This is the 5th annual SPICE Cup, and once again, it breaks the record as the highest rated double round robin international invitational in U.S. history. Just as in the past four years, it will be held on the beautiful campus of Texas Tech University.
A Group (category 17 – 2655.83)
1. Le Quang Liem 2717 (#1 in Vietnam, Olympian, 2-time winner of Aeroflot)
2. Leinier Dominguez 2710 (#1 in Cuba, Olympian, former World Blitz Champion)
3. Alex Onischuk 2669 (former #1 and US Champion, Olympiad medalist, 2-time SPICE Cup Champion)
4. Georg Meier 2648 (#3 in Germany, Olympian, and runner up of 2010 SPICE Cup)
5. Yury Shulman 2608 (former US Champion and Olympiad medalist)
6. Ray Robson 2583 (former US Junior Champion and youngest American GM in history)
There will be an additional section this year. In addition to the A group and B group (10 player RR category 10), there will be a C group (10 player RR category 8).
The 2011 SPICE Cup A group will take place on October 15-25. The B and C group will take place on October 15-19. The FIDE Amateur Rated Open will take place on October 21-23.
There are no entry fees to any player in three invitational groups (A, B, and C). My goal is to give players the opportunity to gain valuable experience and earn FIDE norms. We rely on donations and sponsorships from individuals and corporations to fund the SPICE Cup. Please contact me if you wish to be a donor or sponsor of the SPICE Cup.
The full rosters for the B and C group will be announced withing the next few days.
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2011 SPICE Cup Amateur FIDE Rated Open
October 21-23, 2011
A 6 Round Swiss System Tournament
Event Site: Texas Tech University (SUB) Lubbock, TX
Contact Info: 806-742-7742 E-mail: Spice@ttu.edu
Description of Tournament: A USCF and FIDE rated Individual Chess Tournament. Games are played in one section. Open to all ages, limited to players rated 1600 USCF (and above) and all FIDE rated below 2200.
Time control: 60 minutes per player with 30 second increment per move, starting the first move.
On-site registration: 2:30pm -4:00pm on October 21. All players must check in by 4:30pm. Bring clock if you have one! No byes in the final two rounds.
Round schedule:
October 21 Round 1: 5pm
October 22 Round 2: 10am Round 3: 2pm Round 4: 6pm
October 23 Round 5: 10am Round 6: 2pm
Entry Fees: Players with FIDE Rating $25, without FIDE rating $40 received by 10/16, $25 more on site. A valid USCF membership required. Registration is limited to the first 50 entries!
Prizes: Prize fund $750 based on 30 paid entries. 1st $250 2nd $150 3rd $100 4th $150 5th $100.
Prize giving ceremony will be held shortly after the end of the last game which is around 6pm.
Please send Entry Blank and Fees to: Susan Polgar Foundation, 6923 Indiana Avenue #154 Lubbock, TX 79413
Additional information on www.SPICE.ttu.edu
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FIDE Open Entry Form: Please PRINT all information and make check/money order to SPF.
Name: ___________________________ Phone: (_____) ________School___________
Address: ____________________________ City/State: ____________ Zip:_________
Email: _______________________________ DOB: ______Section________________
USCF Rating_____USCF ID#:__________FIDE#________Amount enclosed __Check#___
How come the USCF doesn’t talk about the biggest American event?
Why are Robson and Shulman already competing in Group A? Shouldn’t the participants be rated in the high 2650+ or have topped the lower groups C then B before being elevated to Group A? I think this is chess politics meant to prop up the careers of the two Americans and this is not good for the game. This is unfair. I follow the SPICE Cup yearly but maybe this year I’ll pass because of this travesty.
We’ll, all I was asking is for the organizers to be fair in qualifying the participants to the Groups. Robson and Shulman should first pass thru Groups C then B before being elevated to Group A. Robson hasn’t even topped the lower groups, so why should he be promoted to the top group? I hope you will be fair and publish my comment.
Nakamura, Seirawan, and Hess, etc. were invited. The dates did not work out for them. If Shulman had declined the invitation, the next person on the list would have been Akobian.
If you can raise $50,000 – $75,000 each year to organize an event like the SPICE Cup, you are welcome to invite anyone you wish.
If you will not follow the SPICE Cup, then I am sure everyone will miss your presence. Maybe you will follow it again next year
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar