SPICE Director Appointed to World Chess Federation Committee
Texas Tech’s Susan Polgar to co-chair the Commission for Women’s Chess.
Written by Cory Chandler
www.ttu.edu
Susan Polgar, director of the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE) at Texas Tech University, was appointed as co-chairperson of the Commission for Women’s Chess by the World Chess Federation (FIDE).
Polgar, four-time Women’s World Champion, was the first woman to earn the grandmaster title with the same qualifications as her male counterparts and the first woman to qualify for the Men’s World Championship cycle. Polgar became the top woman player in the world at the age of 15.
Polgar will co-chair the Commission for Women’s Chess alongside the current World Chess Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk from Russia.
“We hope to influence policies when it comes to women’s events and help get sponsorships and raise visibility and recognition for women’s chess,” Polgar said.
Polgar has been a pioneer for women’s chess since childhood and has continued since arriving at Texas Tech. She has spent the last few years focusing on promoting the game of chess rather than playing.
“I consider it a great honor that the World Chess Federation chose me as the most qualified person to co-chair the committee,” Polgar said. “Women’s chess has progressed tremendously in the past two decades, and it shows great promise for the future of women’s chess.”
The World Chess Federation is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as the supreme body responsible for the organization of chess and its championships at global and continental levels.
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