Dallas, TX, April 29, 2008 -- The results are in for the All Girls Nationals held in Dallas, Texas this past weekend, April 25 to 27.  With a winning score of 5.0, Medina Parrilla won the 18 & Under category, along with a four-year Academic Distinction Scholarship to the University of Texas at Dallas, valued at $68,000.

More than 200 girls from public, private and home-schools across more than 20 states, Puerto Rico and Mexico participated in the weekend-long event.  This was the fifth year the Kasparov Chess Foundation has organized and sponsored the championships, the largest all girls open in the country.  The tournament was also sponsored by the Dallas Chess Club (DCC), University of Texas at Dallas, and the United States Chess Federation (USCF).

This year, as a special award, The University of Texas at Dallas established an Academic Distinction Scholarship for the winner of the 18 years old and younger section.  The award was presented by Jim Stallings, Director of Chess Programs at the University of Texas at Dallas.  Medina’s trip as well as 16 other girls from Harlem, NY was sponsored by the Chess Program of Harlem Children’s Zone.

According to Michael Khodarkovsky, President of Kasparov Chess Foundation, this year’s competition featured the strongest field in the five-year history of the tournament.  “We had almost all of the top-ranked girls from across the country participating in this year’s event.  The girls all played their hearts out, and all proved themselves as winners,” he said.

Special thanks go to reigning US Women’s Champion, International Master Irina Krush, who performed a 25 board simultaneous exhibition against girls participating in tournament festivities.  Irina graciously gave advice and support to the girls throughout the weekend and presented awards at the closing ceremony.


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Special recognition also go to  Chief TD, National Tournament Director Francisco Guadalupe, Dallas Chess Club President Luis Salinas, Barbara Swafford, Robert and Jaimie Jones and everyone who supported the worthwhile event.

Following is a list of winners:

18 and Under Individual Winner

Medina Parrilla, NY, 5.0
Courtney Jamison, TX, 4.5    
Gayatri Vempati, TX, 4.0

16 and Under Individual Winner

Angelica Berrios, NY, 6.0
Darrian Robinson, NY, 5.0    
Brianna N Conley, OH, 4.5

16 and Under Team Winner

I. S. 318, New York
Angelica Berrios 6.0      
Darrian Robinson 5.0
Brittanie Uddin 4.0

14 and Under Individual Winners

Rochelle Ballantyne, NY, 5.0
Catherine Hochman, NY, 5.0
Jasmine M Fermin, TX, 5.0    

14 and Under Team Winner

NYI318, New York
Rochelle Ballantyne 5.0      
Jasmine M Fermin 5.0
Najeebah Williams 4.0

12 and Under Individual Winner

Caroline Zhu, CA, 5.5
Eileen Dai, TX, 5.0    
Julie E Flammang, NY, 5.0