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Source: Susan Polgar Blog

The last SPNI players and their parents were picked up and brought to the airport. This marks the official end of the highly successful and enjoyable 2008 SPNI.

Special thanks to Jerry Perez, Dr. Hal Karlsson, Dr. Rich Rice, Chase Watters, Peggy Flores, Paul Truong, Mr. and Mrs. Grimaud, Randy Wheeless, and all other volunteers for transporting the players and their families from and to the airport. This was truly a team effort to provide first class service to all the players and their families.

I am looking forward to even a bigger and better 2009 SPNI. None of the players have visited the magnificent Texas Tech Campus prior to this event. At the end in the players’ survey, approximately 40 of the 52 players expressed interest to attend TTU in the future. In fact, some have started the process to apply.

The idea of SPICE is not to compete with incredible college programs like UTD and UMBC, etc. My idea is to provide young players with the opportunity to earn scholarships to attend a wonderful and supportive university like Texas Tech. While getting an excellent education, they would also have a chance to improve their chess by receiving weekly instruction from me and to stay active and compete in chess. Without this opportunity, many will just drop out of chess.

Once again, special thanks to TTU and all our sponsors, as well as everyone who was involved in putting together a fantastic event.

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

Alabama 722 - Indiana 1583 - Nevada 808 - Texas 7794
Alaska 133 - Iowa 641 - New Hampshire 418 - Utah 545
Arizona 2262 - Kansas 542 - New Jersey 3209 - Vermont 312
Arkansas 289 - Kentucky 1696 - New Mexico 733 - Virginia 2746
N. California 4462 - Louisiana 699 - New York 6967 - Washington 1184
S. California 4478 - Maine 480 - North Carolina 2105 - West Virginia 326
Colorado 1124 - Maryland 2127 - North Dakota 84 - Wisconsin 1229
Connecticut 1229 - Massachusetts 1812 - Ohio 2431 -Wyoming 55
Delaware 163 - Michigan 2132 - Oklahoma 868 - US Territories 129
District of Columbia 247 - Military 94 - Oregon 734 - Canada 364
Florida 4258 - Minnesota 1035 - Pennsylvania 3418 - Mexico 70
Georgia 1697 - Mississippi 274 - Rhode Island 285 - Foreign (ex Mex/Can) 393
Hawaii 185 - Missouri 1173 - South Carolina 494
Idaho 224 - Montana 82 - South Dakota 202
Illinois 4256 - Nebraska 298 - Tennessee 1569

Source: USCF

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

Sochi Grand Prix Round 3 Results:

Cheparinov, Ivan - Kamsky, Gata 1-0
Ivanchuk, Vassily - Aronian, Levon 1-0
Radjabov, Teimour - Gashimov, Vugar ½-½
Gelfand, Boris - Svidler, Peter ½-½
Wang Yue - Al-Modiahki, Mohamad ½-½
Navara, David - Karjakin, Sergey ½-½
Grischuk, Alexander - Jakovenko, Dmitry *

Official website: http://sochi2008.fide.com

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

GM Cheparinov (2687) - GM Kamsky (2723) [D87]
02.08.2008 / Sochi Grand Prix

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0–0 10.0–0 Na5 11.Bd3 b6 12.Qd2 e5 13.Bh6 cxd4 14.cxd4 exd4 15.Bxg7 Kxg7 16.f4 f6 17.Rac1 Bg4 18.Ng3 Bd7 19.h4 Rc8 20.Rxc8 Bxc8 21.h5 Qe7 22.Qe2 Bd7 23.Rc1 Rc8 24.Re1 Rc3 25.e5 f5 26.hxg6 hxg6 27.Qd2 Nc4 28.Bxc4 Rxc4 29.Qd3 Qc5 30.e6 Bb5 31.Nh5+ Kh6 32.Qh3 d3+ 33.Kh2 gxh5 34.Qh4 Be8 35.Re5 Qf8 36.Qg5+ Kh7 37.Rxf5 Qg7 38.Qd8 Rc2 39.Rg5 Qc7 40.Qxd3+ Kh6 41.Qf5 1–0

Click here to replay the game.

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

This is 6-year old Annie Wang. She is the youngest ever participant of SPNI history. She qualified for the SPNI by winning the SP World Open for Girls (under 8 section) in June in Las Vegas. Annie scored 3 points in 6 games in Lubbock against players 2-3 times her age!

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

The winner of the biggest upset award is Morgan Mahowald (MN). She is rated 994 and defeated a player with a rating of 1683 in the first round! For her effort, she received a 0 cash scholarship, sponsored by Mr. Dewain Barber and American Chess Equipment. Melanie Newell (MS) score the biggest cummulative upset.

Congratulations!

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

Coming to Lubbock to support her sister Claudia Munoz at the Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls, Faith Munoz was asked to step in at the last minute to even out the field. Even though she was not prepared, she agreed to take on the challenge.

A similar situation happened in the SPNI Blitz Championship. 39 players registered for the event. We once again asked Faith to step in and she once again accepted the challenge with a smile. She fought hard in every game.

Players, parents, and coaches gave her a warm round of applaud. In fact, a number of parents and players approached me about presenting Faith with this deserving award. Congratulations Faith!

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

This is Randy Wheeless, devoted Chess Dad (Amelia Wheeless), President of the NC Chess Association, Chess Life and Chess Life Online reporter, and co-winner of the SPNI Parents & Friends Open. He tied for 1st with Tommy. Chess Dad Greg Gossell won the Parents & Friends Unrated Section. Congratulations to all!

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

Source: United States Chess Federation http://main.uschess.org/index2.php?option=com_rss&feed=RSS2.0&no_html=1
Courtney
Jamison won clear first at the Susan Polgar National Invitational for
Girls. The 16-year-old top seed and Pan-American medallist scored
5.5/6.

Source: Susan Polgar Blog

Final round:

Stefanova - Xu Yuhua
Ushenina - Koneru
Sebag - Cramling
Pogonina - Muzychuk

1. Stefanova, Antoaneta g BUL 2550 4
2. Ushenina, Anna m UKR 2476 3½
3. Cramling, Pia g SWE 2544 3
4. Sebag, Marie m FRA 2530 3
5. Xu Yuhua g CHN 2483 3
6. Koneru, Humpy g IND 2622 3
7. Muzychuk, Anna m SLO 2504 2½
8. Pogonina, Natalija wg RUS 2469 2

Source: Susan Polgar Blog