12 year old Nastassja Matus (MN), youngest ever to win SPFGI 2017 & $110,000+ scholarships & cash prizes! Congratulations!
Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/evO2vwT2IbfW8GHb2
Prizes awarded:
SPFGI Champion: WFM Nastassja Matus (Approximately $110,000 in scholarship and cash prizes)
SPFGI Runner Ups: WCM Thalia Cervantes (Approximately $104,000 scholarship as past champion + $834), WFM Anahi Ortiz (Approximately $56,000 scholarship + $834), Julia Sevilla (Approximately $48,000 scholarship + $834)
Bughouse Champions: WIM Maili-Jade Ouellet (CAN) – Saey Kamtekar (UT)
Puzzle Solving Champion: WFM Anahi Ortiz (Ecuador) 20/20 in 9’27”
Blitz Champion: WIM Maili-Jade Ouellet (Canada)
Best written essay about the SPFGI experience = Charity Farell (OK) – $100 gift certificate
Best dressed player = Carolina Hau Loo (Panama) – $100 gift certificate
Ms. Congeniality: Charity Farell (OK) – Special jewelry
Brilliancy prize: Linda Shi (Canada) won against Miyasaka – Special prize
Top 13 and under = Iris Zhou – $500
Top 10 and under = Stephanie Velea & Kelsey Liu – $250 each
Upset prizes: Biggest upset prize (each round) = $50 each winner x 6 rounds
Round 1: Sophia Yu (1270) vs 1907 Draw -318
Round 2: Marianna Castellanos Miguel (559) vs. 1305 -559
Round 3: Peishanika Arnold (1588) vs 1901 -313
Round 4: Rebecca Griffin (982) vs 1305 -323
Round 5: Rebecca Griffin (982) vs 1686 -704
Round 6: Olivia Hop Cooper (1054) vs 1333 -139
Video here: http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/all-girls-chess-tournament-paves-the-way-to-success/460037033
All-girls chess tournament paves the way to success
WEBSTER GROVES, MO. – An all-girls chess tournament has wrapped up at Webster University, and 12-year-old Nasstasja Matus from Minnesota is the winner.
“Don’t be scared of your opponents because if you’re scared of your opponents you don’t attack during the game,” Matus said.
Matus walks away with a trophy and a full scholarship to Webster University, but she and her competitors are gaining even more. The tournament empowers the girls.
“Back home, when I play in tournaments, sometimes the guys will be like, ‘Oh, I’m just playing a girl,’ and that made my confidence in chess kind of drop,” participant Charity Farell said. “Since going to the Girls’ Invitational, I have been a lot more confidence in my chess ability.”
Susan Polgar is founder and head coach. She says the experience paves the way for college and a career in various fields.
“It’s perhaps closer to STEM related fields but we have students for example in the SPICE program who do international relations or marketing,” Polgar said.
More here: http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/all-girls-chess-tournament-paves-the-way-to-success/460037033
Leave a Reply