Polgar Leaving Texas Tech 2

Susan Polgar is moving her chess program from Texas Tech University to Webster University in St. Louis, clearly affirming St. Louis as the hottest chess hot spot in the country. From the New York Times:

The top 10 players at Texas Tech — eight grandmasters and two international masters, some of whom had just committed to the university — are also switching. They are scheduled to start in the fall; Ms. Polgar is to begin on June 1. On paper, Webster will have the No. 1 ranked team in the country.

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Webster had an endowment of about $80 million and was financing the new program, including the cost of scholarships, entirely on its own. The financial commitment would run at least long enough for the students who are matriculating, some of whom are freshmen, to graduate. Mr. Schuster said that having a top team would eventually more than pay for itself by raising Webster’s profile and stimulating interest in the university.

WSC Wrapup

Jude closes out a ride on the chess roller coaster with two consecutive wins. Final tournament score: +5, -4, =2. Welcome him back on Monday, arriving MSY at 4:49pm on Air France.

Caffeine Deficiency?

Jude apparently undermedicated with instant cappucino and took a loss in Round 5. No games today, so he will have time for an Acers power walk around Opatija and booking it heavily for Round 6 tomorrow. Current tournament ranking is 84.

Dietary Secrets of the Chessmasters

Jude has revealed that his dietary staple during the arduous WSC tournaments is instant oatmeal from Wal-Mart. He makes room in his luggage for at least 80 packets, and this year has supplemented the regime with a large jar of instant cappucino. Those of us looking to improve our games […]

WSC Round 4

Jude played to a draw with Acosta. He currently ranks #58, an improvement on his initial ranking of 60. Tomorrow he faces a Latvian player, Batakovs.

WSC Round 3

Jude notches another win, and draws yet another U.S. opponent. In Round 4 he plays black against Mariano Acosta on Board 35.

WSC Round Two

Jude takes a loss in a free-swinging game against GM Jansa; however, a loss to such a highly rated player should not damage his FIDE rating noticeably. Tomorrow he takes on another American player, Michael Schemm. No live viewing of this one, as it will not be one of the […]

Jude in Opatija

Every fall for five years now I have driven Jude to the airport for his journey to the World Senior Chess Championship. This has been dubbed “White Horse Limo Service”, for reasons that only Acers could adequately explain. This year, as I helped load his baggage in the White Horse […]

FLASH!

Don’t forget to catch Jude’s CHESSFLASH WORLD NEWS updates at Chess Lab!

Go, Dyhemia Young

Along the way, the 15-year-old from the wrong side of San Francisco, who could not have made it to a prestigious chess tournament without the kindness of strangers, became a nationally rated player.