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)