Rules and Conditions for the annual Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls (March 2008 – Version 1)
July 27 – August 1 at Texas Tech University (TTU) in Lubbock, Texas
1. The tournament will be played at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas each year. Starting time of each round will be at 11:00 A.M, except for round 1 and 6. Round 1 will be at 3:00 PM and round 6 will be at 10 AM. The time control will be 90 minutes for the entire game with 30 seconds increment added on per move. This is the approved FIDE time control. Registration will be required at pre-tournament registration.
The open ceremony will be at 1:30 PM on July 27. The closing ceremony will take place 30 minutes after the conclusion of the last game on August 1.
2. Each state will be allowed one representative. Alternates may be substituted as the official representative no later than June 1. (If there is are odd number of entrants in the tournament, Susan Polgar and / or the Chairperson of the Polgar Committee may allow the host state to enter an additional qualified player.) Susan Polgar and / or the Chairperson of the Polgar Committee may allow exceptions for cause from the entry deadline of June 1. Should the state affiliate fail to respond to the notice for this tournament, Susan Polgar and / or the Chairperson of the Polgar Committee and/or USCF may determine in its sole discretion the candidate from that state. Alternates may be substituted as the official representative no later than June 1.
3. All players must be under the age of 19 as of August 15 of the year in which the tournament is held, and have been enrolled, in a school (up to 12th grade) located in the state they represent. Home schooled students who are under the age of 19 on August 15 of the year in which the tournament is held and who have never attended college on a full time basis prior to June 1 of the year in which the tournament is held, are eligible to represent the state in which they reside. Proof of eligibility will be the responsibility of the players and of the state official certifying the representative and alternate.
Exception: If a player graduates from High School early and already attended college, she may still represent her state if nominated. This is solely the decision of each state. However, that player may not win the scholarship.
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: Unlike the Denker Tournament of High School Champions, the participants of the Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls DO NOT have to be High School students. Any qualifier under the age of 19 (by August 15 of the year in which the tournament is held) is eligible!
4. Players will be required to play in and complete all six rounds of the tournament. Failure to do so, without permission of the Tournament Director, will result in a forfeiture of expense monies.
5. Player will be required to furnish the Tournament Director with a legible and complete score sheet.
6. Players will be required to furnish the Tournament Director an emergency phone number and an e-mail address of a parent/guardian.
7. Players are responsible for their own travel and hotel expenses.
8. Players who complete the tournament will have the fees for 5 nights of accommodations (double occupancy) on campus at Texas Tech University waived, which is provided by the Susan Polgar Foundation and TTU. There will be small additional fees for single occupancy or to share with family members.
9. The prize fund, sponsored by the Susan Polgar Foundation and the US Chess Trust, will be $1,250 divided into four scholarship prizes: 1st $500, 2nd $300, 3rd $250, 4th $200. These prizes will be paid to the players directly by the US Chess Trust and the Susan Polgar Foundation, but only upon receipt of proof of enrollment in a college, trade or technical school.
There will also be a $500 Ursula Foster scholarship awarded to the highest finisher who is under the age of 14. This is donated by the family of the late Ursula Foster in her memory. If there are ties then the money will be divided.
10. The winner of the tournament will be crowned the Susan Polgar National Invitational Champion. In case of ties, co-champions will be recognized and each will receive the Champion’s Plaque or Trophy.
11. Texas Tech University agrees to award a four-year academic scholarship to the highest finishing player who has not graduated from high school by August. In the case of ties for these scholarships, tie-breaks used will be:
1. Modified Median
2. Solkoff
3. Cumulative
4. Cumulative of Opposition, in that order.
12. It is the goal of the Polgar Committee to have all 50 states (2 for California and 2 for Texas) and the District of Columbia represented. Consequently, we strongly encourage each state affiliate and the District of Columbia to hold a scholastic championship tournament to determine its girls’ champion. Failing this, rating criteria may be acceptable.
13. A scholastic girls’ champion or the highest rated girls’ scholastic player in a state that has no state affiliate of the USCF should contact the Chairman of the Polgar Committee who is currently: Mr. Dewain Barber (amchesseq@aol.com)
14. Susan Polgar and / or the Chairman of the Polgar Committee and its members may elect to award 2 or more wild cards each year for the Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls based on very special circumstances and at its sole discretion.
15. Additional Optional Events:
– Susan Polgar National Invitational Blitz Championship for Girls
– Susan Polgar National Invitational Puzzle Solving Contest for Girls
– Susan Polgar National Invitational Chess Training Program for Girls
These events are open to all participants and alumni of the Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls.
16. In addition, the Polgar Committee will award three automatic qualifying spots at the 2009 SuperNationals Chess Championship to the top finishing girls in the open division of the Elementary (K-6), Junior High (K-9) and High School (K-12) Championship sections.
The Polgar Committee will also award automatic qualifying spots to the reigning champions in each section of the annual Susan Polgar National Open Championship for Girls, the annual Susan Polgar World Open Championship for Girls and all current qualifiers of the Susan Polgar All-Star Girl’s Chess Team (must meet age requirement).
17. Contact info: The Susan Polgar Foundation Phone: 806-742-7742 or Email: PolgarFoundation@aol.com
www.SusanPolgarFoundation.org – www.polgargirls.blogspot.com – www.SusanPolgar.blogspot.com
It looks like Lubbock will be the center of chess for years to come. What ever happened to Lindsborg, KS?
Does this mean that Texas no longer gets two spots in the tournament?
I’m looking for TTU in the league tables of USA Universities – and I can’t find them.
Anyone got any sources on this?
@ all the Anons.
Lindsborg KS still exists. Hasn’t been blown away by a tornado (yet).
Read the article again and you’ll see that TX and CA get 2 spots.
For TT chess team try this link: http://www.tatiana.net/iccl/index.cfm?page=editPlayerOrder&universityID=70
It is very disappointing that comments that suggest different ideas are squelched.
This is not a post for anonymous posters to trash this event. This is to give the players and their families information for this year’s event.
There are many people who have worked very hard to give young girls in this country opportunities to excel.
This tournament will be held at Texas Tech University for years to come. By having it here, we save each player $1,000 or more in expenses. We put the best interests of the players and their families first and not chess politics.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
Susan,
I applaud your efforts to promote girls chess and chess in general. However, you may want to be more careful in how you respond to comments as the gentleman who was disappointed (and to whom you wrote sharply to) has himself worked tirelessly to promote scholastic chess, adult chess and girls chess in particular. And has, as you say, given “young girls in this country opportunities to excel.” He (and I) are on your side. Your response to his comments left me with a bad feeling.
Dan,
I apologize if I sounded harsh. There were over 50 anonymous posts insulting the sponsors and TTU. Some even went as far as insulting the young participants.
I offered the same sponsorship package of scholarships and free accommodations for the Denker event. The total sponsorship package is worth over $1.6 million over 10 years.
As I clearly stated many times in the past, I will not hesitate deleting anonymous posts which I feel are aimed to harm the sponsors and the positive promotion of chess.
Instead of doing positive things to help, some of these people do little else other than trying to destroy the work of others.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
Susan,
Thank you for your response. I understand your position.
I look forward to working with you for the betterment of chess and chess players.
Dan DeLuca