (2 IM norms)

All ratings listed are FIDE ratings.

The last spot in B group has been tentatively finalized (pending visa).

SPICE Cup Open and SPICE Cup Scholastic Open are once again two of the events which are a part of the SPICE Cup Chess Festival.

Just as last year, the SPICE Cup will be held on campus at Texas Tech University and is co-organized by SPICE, Susan Polgar Foundation, and Texas Tech University.