This picture was taken during an event at the Polgar Chess Center in 2005. How many people can you name in this picture? There are at least 3 GMs, 3 IMs and 1 FM.
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Chess Trivia
About Author
I can only recognize YOU…GM Zsuza Polgar, Anna Zatonskih, and I think the woman holding her head with her hands is Irina Krush. That’s it for me.
You got 3 correctly so far 🙂
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
Victor Frias and Fabiano Caruana.
GM Zsusza Polgar…now that you brought up this photo…it got me thinking. Can you tell us why you refused to play for the US Women’s Team after it won its unprecedented second place Silver medal at Calvia?
Did it have anything to do with the USCF playing politics and not honoring its obligations? I don’t know anything about what happened…so I’m just asking to see if you’re willing to elaborate.
Thanks.
Is that Yudasin with the beard?
Yudasin is correct. Fabiano is correct.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
There were a number of reasons why I did not play in 2006:
1. The President of the USCF lied to me and the team manager and captain. I had a sponsor willing to give up to $60,000 for training, honorarium and expenses for the 2006 women’s team.
It was rejected by the President. I was told that a deal was signed with another organization prior to that even though I founded the program, brought unprecendented success and had a legal binding contract.
It turned out that there was no deal sign. By that time, my sponsor had decided not to do business with the USCF again.
2. I said I would not play unless there would be a serious training program as I founded in 2003. Any serious country would never send a team unprepared. This is not how I approach chess. I did not win 10 medals for not doing things professionally.
3. I was not invited for the 2006 team.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
I see Susan, Fabiano Caruana, Anna Zatonskih. Don’t know the woman holding her head.
GM Susan Polgar…thank you for being honest on this issue. I was interested to knowing the truth and now we have it.
I wish you luck on your campaign to win a seat in the USCF Executive board. I wish I could help…but I decided not to renew my USCF membership because I’ve been disgusted with the membership prices and costs to join USCF sponsored tournaments, etc.
I feel more comfortable playing with freely downloadable chess engines via WBEC using Arena than putting up with cynicism in USCF politicis. I hope for all concerned…you win that seat and CLEAN HOUSE. Go for it. I am HOPING once you win and settle down in the USCF…that you’ll introduce rules allowing Fischer Random Chess as an alternative to classical chess played in USCF sponsored events. I’m personally looking foward to that.
Thanks.
Besides the top 3 American Women, Yudasin, and Caruana, one can see a reflection of Pascal Charbonneau in the mirror. That’s 3 GM’s (Polgar, Yudain, Charbonneau) and 3 IM’s (Zatonskikh, Krush, Caruana) accounted for. Now someone just needs to figure out who is the FM playing Yudasin.
Someone mentioned Victor Frias — he sadly passed away January 15, 2005, so probably not.
Yudasin and Pascal Charbonneau are correct. There is at least another 1 or 2 FMs and 1 NM 🙂
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
http://www.PolgarChess.com
Good post… Bobby Fischer often did the same thing:
The 1969 U.S. Championship was also a zonal qualifier, with the top three finishers advancing to the Interzonal. Fischer, however, Fischer had sat out the U.S. Championship because of disagreements about the tournament’s format and prize fund. To enable Fischer to compete for the title, Grandmaster Pál Benkő gave up his Interzonal place, for which the United States Chess Federation (USCF) paid him a modest $2,000; the other zonal participants waived their right to replace Benkő.
…some things never change.
As for the 2006 Women’s team issue, I recommend people go to the April 5 post on Susan’s blog for the complete coverage, which included both sides of the issues. Pay particular attention to USCF Pres. Goichberg’s explanation of USCF actions and Susan’s responses.