The 8th Annual OSCF Chess Championship is not only a route to the top ranks of scholastic chess in Oregon, but for several skilled players, it will also prove to be a pathway to a national invitational event. After Seaside, the state’s official USCF Affiliate, the Oregon Chess Federation, will forward the names of three individuals as Oregon’s nominees to three important national scholastic invitational events. Those events are described in more detail below:
[UPDATE: There is yet a fourth national invitational – the newly-formed National Girls’ Invitational Tournament — that will have a spot filled based on post-Seaside results …]
GM Arnold Denker
1) The Denker Tournament of High School Champions. Among the nation’s premier high school invitationals, the Denker takes place at the same time as the U.S. Open chess tournament, being held this year in Madison, WI. Players compete against other top high school players in a 6-round tournament held from July 27-30, and then can choose to enter the U.S. Open on the 6- or 3-day schedule (at a 50% reduced rate). The Denker winner receives a $68,000 scholarship to University of Texas at Dallas along with other prizes. Who will be invited? The nominee from Oregon will be the winner of the High School Elite section at OSCF State (see the tiebreak rules in this document). Note that this is an open section, available to all High School players otherwise qualified and registered for State. The nominee will receive a $100 stipend for travel expenses from OSCF, which will be matched by the Oregon Chess Federation, and the Denker Committee also provides a travel stipend. The nominee must indicate her or his willingness to attend the event.
2) The 10th annual Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Invitational. Held at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri on July 20 – 25, 2013, this five-day-long event is one of the most prestigious all-girls chess tournaments in the United States. It includes training by Grandmaster Susan Polgar and a tournament at which substantial prizes — including a 4-year scholarship to Webster University — are offered. While travel costs are the responsibility of the invitee, there is no entrance fee, and housing and board are provided by the Susan Polgar Foundation. Who will be invited? The nominee from Oregon will be the top-rated female player who participates at OSCF State, as assessed by the higher of her post-State OSCF and NWSRS ratings. The nominee must not have already received a nomination to the event (note that prior participants are already qualified), and must indicate her willingness to attend.
Dwight Barber
3) The Dewain Barber Tournament of K-8 Champions. One of the nation’s leading K-8 invitationals takes place at the same time as the U.S. Open chess tournament, being held this year in Madison, WI. Players compete against other top K-8 players in a 6-round tournament held from July 27-30, and then can choose to enter the U.S. Open on the 6- or 3-day schedule (at a 50% reduced rate). Who will be invited? The nominee from Oregon will be the winner of the Middle School Elite section at OSCF State (see the tiebreak rules in this document). Note that this is an open section, available to all Middle School players otherwise qualified and registered for State. The nominee will receive a $100 stipend for travel expenses from OSCF, which will be matched by the Oregon Chess Federation, and the Barber Committee also provides a $100 stipend. The nominee must indicate his or her willingness to attend the event.
4) As of February 2013, the U.S. Chess Federation has decided to hold, at the same time and place as the U.S. Open, the Barber, and the Denker, the National Girls’ Invitational Tournament. If a state affiliate nominates players for the NGIT, the Denker, and the Barber, and those players all fully participate at their events, USCF will reimburse the players the full U.S. Open registration fee. We are still evaluating stipend availability and the conditions associated with nominations to this event, but expect that the nominee will be either the top-rated or second-highest rated female player who participates at OSCF State, as assessed by the higher of her post-State OSCF and NWSRS ratings, and who has indicated her willingness to attend.
