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.

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

Big National Chess Day Celebration on October 8th!

Big National Chess Day Celebration on October 8th! There will be many additional surprise events during the tournament!

The 2011 SP World Open for Boys and Girls has moved from Las Vegas (in June 2011) to Chicago (in October 2011) per the request of many parents and coaches. I expect this event will be bigger and better than ever! I would like to thank the organizer of the LV Chess Festival for hosting this event in previous years. The North American Chess Association will be the new host this year.

Susan Polgar World Open for Boys and Girls 2011
October 7 – 10, 2011
Doubletree Hotel – Oakbrook, IL

Over $100,000 in Chess Prizes and Scholarships

Register Online Now

7R Swiss System; 8 sections: (K-3), (4-5), (6-8), (9-12)

Time Controls:	(K-3) G/30 + 5/sec delay (4-5) G/45 + 5/sec delay (6-8) G/45 + 5/sec delay (9-12) G/60 + 5/sec delay
Round Times:	(K-3) Sat/Sun 11am, 1pm, 3pm; Mon 10am (4-5) Sat/Sun 11am, 1:30pm, 4pm; Mon 10am (6-8) Sat/Sun 11am, 1:30pm, 4pm; Mon 10am (9-12) Sat/Sun 11am, 2pm, 5pm; Mon 10am
Side Events:	Bughouse – Friday 7:30pm Puzzle Solving – Saturday 7:30pm Blitz – Sunday 7:30pm

Ongoing Side Event: Walk-in simul presented by the Chicago Blaze US Chess League team. Done with your game or waiting for your child to finish? Take on a member of the Chicago Blaze between the hours of 12pm and 6pm!

Additional side events to be listed closer to event date. Please check the tournament website for more details.

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.

Cajun Chess will be equipment vendor onsite.

All 4th – 12th grade participants who are not a current member of the US Chess Federation will receive a 1-year free membership (no magazine option) included with their tournament entry fee.

All (K-12) participants will receive a free 1-year membership to ChessKid.com (a $49.95 value!)

Prizes
(Boys and Girls – All sections)

All 4th – 12th grade participants who are not a current member of the US Chess Federation will receive a 1-year free membership (no magazine option) included with their tournament entry fee.

All (K-12) participants will receive a free 1-year membership to ChessKid.com (a $49.95 value!)

1st place: Netbook Computer
2nd place: $250 in Chess Prizes
3rd place: $175 in Chess Prizes
4th place: $100 in Chess Prizes

1st place in 9-12 to receive scholarship to Texas Tech University!

Trophies to top 15 individuals
Trophies to top 4 school teams*
Trophies to top 4 club teams*

Certificate of Participation for all players

Tournament Fees

$45 post-marked by 8/27/2011
$50 post-marked by 9/10/2011
$55 post-marked by 9/24/2011
$60 thereafter and onsite

Side events are each $15 mailed in with entry or $20 on-site

Register Online Now

Payments to be mailed to (payable):

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

Questions: sevan@nachess.org
or call 847.423.8626
Mention Polgar Tournament in your message

* Top 4 player scores count toward school team prizes; school team trophies awarded in each section; Top 4 player scores count towards club team prizes; club team trophies awarded overall (not based on sections).

Doubletree Hotel – 1909 Spring Road – Oakbrook, IL 60523 – 630.472.6000 $79 room rate; must call hotel directly and ask for North American Chess rate.

2011 SP World Open for Girls and Boys

The 2011 SP World Open for Boys and Girls has moved from Las Vegas (in June 2011) to Chicago (in October 2011) per the request of many parents and coaches. I expect this event will be bigger and better than ever! I would like to thank the organizer of the LV Chess Festival for hosting this event in previous years. The North American Chess Association will be the new host this year.

Susan Polgar World Open for Boys and Girls 2011
October 7 – 10, 2011
Doubletree Hotel – Oakbrook, IL

Over $100,000 in Chess Prizes and Scholarships

Register Online Now

7R Swiss System; 8 sections: (K-3), (4-5), (6-8), (9-12)

Time Controls:	(K-3) G/30 + 5/sec delay (4-5) G/45 + 5/sec delay (6-8) G/45 + 5/sec delay (9-12) G/60 + 5/sec delay
Round Times:	(K-3) Sat/Sun 11am, 1pm, 3pm; Mon 10am (4-5) Sat/Sun 11am, 1:30pm, 4pm; Mon 10am (6-8) Sat/Sun 11am, 1:30pm, 4pm; Mon 10am (9-12) Sat/Sun 11am, 2pm, 5pm; Mon 10am
Side Events:	Bughouse – Friday 7:30pm Puzzle Solving – Saturday 7:30pm Blitz – Sunday 7:30pm

Ongoing Side Event: Walk-in simul presented by the Chicago Blaze US Chess League team. Done with your game or waiting for your child to finish? Take on a member of the Chicago Blaze between the hours of 12pm and 6pm!

Additional side events to be listed closer to event date. Please check the tournament website for more details.

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.

Cajun Chess will be equipment vendor onsite.

All 4th – 12th grade participants who are not a current member of the US Chess Federation will receive a 1-year free membership (no magazine option) included with their tournament entry fee.

All (K-12) participants will receive a free 1-year membership to ChessKid.com (a $49.95 value!)

Prizes
(Boys and Girls – All sections)

All 4th – 12th grade participants who are not a current member of the US Chess Federation will receive a 1-year free membership (no magazine option) included with their tournament entry fee.

All (K-12) participants will receive a free 1-year membership to ChessKid.com (a $49.95 value!)

1st place: Netbook Computer
2nd place: $250 in Chess Prizes
3rd place: $175 in Chess Prizes
4th place: $100 in Chess Prizes

1st place in 9-12 to receive scholarship to Texas Tech University!

Trophies to top 15 individuals
Trophies to top 4 school teams*
Trophies to top 4 club teams*

Certificate of Participation for all players

Tournament Fees

$45 post-marked by 8/27/2011
$50 post-marked by 9/10/2011
$55 post-marked by 9/24/2011
$60 thereafter and onsite

Side events are each $15 mailed in with entry or $20 on-site

Register Online Now

Payments to be mailed to (payable):

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

Questions: sevan@nachess.org
or call 847.423.8626
Mention Polgar Tournament in your message

* Top 4 player scores count toward school team prizes; school team trophies awarded in each section; Top 4 player scores count towards club team prizes; club team trophies awarded overall (not based on sections).

Doubletree Hotel – 1909 Spring Road – Oakbrook, IL 60523 – 630.472.6000 $79 room rate; must call hotel directly and ask for North American Chess rate.

The annual SPWO will be in Chicago in 2011

Artwork by Mike Magnan

The annual Susan Polgar World Open for Boys and Girls were held in Las Vegas for the past 5 years. Even though the event was very successful, many parents and coaches have asked to have it modified to make it even bigger and better.

Because it was held alongside with the National Open, the dates could not be changed. Many parents said that a number of schools are still not out in early June and quite a few students have finals around that time. They also requested to have the tournament in another more centrally located destination instead of Las Vegas.

Therefore, after consulting with the Polgar Committee, we have decided to move the 6th annual Susan Polgar World Open for Boys and Girls to beautiful Chicago in October during the Columbus Day weekend. This would be much more convenient to all players, including many in the East Coast.

There will be more prizes and scholarships than ever. A new website with all the details will be up shortly.

Over $150,000 in chess scholarships and prizes awarded

Anu Bayar (Mongolia), and Maria Roselle Vicencio (Philippines) - Winners of the Texas Tech Scholarships (each scholarship has a value of approximately $36,000 for out of state students).

Anu Bayar (Mongolia), Christina Kao (CA), Maggie Fang (OH), Gia Peterson (CA), Randel Eng (AZ), Tom Polgar (TX), Winston Zeng (CA), Anthony Zhou (CA) each won an awesome netbook computer with over $600 in chess software and DVD installed!

Since 2004, the Susan Polgar Foundation has awarded approximately $1.5 million in chess scholarships and prizes to young chess players, thanks to our many sponsors and supporters!

Full results in each section can be seen here: http://www.vegaschessfestival.com/results/2010

Many pictures will be posted right here within the next week. Please check back and please feel free to download any picture you wish.

2010 SP World Open for Girls and Boys

The winner(s) of each of the girl's section will qualify for the 2010 Susan Polgar Girl's Invitational which will take place at Texas Tech University on July 25-30, 2010!

June 10 to 13, 2010	- South Point · Hotel · Casino · Spa
LAS VEGAS INTERNATIONAL CHESS FESTIVAL

Susan Polgar World Championship for Girls and Boys

Enter Now!

Summary

Championship

Side Events

Chess Camp

Breakfast with Susan

Please join us for many spectacular events and lots of fun:

• The Susan Polgar World Chess Championship for Girls June 12-13
  The Susan Polgar World Chess Championship for Boys June 12-13
  • Scholarships to Texas Tech will be awarded based in part on performance in these events.
• The Susan Polgar International Chess Camp (for all ages) June 10
• The Susan Polgar World Championship Puzzle Solving Contest for Girls and Boys June 11
• Free lecture by Susan Polgar for all players, as well as accompanying parents and coaches June 11
• A Tandem Simul by Susan Polgar against up to 70 players June 11
• The Susan Polgar World Blitz Chess Championship for Girls and Boys June 12
• Breakfast with Susan June 13

In compliance with the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act all non-gaming areas of the South Point Hotel, including the Convention Center and restaurants, are NON-SMOKING.

5 Round		USCF Rated Swiss System Tournament
Time Control		Game/45 minutes · 5 second time delay will be used with no subtraction
8 Sections		Girls Under 19 · Boys Under 19 · Born after June 11th, 1991 Girls Under 14 · Boys Under 14 · Born after June 11th, 1996 Girls Under 11 · Boys Under 11 · Born after June 11th, 1999 Girls Under 8 · Boys Under 8 · Born after June 11th, 2002
Trophies		Top 10 individuals in each section Top 3 (3-player) school/club teams each section Special Medals to 11th-20th Individuals and 4th-6th Teams
Prizes		1st in each section A netbook computer loaded with chess programs. 2nd - 5th $200-$150-$100-$50 in chess prizes
Scholarships		to Texas Tech will be awarded based in part on performance in this event.
Entry Fee		$59 by 5/19, $69 by 6/9, $80 on site.
Registration		Friday 4-8 p.m. & Saturday 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Rounds		Saturday 11 a.m, 1:30 p.m & 4 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m & 1:30 p.m. Opening Ceremony Saturday 10 a.m. Awards Ceremony Sunday 4:30 p.m.
Ratings		The June USCF Rating Supplement will be used.
Membership		in the U.S. Chess Federation is required of all players. You may join with your entry or on site. Players will not be allowed to complete the tournament without a valid membership.

Over $150K in chess scholarships

June 4 to 7, 2009	South Point · Hotel · Spa
LAS VEGAS INTERNATIONAL CHESS FESTIVAL

The Chess Event of the Year

Susan Polgar World Open for Girls and Boys Championship

June 6-7, 2009

Enter Now! Championship Side Events Chess Camp Breakfast with Susan

The Polgar Committee will award automatic qualifying spots to the winners in each section of the 2009 annual Susan Polgar World Open Championship for Girls!

Over $150,000 in college scholarships and chess prizes!

5 Round		USCF Rated Swiss System Tournament
Time Control		Game/45 minutes
8 Sections		Girls Under 19 · Boys Under 19 · Born after June 6th, 1990 Girls Under 14 · Boys Under 14 · Born after June 6th, 1995 Girls Under 11 · Boys Under 11 · Born after June 6th, 1998 Girls Under 8 · Boys Under 8 · Born after June 6th, 2001
Trophies		Top 10 individuals in each section Top 3 (3-player) school/club teams each section Special Medals to 11th-20th Individuals and 4th-6th Teams
Prizes		1st in each section MonRoi Personal Chess Manager 2nd - 5th $200-$150-$100-$50 in chess prizes
Scholarships		to Texas Tech will be awarded based in part on performance in this event.
Entry Fee		$45 by 1/29, $55 by 5/19, $65 by 6/3, $75 on site.
Registration		Friday 4-8 p.m. & Saturday 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Rounds		Saturday 11 a.m, 1:30 p.m & 4 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m & 12:30 p.m. Opening Ceremony Saturday 10 a.m. Awards Ceremony Sunday 3:30 p.m.
Membership		in the U.S. Chess Federation is required of all players. You may join with your entry or on site. Players will not be allowed to complete the tournament without a valid membership.

In compliance with the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act all non-gaming areas of the South Point Hotel, including the Convention Center and restaurants, are NON-SMOKING.

South Point Hotel and Spa:

- Some of our many amenities include a 16-screen Century Theatre movie complex, 64-lane bowling center and a handful of restaurants that cater to all appetites and tastes.

- Our distinctive hotel features spacious rooms and suites with 42-inch plasma televisions, Point Plush mattresses and Wireless Fidelity throughout.

- A unique feature to this property is its Equestrian Center, which is the finest horse facility in the country.

- Recently, we have added a fabulous 400-seat showroom that features headliner entertainment and dancing to live bands on weekends.

Over $150K in scholarships and chess prizes

June 4 to 7, 2009	South Point · Hotel · Casino · Spa
LAS VEGAS INTERNATIONAL CHESS FESTIVAL

Susan Polgar World Open for Girls and Boys
Championship · June 6-7, 2009

Enter Now! Championship Side Events Chess Camp Breakfast with Susan

Over $150,000 in college scholarships and chess prizes!

The Polgar Committee will award automatic qualifying spots to the winners in each section of the 2009 annual Susan Polgar World Open Championship for Girls!

5 Round		USCF Rated Swiss System Tournament
Time Control		Game/45 minutes
8 Sections		Girls Under 19 · Boys Under 19 · Born after June 6th, 1990 Girls Under 14 · Boys Under 14 · Born after June 6th, 1995 Girls Under 11 · Boys Under 11 · Born after June 6th, 1998 Girls Under 8 · Boys Under 8 · Born after June 6th, 2001
Trophies		Top 10 individuals in each section Top 3 (3-player) school/club teams each section Special Medals to 11th-20th Individuals and 4th-6th Teams
Prizes		1st in each section MonRoi Personal Chess Manager 2nd - 5th $200-$150-$100-$50 in chess prizes
Scholarships		to Texas Tech will be awarded based in part on performance in this event.
Entry Fee		$45 by 1/29, $55 by 5/19, $65 by 6/3, $75 on site.
Registration		Friday 4-8 p.m. & Saturday 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Rounds		Saturday 11 a.m, 1:30 p.m & 4 p.m. Sunday 10 a.m & 12:30 p.m. Opening Ceremony Saturday 10 a.m. Awards Ceremony Sunday 3:30 p.m.
Membership		in the U.S. Chess Federation is required of all players. You may join with your entry or on site. Players will not be allowed to complete the tournament without a valid membership.

In compliance with the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act all non-gaming areas of the South Point Hotel, including the Convention Center and restaurants, are NON-SMOKING.

South Point Hotel and Spa:

- Some of our many amenities include a 16-screen Century Theatre movie complex, 64-lane bowling center and a handful of restaurants that cater to all appetites and tastes.
- Our distinctive hotel features spacious rooms and suites with 42-inch plasma televisions, Point Plush mattresses and Wireless Fidelity throughout.
- A unique feature to this property is its Equestrian Center, which is the finest horse facility in the country.
- Recently, we have added a fabulous 400-seat showroom that features headliner entertainment and Show alldancing to live bands on weekends.

$150K in college scholarships and chess prizes

LAS VEGAS INTERNATIONAL CHESS FESTIVAL
June 4 to 7, 2009

At the magnificent South Point Hotel and Spa

Enter Now!

Championship

Side Events

Chess Camp

Breakfast with Susan

Susan Polgar World Open for Girls and Boys
June 5-7, 2009

Over $150,000 in college scholarships and chess prizes!

• The Susan Polgar World Open Chess Championship for Girls June 6-7
  The Susan Polgar World Open Chess Championship for Boys June 6-7
  • Scholarships to Texas Tech will be awarded based in part on performance in these events.
• The Susan Polgar International Chess Camp (for all ages) June 4
• The Susan Polgar World Open Chess Puzzle Solving Contest for Girls and Boys June 5
• Free lecture by Susan Polgar for all players, as well as accompanying parents and coaches June 5
• A Tandem Simul by Susan Polgar against up to 70 players June 5
• The Susan Polgar World Open Blitz Chess Championship for Girls and Boys June 6
• Breakfast with Susan June 7

In compliance with the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act all non-gaming areas of the South Point Hotel, including the Convention Center and restaurants, are NON-SMOKING.

http://www.vegaschessfestival.com/polgar/

South Point Hotel and Spa:

- Some of our many amenities include a 16-screen Century Theatre movie complex, 64-lane bowling center and a handful of restaurants that cater to all appetites and tastes.
- Our distinctive hotel features spacious rooms and suites with 42-inch plasma televisions, Point Plush mattresses and Wireless Fidelity throughout.
- A unique feature to this property is its Equestrian Center, which is the finest horse facility in the country.
- Recently, we have added a fabulous 400-seat showroom that features headliner entertainment and dancing to live bands on weekends.