I have the pleasure to announce that GM Susan Polgar and Webster University extended invitations for Canadians girls starting next year to participate in “The 13th Annual Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Invitational” scheduled to take place at Webster University, Saint Louis, Missouri (date will be announced later). The event will offer more than $200K in prizes and scholarships.
Webster University will provide complimentary room and meal accommodation on campus for all qualifiers.
The annual Susan Polgar Girls’ Invitational, is the most prestigious all-girls event in the United States. It will once again be held at Webster University (St. Louis, Missouri).
• There will be an intense training session with Susan Polgar and members of the SPICE team, followed by a 6 round (g/90+30) FIDE rated championship tournament.
• The traditional Blitz, Puzzle Solving, Bughouse events will stay the same as in previous years.
• There will be many chess prizes awarded, as well as scholarships to Webster University.
Each Canadian province is allowed one representative to be nominated by June 1, 2016. Official representative alternates may be substituted no later than July 1, 2016. Should the province affiliate fail to respond to the notice for this tournament, Andrei Botez may determine the candidate from that province.
Players must have been enrolled in a school (up to 12th grade) located in the province they represent, also of the year in which the tournament is held. Home-schooled students who are 19 or under on the year in which the event is held or students who have never attended traditional college on a full time basis prior to July 1 of the year in which the tournament is held, are eligible to represent the state in which they reside.
Exception: If a player graduates from high school early and is already attending college, she may still represent her province if nominated. This is the decision of each province affiliate.
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: The participants of the Susan Polgar Girl’s Invitational DO NOT have to be high school students. Any qualifier who is 19 or under (on the year in which the tournament is held) is eligible!
Players are required to furnish the organizer an emergency phone number and the e-mail address of a parent/guardian.
There is no entry fee to participate in the 2016 SPFGI; however, players are responsible for their own travel. For all provinces representatives, Webster University will provide complimentary room and meal accommodation on campus.
For alumni participants, wild card/special invites, coaches, parents, or other family members, inexpensive accommodations are available for housing and dining on Webster’s campus. Please note that all reservations and registrations MUST be made (and accommodation expenses prepaid).
Prizes: Trophies / plaques will be awarded to the winners of the Susan Polgar Foundation Girl’s Invitational Puzzle Solving, Blitz, Bughouse and the SPFGI Championship. 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) of the main event will automatically be invited to defend her/their title (must meet age requirement).
Champion: Webster University scholarship* (approximately $24,000+ per year x 4 years) Champion’s Cup. (In case of a tie, a playoff will used to determine the level of scholarships)
2nd place: Webster University scholarship (approximately $14,000+ per year x 4 years)
3rd place: Webster University scholarship (approximately $12,000+ per year x 4 years)
* The scholarships to Webster University must be exercised no later than Fall of 2018, and are not transferable. In addition, these scholarships cannot be combined with other academic scholarships, or stacked. If players won scholarships in past events, they can choose to exercise the highest one.
The Polgar Committee’s goal is to have all 10 provinces represented. We strongly encourage each province affiliate to hold a scholastic championship tournament to determine each province champion and representative. Failing this, rating criteria may be acceptable. A scholastic girls’ champion or the highest rated girls’ scholastic player in a province who has no state affiliate of the CFC should contact Andrei Botez.
Susan Polgar and/or the Polgar Committee and its members may elect to award a limited number of wild cards each year for the Susan Polgar Girl’s Invitational.
Special qualifying events: The Polgar Committee will award automatic qualifying spots to the reigning winners in each section of the annual Susan Polgar Foundation NO for Girls and the Susan Polgar World Foundation Open for Girls.
The SPFGI Chairperson is Martha Underwood (AZ).
NOTICE TO ALL PROVINCES OFFICIALS: Please send the nomination from your province to Andrei Botez.
Contact info: Andrei Botez (iushu@hotmail.com)
The Susan Polgar Foundation can be contacted at 806-281-7424 or through info@PolgarFoundation.org.