(Crossville, TN) The third annual GM Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls (under 19) took place on August 6-11 at the Double Tree Hotel in Oak Brook, IL.  This is a culmination of a series of regional, state and nationwide qualifying events over the past 12 months that involved over 3,000 vying to represent their respective states.

For the second year in a row, Abby Marshall, from Virginia, won the 3^rd Annual GM Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls.  After winning her first five games, she clinched her first place finish with a draw in the last round against the #1 seed Courtney Jamison, from Texas.  This time she won the national championship representing a different state.  The move from Ohio to Virginia didn’t affect her play at all.  Abby bested a field of 44 girls to win top honors.  Last year, she earned a scholarship to the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) for her first place victory.

Finishing right behind Abby and tied with five points was Elina Kats, from New York and Louiza Livschitz, from Northern California. Elina got second place on tie-breaks. Following them with 4-1/2 points each were top-ranked Jamison and Ashley Carter, from Michigan. 

Along with winning first place in the invitational, Marshall also came in first in the Susan Polgar National Invitational for Girls’ Blitz Championship with a perfect 6-0 for the second straight year. Carter got first in the Susan Polgar National Invitational Puzzle Solving Championship.

Jordana Williams from Louisiana scored 4 points to win the $500 Ursula Foster Award for the top girl 13 and under. Elizabeth Oliver of Nebraska won the Ms. Congeniality Award, an award that is voted by the players of the tournament.

The tournament is an annual event that has the best girls from each state battle it out against each other for that illustrious UTD scholarship that the university so generously awards.  Next year’s event is expected to be an even bigger and better event in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.  Here is a crucial game from the 2006 tournament winner:

2006-08-10
White: Amanda Mateer (1891)
Black: Abby Marshall (1950)

1. d4 d5  2. e3 c5  3. c3 Nd7  4. f4  Ngf6  5. Bd3 g6  6. Nf3 Bg7  7. Nbd2 a6  8. a4 b6  9. Ne5 Qc7  10. O-O Bb7  11. Qf3 O-O  12. g4 c4  13. Bc2 b5  14. g5 Nxe5  15. fxe5 Nd7  16. h4 f6  17. gxf6 exf6  18. e6 Nb6  19. h5 f5  20. hxg6 hxg6  21. axb5 axb5  22. Rxa8 Nxa8  23. Qh3 Qe7  24. Rf2 Bc6  25. Nf3 Nc7  26. Rh2 Rf6  27. Qh7+ Kf8  28. Ng5 Nxe6  29. Qh8+ Bxh8  30. Rxh8+ Kg7  31. Rh7+ Kf8  32. Rh8+ Kg7  33. Rh7+ Kf8  34. Rxe7 Nxg5  35. b3 Rf7  36. Ba3 Rxe7  37. Bxe7 Ne6  38. Bd6 Kh7  39. Kf2 Kh6  40. Kg3 Kh7  41. Kh4 Kg7  42. Be5+ Kf7  43. b4 Nf8  44. Kg5 Nh7+  45. Kh6 Nf6  46. Kg5 Ng4  47. Bf4 Nf2  48. Bg3 Ng4  49.  Bf4 Nf6  50. Be5 Nd7  51. Bc7 Nf8  52. Bd6 Ne6+  53. Kh6 Be8  54. Bb1 Nd8  55. Bc7 Nc6  56. Bc2 Kf6  57. Bf4 Ke6  58. Kg7 Na7  59. Kf8 Bf7  60. Bg5 Nc8  61. Bd8 Nd6  62. Bc7 Ne8  63. Bf4 Nf6  64. Bc7 g5  65. Bd8 f4  66. exf4 gxf4  67. Kg7 f3  68. Bd1 f2  69. Be2 Nh5+  70. Kh6 Ng3  71. Bg4+ Nf5+

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For more information on UTD please contact, The University of Texas at Dallas,

This tournament is co-sponsored by The Susan Polgar Foundation and the U.S. Chess Trust. You can find information about The Susan Polgar Foundation by visiting http://www.susanpolgarfoundation.org. Also check out http://www.uschess.org/org/patrons1.php for information on the U.S. Chess Trust.

Several side activities for the Polgar attendees rounded out the week of fun and competition for the girls.  Please contact Mr. Paul Truong at (212) 748-9587 or e-mail [email protected] for further information. Pictures of the events are available at www.PolgarGirls.blogspot.com and www.SusanPolgar.blogspot.com  

The United States Chess Federation (USCF), founded in 1939, serves as the governing body for chess in the United States and is now headquartered in Crossville, Tennessee. USCF is devoted to extending the role of chess in American society. It promotes the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for its own sake as an art and enjoyment, and as a means for the improvement of society. The USCF is a not-for-profit membership organization with over 80,000 members.

For additional information on the USCF see: http://www.uschess.org