Magnus Carlsen visits Webster University

World's #1 Magnus Carlsen is in St. Louis to compete in the Sinquefield Cup. But before the hot and heavy action on the chess board against Aronian, Nakamura, and Kamsky, he visited Webster University to play soccer and basketball with members of the nation's #1 ranked SPICE chess team. Here is the link to some of the photos (12 nations, 10 GMs, competing in sports):

https://picasaweb.google.com/116302832360230031699/MagnusCarlsenAtWebsterUniversity

Magnus is a new type of chess player, on and off the chess board. He is known for torturing his opponents on the chess boards for 5-6-7 hours. He will play out positions where most grandmasters would be content to agree to a draw. 

He is the same on the soccer field and basketball court. He is extremely fit and athletic. He physically wears out his opponents. Magnus simply shatters the false old stigma that chess players are nerdy.

2013-2014 Webster University Chess Team

http://www.webster.edu/spice

A new year of College Chess has begun and Webster University is once again the #1 ranked Division I team in United States (both USCF and FIDE ratings). There are 9 grandmasters from 9 different countries on this year's roster. 

Here are top 10 rated players of Webster University:

Title - Name - FIDE - USCF 

GM Le Quang Liem - Vietnam - 2702 / 2802 (World Blitz Champion - Olympian - Former #1 under 21 in the world) 

GM Wesley So - Philippines - 2710 / 2747 (World University Champion - National Open Champion - Olympian - #2 under 21 in the world) 

GM Georg Meier - Germany - 2630 / 2693 (Olympian - European Team Champion - 2 time Final Four Champion)
 
GM Ray Robson - USA - 2623 / 2707 (Olympian - US Junior Champ - Final Four Champion)
 
GM Fidel Corrales Jimenez - Cuba - 2640 (Olympian - Final Four Champion - Philadelphia Open Champion)
 
GM Manuel Leon Hoyos - Mexico - 2552 / 2614 (Olympian - US Open Triple Crown Champion & National Open Champion)
 
GM Anatoly Bykhovsky - Israel - 2521 / 2618 (3-time Final Four Champion)
 
GM Denes Boros - Hungary - 2502 / 2546 (Final Four Champion)
 
GM Andre Diamant - Brazil - 2465 / 2526 (Final Four Champion)
 
IM Vitaly Neimer - Isarel - 2384 / 2449(Final Four Champion)

FM Jake Banawa
WIM Inna Agrest
Mara Kamphorst
Paul M. Truong

Finally hoisting the Final Four Championship Cup!

The Webster University Final Four Championship team finally has a chance to hoist the President's Cup today, April 29, instead of April 7 at the Closing Ceremony.

History making feat

Webster University made history when it became the first St. Louis team ever to win a Final Four collegiate chess championship. Webster’s top-ranked chess team emerged victorious in the President’s Cup – also known as the Final Four of Collegiate Chess – a two-day throw-down that determines the national champion of college chess teams. The tournament was held Saturday and today in Rockville, Md.

This is the first time in history a team made it to the Final Four of Collegiate Chess in its first year at a school and also the first time that a first-year team has been ranked as the No. 1 seed in the Final Four. Webster’s chess team has ranked No. 1 since August 2012, when the team was officially formed.

Webster will welcome the national champions back to campus during a lunch-time ceremony on its Webster Groves campus Monday.

“Congratulations to all the members of our team and all who support them, as I know that they have worked hard to prepare for this moment,” said President Beth Stroble, who was in the Washington, D.C. area this weekend to watch the Final Four. “Their competitors were smart, tough, and skilled and there were many tense moments this weekend, which makes this championship particularly significant for Webster University. I couldn’t be prouder.”

“Today was a great day for chess, for Webster and for Webster’s chess team, and for all of our students who worked hard to win this tournament,” said Provost Julian Schuster, who also accompanied the team to the Final Four competition. “We are all winners because this accomplishment came about through the hard work and dedication from the people who love chess, who love Webster, and from all our supporters in the community. We are proud of all of our students and are proud of the chess program, and we look forward to many more years of championships.”


The Final Four is the most prestigious team tournament in collegiate chess; the winner is known as the national champion of college chess. To get to the Final Four, teams must first compete in the Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship, held each year during the last week of December. Only the top four teams in this event qualify for the Final Four. This year, in addition to Webster, other schools competing in the Final Four were the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, University of Texas-Dallas and University of Illinois.

In the round robin-format Final Four, each of the four school teams played in three rounds of competition, playing one full match against each of the other schools. Each game won was one point to the school, and each draw was one-half point. Game points determine the overall winner.

While Webster entered the competition in the top spot, the win was not easy. Webster swept Illinois in the first round, earning four points, and in the second round against Maryland the team drew three games and won the fourth. By the end of the day, Webster only led University of Texas by one-half point at 6.5 to 6.

In the final round on Sunday, Webster faced the Texas team. Two of the games were a draw, and Webster won the final two matches, earning 9.5 points to Texas’ 7.

“It was a nail-biter down to the final moments,” said Susan Polgar, the chess team coach. “We had a win and draw when the first two games ended in the third round, but with two more games going, there was still a chance that Texas could still defeat us. When we clinched the championship with a draw and a win on the last two boards, everyone in the room jumped to their feet in excitement.

“We are very appreciative of all the people at Webster who cheered us on, especially all the Webster alumni and employees in the D.C. area who were able to come to the championship to show us support,” she added.

During Sunday’s awards ceremony at the competition, Polgar was named the “College Chess coach of the year.” This is the third team in a row that Polgar has coached to a President’s Cup victory. Before joining Webster, Polgar was the coach for Texas Tech’s chess team, which won in 2011 and 2012.

With eight grand masters on its team, Webster sent six of them to the Final Four, including four freshmen who had never previously competed in the Final Four: Georg Meier, an international business major and a sophomore, Wesley So, a freshman finance major, Ray Robson, a freshman who is still exploring majors, Fidel Corrales Jimenez, a freshman computer science major, Anatoly Bykhovsky, a finance major and junior, and Manuel Leon Hoyos, an economics major and freshman.

Webster will host a ceremony for the winning team at 11:30 a.m. Monday, April 8 in Marletto’s, the student cafeteria located on the ground floor of Loretto Hall on the Webster Grove campus. The event is open to the campus community.

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.

For more information on Webster’s chess team, visit http://webster.edu/spice/.

Webster chess team's accomplishments

Chess Team Accomplishments

The Webster University chess team has been ranked #1 in Division I College Chess since its inception in August 2012. It has never relinquished the top ranking.

National Championships (6)

 August 2012

• 2012 U.S. Open Championship: 1^st place (GM Manuel Leon Hoyos)
• 2012 U.S. Open Rapid (g/15) Championship: 1^st place (GM Andre Diamant and IM Vitaly Neimer)
• 2012 U.S. Open Blitz Championship: 1^st place (GM Andre Diamant), 2nd place (GM Anatoly Bykhovsky) 

December 2012

• 2012 PanAm Intercollegiate Championship: Both A and B team tied for 1^st place
• 2012 PanAm Intercollegiate Championship: Top reserve player (GM Manuel Leon Hoyos)

April 2013

• 2013 College Chess Final Four: 1^st place (GMs Georg Meier, Wesley So, Ray Robson, Fidel Corrales Jimenez, Manuel Leon Hoyos, and Anatoly Bykhovsky)

State Championships (3)

September 2012

• 2012 Missouri State Championship: 1^st place (GM Denes Boros and GM Anatoly Bykhovsky)
• 2012 Missouri State Rapid Championship: 1^st place (GM Fidel Corrales Jimenez)
• 2012 Missouri State Blitz Championship: 1^st place (GM Fidel Corrales Jimenez)

Major International Events

August 2012

• 2012 World Chess Olympiad (Istanbul, Turkey): Team Silver in Group A (GM Ray Robson - USA)
• 2012 World Chess Olympiad (Istanbul, Turkey): Team Bronze in Group B (GM Wesley So - Philippines)

January 2013

• 2013 World Cup Qualifier: GM Wesley So qualified for the 2013 World Cup which will take place in Tromsø, Norway in August 2013

February 2013

• 2013 Reykjavik Open: Co-champion (GM Wesley So)
• 2013 Grenke Baden Baden Chess Classis: Webster GM Georg Meier drew the reigning World Champion Anand both games in their 2-game encounter

Major U.S. Events

October 2012

• 2012 SPICE Cup Open: 1^st place (GM Ray Robson), 2^nd place (GM Fidel Corrales Jimenez), 3^rd place (IM Vitaly Neimer) 

January 2013

• 2013 Cardinal Open: 1^st place (GM Andre Diamant)

November 2012

• 2012 Thanksgiving Open in St. Louis: 1^st place (GMs Georg Meier, Fidel Corrales Jimenez, Denes Boros)
• 2012 SLCC GM Invitational: 1^st place (IM Vitaly Neimer) 

March 2013

• 2013 Philadelphia Open: 1^st place (GM Fidel Corrales Jimenez)

Additional records

• 1^st team in history (Webster University) to be ranked #1 in the nation in the first year of forming a team (August 2012 - now)
• 1^st team in history (Webster University) to qualify for the Final Four in the first year of forming a team (December 2012)
• 1^st team in history (Webster University) to be seeded #1 in the Final Four in the first year of forming a team (April 2013)
• 1^st female (Susan Polgar) to coach a men's team to the National Championship (2011)
• 1^st female (Susan Polgar) to coach a men’s team to back to back National Championships (2011-2012)
• 1^st female (Susan Polgar) to coach a men’s team to 3 straight National Championships (2011-2013)
• 1^st coach, male or female, to win National Championships with 2 different schools (TTU 2011-2012, and Webster U 2013)
• Most points scored in the Final Four (April 2013 - Webster University finished with 9.5 points)
• Largest margin of victory in the Final Four (April 2013 - Webster University finished 2.5 points ahead of 2^nd place UTD)
• 1^st person (Susan Polgar) to be named College Coach of the Year (April 2013)    

2013 SPICE Cup Open - $11,000 guaranteed

2013 SPICE Cup Open 
Sponsored by Webster University 
and the Susan Polgar Foundation

St. Louis, Missouri
October 15-19, 2013 

GM/IM norm opportunity - Minimum rating (FIDE) 2100 
Limited to first 50 entries  

4 IM/GM norms were earned last year: http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com

PRIZES: $11,000 guaranteed 

$4,000-$2,000-$1,500-$1,000-$500
U/2400 FIDE $500-$250-$125
U/2300 FIDE $500-$250-$125
top female $250

October 2013 rating will be used

ENTRY FEES: 

Free to all GMs, IMs, WGMs and all FIDE rated players over 2300 (must complete all 9 rounds), if registered by September 30, 2013. $50 later or on site.

$100 to others if received by September 30, 2013. $150 later or on site.

VENUE: 

Crown Plaza Clayton Hotel 7750 Carondelet Ave, St Louis, MO 63105 (FREE shuttle from the Lambert–St. Louis International Airport) $109/night, FREE Breakfast/Internet 

Send entries to  

Webster University - SPICE

470 E. Lockwood Ave 

St. Louis, MO 63119

Questions? Email: spice@webster.edu or call 314-246-8075

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

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

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

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

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

Each state is allowed one representative to be nominated by June 1, 2013. Official representative alternates may be substituted no later than June 15. (Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee may allow the host state to enter an additional qualified player.) Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee may allow exceptions to the June 1 entry/alternate deadline. Should the state affiliate fail to respond to the notice for this tournament, Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee may determine the candidate from that state.

Players must have been enrolled in a school (up to 12th grade) located in the state they represent, also of the year in which the tournament is held. Home-schooled students who are under the age of 19 on July 25th of the year in which the event is held or students who have never attended college on a full time basis prior to June 1 of the year in which the tournament is held, are eligible to represent the state in which they reside.

Exception: If a player graduates from high school early and is already attending college, she may still represent her state if nominated. This is the decision of each state affiliate.

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

Special invitation for this year only: All past participants of the SPNI and SPGI (Susan Polgar National Invitational/Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Invitational 2004-2012) are invited to participate in the 2013 SPGI. The idea is to have the past participants learn my method of training so they can go back home and share their knowledge with the younger players. However, registration MUST be made ASAP since space is limited. There will be mutual training sessions for all, however separate section & prizes for alumni participants over the age of 19.

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

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

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

Prizes: Trophies / plaques will be awarded to the winners of the Susan Polgar Foundation Girl’s Invitational Puzzle Solving, Blitz, and the SPGI Championship. Co-champions are recognized in the case of a tie, with each champion receiving a Champion’s Plaque or Trophy. The Champion (or Co-Champions) will automatically be invited to defend her/their title (must meet age requirement).

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

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

The New Polgar Committee’s goal is to have all 50 states (including two representatives for California, two for Texas, and two for Missouri) and the District of Columbia represented. We strongly encourage each state and the District of Columbia affiliate to hold a scholastic championship tournament to determine each state’s champion and representative. Failing this, rating criteria may be acceptable. A scholastic girls’ champion or the highest rated girls’ scholastic player in a state who has no state affiliate of the USCF should contact the Polgar Committee as soon as possible.

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

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

The new SPGI Chairperson is Martha Underwood (AZ).

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

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

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

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

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

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

Webster Players Excel in Tournaments Around the Globe

Chess Success: Webster Players Excel in Tournaments Around the Globe

Posted: 19 Feb 2013 01:49 PM PST 

It has been an exciting and successful few weeks for members of Webster’s chess team, achieving impressive outcomes at major tournaments in Baden Baden, Germany, and stateside, in Chicago. 

Meier Finishes Third in Tough Baden Baden Classic

Webster sophomore grandmaster Georg Meier, who is the No. 4-ranked chess player in Germany, was invited to compete in the “super invitational” Grenke Baden Baden Classic tournament.

The opposition was mighty: reigning World Champion Vishy Anand of India; the top-ranked players in Germany and England; and the world’s fifth-ranked Fabiano Caruana of Italy, who just happened to start his chess career at age 5 at the Polgar Chess Center in Queens, N.Y. It has been 88 years since Baden Baden hosted such a prestigious invitational.

Despite being the lowest-ranked player in this powerful field, Webster’s Meier finished in third place overall, and was the top German player in the tournament. Even more significant, he drew both games against World Champion Anand.

“No collegiate player in the United States has ever held a reigning World Champion to a draw twice in a tournament,” said Paul Truong, director of marketing for the Susan Polgar Institute of Chess Excellence (SPICE) at Webster University. “This was an incredible feat!”

Webster senior and women’s international master Inna Agrest of Sweden competed in the Baden Baden Open, which was held alongside the invitational. She also had a great outcome, gaining 22.4 rating points.

“Gorlok Express” and “Oppan Gorlok Style” Take on Chicago

Two teams from Webster competed in the 2013 U.S. Amateur Team Championship in Chicago last weekend. The event is the most prestigious amateur team event in the U.S. Each team consists of four players and the average rating of the team must be under 2200, which is considered the amateur level.

The team members also must decide on a nickname for their team. Webster’s two teams chose “Gorlok Express” and “Oppan Gorlok Style,” based on the YouTube sensation song Oppan Gangnam Style.

At the event, Webster junior Mara Kamphorst of Brazil played the role of hero for her “Oppan Gorlok Style” team. “Her upset win against Adream Liang of Wisconsin in the final round gave her team a crucial victory for a third place tie finish out of 54 teams,” Truong said.

Webster’s “Gorlok Express” team finished with a 4-1 overall match score to tie for third place. Paul Truong Jr. scored one win and two draws against much-higher rated opponents to contribute to his team’s success.

Another very strong event, the Illinois Blitz Championship, was held during the 2013 U.S. Amateur Team Championship in Chicago. “In a super-tough tournament with 55 individual players, including five grandmasters, Webster junior Denes Boros of Hungary scored an impressive 9-1 score to finish a full point ahead of the field,” said Truong. “The only loss he had was to his own Webster teammate, junior grandmaster Anatoly Bykhovsky of Israel, as they split 1-1.”

What’s Next?

Webster freshman and grandmaster Wesley So of the Philippines arrived in Reykjavik, Iceland, on Feb. 17 to compete in the prestigious Reykjavik Open. With the success from the recent Zonal Championship in the Philippines, So earned a berth in the 2013 World Cup while pushing his rating to a personal best of 2689, Truong said.

“He is 11 points shy of the 2700 mark, which is considered the level of a super grandmaster. No collegiate chess player in the United States has ever come close to this mark before. Wesley will try to break this barrier while competing in Iceland.”