Nakamura, Polgar Headline Kings vs. Queens Battle

For more information, please contact:
Mike Wilmering
Communications Specialist
Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis

Nakamura, Polgar Headline Kings vs. Queens Battle

SAINT LOUIS, July 25, 2011 — The Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis will host a special tournament to coincide with the grand opening of the World Chess Hall of Fame, which is set to open to the public on September 9 in Saint Louis. Kings vs. Queens: A Battle of the Sexes will feature some of the top chess players in the world in a 5-on-5 team event, which will take place September 9-16.

The Queens field is headlined by the strongest female player in chess history, GM Judit Polgar. US #1 and Rapid specialist GM Hikaru Nakamura will lead the Kings into battle.

The players, including FIDE ratings and the federation each represents, are as follows:

Queens

GM Judit Polgar (2699) – Hungary
GM Kateryna Lahno (2536) – Ukraine
IM Anna Zatonskih (2522) – U.S.
GM Alexandra Kosteniuk (2497) – Russia
IM Irina Krush (2486) – U.S.

Kings

GM Hikaru Nakamura (2770) – U.S.
GM Timur Gareyev (2613) – Uzbekistan
GM Ben Finegold (2488) – U.S.
IM Jacek Stopa (2474) – Poland
IM Marc Arnold (2445) – U.S.

The average team rating of the Queens is 2548 FIDE and the King’s average rating is 2558 FIDE. This will be a Scheveningen-paired tournament, in which each of the five team members will play each of the opposing team members twice: once in a Fischer Random (Chess 960) game with a time control of G/25 + 10-second increment and once in a rapid game with a time control of G/25 with a 5-second increment.

Tony Rich, executive director of the CCSCSL, said it was only fitting to bring out the world’s best for the grand opening of the World Chess Hall of Fame.

“This tournament, the first of its kind, creates an even playing field for the top men and women in chess to do battle,” Rich said. “The format is fitting for the celebratory environment surrounding the opening of the Hall of Fame, and we’re happy to put on a unique event that will be enjoyable for spectators.”

The Opening Ceremony for the tournament will take place on September 9, and the first round will begin at 3 p.m. CT on Saturday, September 10.

The winning team of the event will win $20,000, divided equally between each member of that team. In addition, individual prizes will be awarded based on final standings and are are as follows:

1st: $5,500
2nd: $5,000
3rd: $4,500
4th: $4,000
5th: $3,500
6th: $3,000
7th: $2,500
8th: $2,000
9th: $1,500
10th: $1,000

Individual prizes total $32,500 and, when coupled with the team prize, the total prize fund for this event is $52,500.

GM Yasser Seirawan and WGM Jennifer Shahade will provide live commentary of the event, which will be open to the public. The event also will be broadcast live via the CCSCSL’s Livestream web channel: www.livesteam.com/uschess.

Visit www.saintlouischessclub.org for more information