Most of the 60 qualified participants of the 2009 Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls will arrive in Lubbock later today. They and their families / coaches will be picked up by our volunteers at the Lubbock International Airport and brought to Gordon Hall at Texas Tech University.
If qualified players choose to stay on TTU’s campus, players who complete the tournament will receive free accommodation (based on double occupancy; small, additional fees for single rooms or to share with family members may occur) on campus at Texas Tech University. In addition, all qualified participants will receive free meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner for 6 days = 18 meals per player). Both are being provided by TTU Provost Office, SPICE and the Susan Polgar Foundation.
The prize fund, sponsored by the Susan Polgar Foundation and the U.S. Chess Trust, are $1,250 divided into four scholarship prizes: 1st ($500), 2nd ($300), 3rd ($250), and 4th ($200). These prizes are paid to the players directly by the U.S. Chess Trust and the Susan Polgar Foundation, but only upon receipt of proof of enrollment in a college, university, trade, community, or technical school.
In addition, a $500 Ursula Foster scholarship is also awarded to the highest finisher under the age of 14. The scholarship is divided in the case of a tie.
The winner of the tournament is crowned the Susan Polgar National Invitational Champion. Co-champions are recognized in the case of a tie, with each champion receiving a Champion’s Plaque or Trophy. The Champion (or Co-Champions) will automatically be invited to defend her title (must meet age requirement).
Texas Tech University agrees to award a four-year academic scholarship (to attend TTU) to the highest finishing player who has not graduated from high school by August (value at approximately $75,000-$80,000). The scholarship must begin the following year. Tie-break calculations will be used in the case of a tie for the TTU scholarship. There will also be scholarships available for the 2nd and 3rd place finishers.
The total value for the sponsorship from Texas Tech University, SPICE and the Susan Polgar Foundation is more than $1.5 million over 10 years. This is in addition to the substantial sponsorship from the U.S. Chess Trust and the family of Ursula Foster.
Rules and regulations can be found here.
Go SPICE! Go Tech! No other university has done this, ever!
And those idiotic chess politicians want to kill this tournament.