SP World Open for Girls

 

SP World Open for Girls

 

SP World Open for Girls

 

SP World Open for Girls

 

SP World Open for Girls

 

SP World Open for Girls

 

SP World Open for Girls

 

SP World Open for Girls

 

SP World Open for Girls

 

SP World Open for Girls

 

SP World Open for Girls

 

SP World Open for Girls

 

SP World Open for Girls

 

SP World Open for Girls

 

SP World Open for Girls

 

SP National Invitational Revised Rules

Rules and Conditions for the Annual Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls (May 2006)

1. The tournament will be played during the U.S. Open Championship each year. Starting time of each round will be at 11:00 A.M. The time control will be Game in 90 minutes with 30 seconds increment added on per move. This is the official FIDE time control. Registration will be required at pre-tournament registration.

2a. Each state will be allowed one representative. Alternates may be substituted as the official representative no later than June 1. (If there are an odd number of entrants in the tournament, the Chairperson of the Polgar Committee may allow the host state to enter an additional qualified player.) The Chairperson of the Polgar Committee may allow exceptions for cause from the entry deadline of June 1. Should the state affiliate fail to respond to the notice for this tournament, the Chairperson of the Polgar Committee and/or USCF may determine in its sole discretion the candidate from that state. Alternates may be substituted as the official representative no later than June 1.

2b. Reigning champion(s) (must meet age requirement) will receive automatic invitation for the following year.

3. All players must be under the age of 19 as of September 1 of the year in which the tournament is held, and have been enrolled, in a school (up to 12th grade) located in the state they represent. Home schooled students who are under the age of 19 on September 1 of the year in which the tournament is held and 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. Proof of eligibility will be the responsibility of the players and of the state official certifying the representative and alternate.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: Unlike the Denker Tournament of High School Champions, the participants of the Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls DO NOT have to be High School students. Any qualifier under the age of 19 (by September 1 of the year in which the tournament is held) is eligible!

4. Players will be required to play in and complete all six rounds of the tournament. Failure to do so, without permission of the Tournament Director, will result in a forfeiture of expense monies.

5. Player will be required to furnish the Tournament Director with a legible and complete score sheet.

6. Players will be required to furnish the Tournament Director an emergency phone number and an e-mail address of a parent/guardian.

7. Players are responsible for their own travel and hotel expenses.

8. Players who complete the tournament will receive an equal amount from the sum of $5,000 in travel stipend, which is provided by the Susan Polgar Foundation.

9. The prize fund, sponsored by the Susan Polgar Foundation and the US Chess Trust, will be $1,250 divided into four scholarship prizes: 1st $500, 2nd $300, 3rd $250, 4th $200. These prizes will be paid to the players directly by the Susan Polgar Foundation and the US Chess Trust, but only upon receipt of proof of enrollment in a college, trade or technical school.

10. The winner of the tournament will be crowned the Susan Polgar National Invitational Champion. In case of ties, co-champions will be recognized and each will receive the Champion’s Plaque or Trophy.

11. The University of Texas at Dallas agrees to award a full four-year academic scholarship to the highest finishing player who has not graduated from high school by August. In the case of ties for these scholarships, tie-breaks used will be:

1. Modified Median
2. Solkoff
3. Cumulative
4. Cumulative of Opposition, in that order.

12. It is the goal of the Polgar Committee to have all 50 states (2 for California and 2 for Texas), the District of Columbia, and the Territories of the United States represented. Consequently, we strongly encourage each state affiliate and the District of Columbia to hold a scholastic championship tournament to determine its girls’ champion. Failing this, rating criteria may be acceptable.

13. A scholastic girls’ champion or the highest rated girls’ scholastic player in a state that has no state affiliate of the USCF should contact the Chairman of the Polgar Committee who is currently:

FM Paul Truong c/o Polgar Chess Center 103-10 Queens Boulevard (Suite 1C) Forest Hills, NY 11375 - Tel: (212) 748-9587 - E-mail: PaulTruong@aol.com

14. The Chairman of the Polgar Committee and its members may elect to award 2 or more wild cards each year for the Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls based on very special circumstances and in its sole discretion.

15. Additional Optional Events:

- Susan Polgar National Invitational Blitz Championship for Girls
- Susan Polgar National Invitational Puzzle Solving Contest for Girls
- Susan Polgar National Invitational Chess Training Program for Girls

These events are opened to all participants and alumni of the Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls.

16. In addition, the Polgar Committee will award three automatic qualifying spots to the top finishing girls of the Elementary (K-6), Junior High (K-9) and the High School (K-12) Championship sections (top girl of each section) at the 2009 SuperNationals Chess Championship as well as automatic qualifying spots to the top finishing girls in each section of the annual Susan Polgar National Open Championship for Girls and the annual Susan Polgar World Open Championship for Girls (must meet age requirement).

17. Contact info:

The Susan Polgar Foundation (www.SusanPolgarFoundation.org – PolgarFoundation@aol.com)

www.PolgarGirls.blogspot.com – www.SusanPolgar.blogspot.com

Contact: FM Paul Truong
Phone number: 212-748-9587
E-mail: PaulTruong@aol.com

Contact: GM Susan Polgar
Telephone: (718) 897-4600
E-mail: SusanPolgar@aol.com 

TTU 2007 Commencement Ceremonies

I have just accepted to be the speaker at two Texas Tech University commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 9 AM and 1:30 PM. There will be between 8,000-10,000 guests at each ceremony.

Texas Tech University awarded 3 scholarships at the 1st Annual Susan Polgar National Open Championship for Girls (January 2006 in Corpus Christi, TX). Texas Tech University will award 2 more scholarships at the 1st Annual Susan Polgar World Open Championship for Girls in Las Vegas (June 16-18).

University of Texas in Dallas (UTD) has been one of the leading universities in this country in recognizing chess. UTD is also a big supporter of the Annual Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls. TTU hopes to emulate the success of UTD.

Big thanks to TTU for their support! 

A touching story: A Quiet Quest

A QUIET QUEST

Woman seeks identity in chess and in life

Monday, May 15, 2006

BY JIM LEWIS
Of The Patriot-News

Tamara Corey sits demurely behind her chess pieces, her hands in her lap, her ankles crossed, her shoulders slightly hunched forward. She speaks softly, as though she's afraid she'll wake the pawns. Shy, perhaps from living in four European orphanages.

But in a game of chess, the Paxtang woman, 20, is a tenacious counterattacker, fierce in the endgame. "Like a sleeping bear," says Michael Mazock of Carlisle, who is coaching her in chess. "If someone awoke her with premature attacks, she would be riled."

Last month, Corey stormed back from an opening loss in the Pennsylvania State Amateur Championship tournament in Hazleton to win three matches and draw another, finishing first among players with a U.S. Chess Federation rating under 1800.

Her rating in the tournament was 1680. The average rating in the United States is 1064. A master chess player has earned a rating of 2200.

Chess might be complicated, but it's less of a mystery than Corey's life.

Corey lived in orphanages in her native country, the Republic of Georgia, until she was 8. She doesn't know the identity of her parents. She did not speak as a child because of a deformity in her palate -- the opening in the roof of her mouth to her nose was too big, and she couldn't pronounce many consonants.

She was adopted by a Pennsylvania couple and underwent surgery at age 10 to help her speak clearly. The couple introduced her to chess, just for fun. Corey found she had a talent for it -- she is patient, focused and methodical in her attacks and defenses, and it has brought her success in tournaments.

Now she's determined to become a grand master in chess, studying strategies with Mazock once a week, playing chess almost every day.

"I will never stop playing chess because God gave me the gift, and I want to make some money out of it," she said.

At tournaments, she often is the only female player. In the U.S., girls often turn away from chess as they grow up because of a phenomenon that Jerry Nash, the U.S. Chess Federation's scholastic director, calls "the geek factor."

In school, sports are considered cooler than chess, Nash said. Girls also might fear rejection by boys who lose to them in chess. They suspect a variation of the old saying is true: Boys won't make passes at girls who win matches.

"Girls competing against boys tends to be seen, I think, in a lot of places as, 'If you beat the guys, they're not going to like you,'" Nash said.

Corey has no such fear. She was schooled at home by her parents and revels in beating males in chess.

"I teach the guys a lesson," she said proudly. When the mother of two male opponents approached her at the state amateur tournament and announced, "My boys are afraid to play you," how did Corey feel? "Happy," she said.

Corey never played chess in the orphanages. All she can remember from her early childhood are dolls, not games or other toys.

She doesn't remember schooling or classes or any attempt to educate her. Her voice was nasal, and she struggled to pronounce consonants. Memories? "I remember some, but not a whole lot," she said apologetically. Happy memories? "Not so happy, maybe," she said, shrugging her shoulders slightly. "I'm not sure."

All Bobbin and Peter Corey knew as they flew to Europe to adopt Corey was that the girl did not speak. Officials in Georgia offered few details about her, Bobbin Corey said.

They brought her to their Centre County farm, where they bred dogs and kept horses. Bobbin Corey would open the family chess set, showing Tamara a couple of pieces at a time, showing her how they moved. She saved the knights for last, knowing Tamara loved horses.

"We didn't expect that so much would come of it," Bobbin Corey said.

When the Coreys moved to Paxtang in 2004, Tamara Corey joined the West Shore Chess Club, and the couple hired Mazock to coach her when she beat them in chess regularly.

"I don't play her anymore -- it's not safe," Bobbin Corey joked.

Tamara Corey's dream is to become a grand master, a difficult title to earn in chess. "Maybe in a couple years or so," she said, shrugging. "I don't know."

She has one other dream: to meet her birth parents.

One of her few memories of the orphanages is of a strange woman who visited her one day. The woman was tall, and her hair, like Corey's, was brown. She gave the girl something to eat. "I'll be back for you," the woman said.

She never returned.

"I thought maybe that was my birth mother," Corey said softly.

She hopes there is an endgame.
 

Lady Bug Susan Polgar Georgia Chess Camp for Girls

July 15-16, 2006
Saturday: 10 AM - 6 PM
Sunday: 10 AM - 5 PM

Classes will be conducted by me using the exclusive Susan Polgar training method.

Ages: 6-17 years
Camp Fee: $99

Space is limited, please sign up early

Location:

Agnes Scott College
Alston Campus Center
141 E. College Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030

Agnes Scott College is a women's liberal arts college in Decatur, Georgia. It is known for its science and mathematics programs and houses a new Science Center, Planetarium and Observatory. Two years ago, NASA held a space camp there with Astronaut Sally Ride, the first women in space.

Agnes Scott is a beautiful campus. You can view it at www.agnesscott.edu It is especially beautiful outside with lots of trees and grass, and even a gazebo. We will be in one of the very large classrooms in the Wallace M. Alston Campus Center. You can tour the Alston Center at www.agnesscott.edu/about/p_campustour18.asp

For information and registration contact:
Kay Umeakunne, Camp Director (770) 482-5402 

Historic Chess Tournament in New York City

The Susan Polgar Foundation, the New York City Sports Commission, the Office of NY City Mayor Bloomberg and the New York Athletic Club are proud to present the 2006 Mayor's Cup Invitational Super Chess Tournament.

The event will take place on Sunday, June 25 and Monday, June 26, 2006 at the New York Athletic Club located at 180 Central Park South, New York, NY 10019.

The event will be a double round robin format. The participants are:

Title - Name - USCF - FIDE

GM Gata Kamsky 2736 - 2671
GM Alex Onischuk 2704 - 2650
GM Ildar Ibragimov 2704 - 2637
GM Boris Gulko 2659 - 2585
GM Alex Stripunsky 2659 - 2569
GM Susan Polgar 2557 - 2577

This would be the strongest round robin tournament in US history! More details will follow soon! 

Summer Chess Camps 2006

Dates:
Week 1: July 10 - 14
Week 2: July 17 - 21
Week 3: July 24 - 28
Week 4: July 31 - Aug 4
Week 5: Aug 14 - 18
Week 6: Aug 28 - Sept 1

What will the campers learn? They will
• Have a clear and precise knowledge of important chess positions
• Learn unique and critical chess tactics and combinations
• Master vital endgame patterns
• Develop a sound understanding of chess openings
• Comprehend middlegame ideas
• Create logical plans and strategies
• Study winning chess psychology
• Develop chess mental toughness
• Learn to use various chess software to improve and much more…

Camp Information:
9:30 AM - 2 PM except Aug 28 - Sept 1
10 AM - 4 PM (Monday - Friday)

Classes are conducted at the Polgar Chess Center by Susan and other top-level coaches

This is a special Chess Camp for youngsters from age 5 and up. Everyone will be taught with a special training method that has been exclusively developed by 4-time World Champion & 5-time Olympic Champion Susan Polgar.

Cost: Weeks 1 - 5: $325 and Week 6: $399 per week (lunch included daily). PCC members get 10% off. Register by May 31st and get a $50 discount

Monthly Scholastic events at the Polgar Chess Club! Weekly tournaments - Classes for all levels! Please visit www.SusanPolgar.com for the exact schedule! 

Relentless pursuit of chess promotion for Girls

Chess Mom Kirsten Lewis just sent me this story about girl's chess in Santa Cruz, California. I would like to thank Kirsten, all other chess Moms and Dads and Coaches across the country for giving girls a chance in chess. This mission cannot be accomplished without the help from everyone!

New Santa Cruz chess tournament admits girls only

By Rosy Weiser
Santa Cruz Sentinel Correspondent

Four-year-old Sydney Lewis, a charmer with big eyes and a coy smile, has put her stamp on the game of chess.

On a recent Sunday at the weekly chess club at the Santa Cruz Central Branch library, Lewis, dressed in pink frills and stripy tights, arrives toting a Hello Kitty chess bag and a pink playing mat and sits down opposite a similarly clad opponent, the only other girl in a room full of boys.

She wiggles, sucks on her fingers, even ends up under the table briefly. But she still manages to stay relatively focused as her counterpart, Alyssa Beltran, a girl nearly twice her age, eventually announces "Check mate!"

It's an incongruous sight when you think of this ancient, complex board game enjoyed by some of the world's most fascinating minds.

But Lewis and Beltran are part of a growing movement of female players who relish this world of rooks, knights and queens just as they play house and push dolls around in strollers.

"Historically, chess has always been an afterthought for girls," said library chess teacher Gjon Feinstein. "There's been this presumption girls would not be attracted to something so competitive, so left brain," he said, adding that, much like the national numbers of chess-playing girls about 10 percent, only a handful of girls attend his classes and tournaments.

Next week, Santa Cruz County girls will have the chance to compete in the area's first ever single-sex chess tournament. Organized by Feinstein, and Lewis' parents, the event will feature a talk by 15-year-old Louiza Livschitz, one of Northern California's top-ranked junior players, followed by a simultaneous chess exhibition where Livschitz will play all challengers at once, moving from board to board.

"We need more girls playing. I want to show that you can have fun with the game," Livshitz said. "It's nothing to be scared of," she added, explaining that her experience as one of the only girls in a sea of boys at tournaments was initially intimidating.

Livshitz, along with many young girls seriously into the chess scene, refers to Susan Polgar as their primary Chess Mentor.

In 1991, Polgar, the top player in the United States, and one of the top 10 players, became the first woman ever to earn the title of chess "Grandmaster", one of the highest rankings in the chess world.

Her fans describe her as nothing short of a chess missionary; intent on getting girls interested and involved in the game, she's sponsored a number of all-girl events throughout the country.

Theories about the discrepancy in numbers between the sexes include the idea that girls don't receive enough encouragement from non-chess playing parents who assume the game is a 'boy thing,' an 'intimidation factor' relating to the skewed ratio of boys versus girls, and chess teachers who don't recognize girls may have different learning styles, according to Polgar's Web site.

Girls do approach the game with a different "energy," said Feinstein. Qualities like creativity, graciousness and patience are all skills that can work to a chess player's advantage, he said.

Back at the library, chess club is over but Lewis isn't finished with her daily dose of chess: she may play her brother later, go online and look at the Polgar Web site, or spend time in the family chess room working on board problems set-up by her parents.

"At this age, they're able to absorb a lot," said her father, Brian Lewis. "For us chess is about developing life learning tools, like concentration, confidence, winning and losing."

And while Lewis won't be participating in the girls tournament this time around she's too young she has her sights on next year.

"I like chess 'cause I like to win. I like chess because I want to show my friends that I got a trophy," she said.

Texas Tech University to Award 2 Scholarships

I was just informed that Texas Tech University has just agreed to award 2 scholarships at the upcoming Susan Polgar World Open Championship for Girls under 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada!

Thank you Texas Tech University!

June 16 - 18, 2006 Las Vegas, Nevada

Format: 6 SS Sections: Under 21, 15, 13 and 10 (as of June 14, 2006)

Time control: G/45 (Please be sure to bring your own chess set and clock)

· Prizes: Trophies to top 20 individuals and top 3 teams in each section. Special medals to 21st – 30th place individuals and 4th – 6th teams. 3 or more from the same school and section or same chess club and section (top 3 scores added to give team final standings). Every player receives a special hand signed certificate from Susan Polgar.

· AWESOME Additional Prizes: In each section, 1st place receives a Laptop Computer. $200-150-100-50 gift prizes for 2nd-5th. Any player with 6-0 score also receives a digital clock!

· Prizes for Blitz Championship: Trophies to top 3 players in each section. Special medals to 4th – 10th place. Blitz will only have one section but trophies will be given out to separate categories.· Prizes for Puzzle Solving Championship: Championship Cup to first each section (Unr – 800, 801 – 1100, 1101 – 1400, Open). Special medals to 2nd – 6th place.

· Special Prizes: Any school with 20 or more participants will receive a set of 7 Winning Chess the Easy Way Training DVDs by Susan Polgar (Over $200 retail value).

There will be many additional surprise prizes and gifts! Winner of each section will qualify for the 2006 Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls in Chicago (Winners must meet the age and residency restriction). More information can be found on www.SusanPolgarFoundation.org.

§ Friday, June 16:
3:30 PM Lecture for players / parents / coaches by Susan Polgar
5:00 PM Puzzle Solving Championship
6:15 PM Simul with Susan Polgar (Maximum 70 players)

§ Saturday, June 17:
9:00 AM Opening Ceremony
Rounds: 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM, 4:00 PM
7 PM Blitz Championships (G/5 - 7 SS)

§ Sunday, June 18:
Rounds: 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:30 PM
4:00 PM Closing Ceremony

Entry Fees: $30 if received by March 15, 2006; $45 if received by May 25; $60 on site - On site registration: 2:00 PM - 9:00 PM Friday and up to 9:30 AM on Saturday. Blitz EF: $15 - Puzzle Solving EF: $12 - Simul: $20 Special $35 entry fees for all 3 events (Blitz, Puzzle and Simul). Please make checks payable to: Las Vegas International Chess Festival, PO Box 90925, Henderson, NV 89009-0125 or online at www.lvchessfestival.com. No telephone entries. NS. W. FIDE.

Hotel Information: Riviera Hotel and Casino, 2901 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. HR: $71 single or double ($81 Friday and Saturday nights) includes free tickets to one of three Mardi Gras Riviera Las Vegas Shows Wednesday, Thursday or Monday. 1-800-634-6753 or (702) 734-5110. Make your reservations early and be sure to ask for the chess rates; the Riviera sells out most weekends. Cutoff for special hotel rate is May 25th. Rates may be as high as $140 a night after May 25th. Credit card or one night room deposit will be required to hold reservation, may be canceled 48 hours in advance for nominal fee.  

Susan Polgar All-Stars Girl's Chess Team

Susan Polgar All-Stars Girl's Chess Team

I would like to offcially announce a new initiative that is designed to help raise the playing level of young talented female players in the United States. The program is the Susan Polgar All-Stars Girl’s Chess Team.

Its goal is to recognize girls who already excel in chess and it to serve as a motivational tool for others. All girls who qualify for the team will be nationally recognized, they will receive a special Susan Polgar All-Stars jacket, a special All-Stars Certificate, and an invitation to the exclusive and intensive Susan Polgar All-Stars Girl’s Training Program conducted by me and other highly qualified top-level coaches, similar to the historic 2004 US Women’s Olympiad Training Program that I created. This program will greatly assist them in improving their chess skills.

Below are the criteria for the Susan Polgar All-Stars Girl’s Chess Team:
Age Minimum Peak Rating (October rating list each year)

6 & Under 1300
7 1400
8 1500
9 1600
10 1700
11 1800
12 1900
13 2000
14 2100
15 2150
16 2200
17 2250
18 2300

In addition, any girl who is within 100 points from the above criteria can apply for special exemptions to attend this exclusive training program. It will not be an easy task for girls to qualify for the Susan Polgar All-Stars Girl’s Chess Team. However, it is a bar to motivate girls to try to achieve.

There is no stopping any young female player from qualifying for another award such as the Trophies Plus All-America’s Chess Team. They can qualify and accept either award or both, it is entirely up to the players who earned it. Therefore, we are not offending any individual young female players. This is a non-profit initiative to help the USCF and young female players in the United States. Girls are dropping out at an alarming rate. We need to reverse this trend before we can expect to produce large numbers of good female players. The Susan Polgar Foundation is fully committed to do this. 

Lending a hand to Chess Clubs across the country

I love chess and I strongly believe in the benefits of chess for people of all ages, especially children. That is why I opened my own Polgar Chess Center in Queens, New York nearly ten years ago.

The second Polgar Chess Center was opened last year in Corpus Christi, Texas and it is thriving.

If you know of a local chess club that needs help or if you live in an area that does not have a chess club (general or scholastic chess club) and you want to do something to help, please let me know. Perhaps I can give you some ideas or help you in one way or another.

Let's work together for the benefits of chess, one area at the time!