The College Chess Tournament of Champions features the best Player from each College across the United States. A six round Swiss-style tournament, the College Champions is held at the same location as the U.S. Open.

The Tournament of Champions has been established to determine thetop individual college player in the United States. A prize fund details to be announced here soon.

Two important notes:

1. The tournament is Free!
2. Before the end of the semester and everyone goes on vacation, have your college official fill out the entry form certifying you!

General Information

Eligibility:
This event is open to all colleges in the United States. Participants must have been enrolled in the spring semester prior to the U.S. Open. Up to three players from each college may enter. An official of their university using the entry form provided by the USCF must certify players.

There will be three sections:
a) Open, b) Under 2100 c) Under 1700.

Playing Schedule:
The 6-round Swiss and Tournament Reception will consist of the following dates and times: Tournament

Reception 4 PM Saturday, August 2, 2008
(REQUIRED ATTENDANCE AND CHECK-IN).
All participants are required to attend for photo session, awarding of Medallions and introduction
of dignitaries.

• Round 1-Saturday, August 2, 2008. Same time as evening round of US Open.
• Round 2-Sunday, August 3, 2008- 11AM,
• Round 3-Same starting time as evening round of US Open.
• Round 4-Monday, August 4, 2008- 11 AM.
• Round 5-Same starting time as evening round of US Open.
• Round 6-Tuesday, August 5, 2008- 11 AM, Tournament Awards Ceremony- 4
  PM.

The time control will be 90 minutes per player with 30 second increment added per move. This is the approved FIDE time control.This schedule is especially convenient, because it allows players an opportunity to participate in the U.S. Open. See webpage located at: http://main.uschess.org/tournaments/2008/usopen/. This is possible because you can now enter the 6 day schedule with a bye in Round 1 or the 5 day schedule of the US Open.

Travel & Accommodations:
Players are responsible for their own travel and accommodations. Players sharing rooms should make their arrangements carefully, as neither the USCF nor the tournament are responsible for any consequences arising from such arrangements.

Where?
The College Tournament of Champions will begin on Saturday August 2, 2008 and end on Tuesday August 5, 2008. This event is run during our US OPEN which for this year begins on August 2 and ends on August 10, 2008.

The Westin Park Central
12720 Merit Drive
Dallas, TX 75251
1-888-627-7032
$99 Chess Rate

Entry Form:
The entry form can be found at http://main.uschess.org/tournaments/2008/usopen/, or you can open it via the college chess page by clicking here.

Emergency Contact Information:
Each player must provide the Tournament Director with a phone number of a parent or other responsible adult in case of an emergency.

Contact information:
James Stallings, Chair College Chess Committee
800 W. Campbell
Richardson, TX 75080
(972) 883-2898
FAX (972) 883-2896
E-Mail: james.stallings@utdallas.edu

"The University of Maryland, Baltimore County's chess team lost its bid yesterday for a fifth national championship, and, as tends to be the case for any brazen team accustomed to winning on its competition's grandest stage, talk immediately turned to next year.

The team finished second to the University of Texas at Dallas in the President's Cup - college chess' equivalent to the basketball Final Four. But with two grandmasters coming to the school from Israel and another one from Ukraine, the chess director for UMBC says he expects his team will be in good position to avenge yesterday's finish.

"They outplayed us. Hats off to them. We feel pretty badly," said Alan T. Sherman, later adding, "But we should have an even stronger team next year."

Dozens showed up at the UMBC game room to watch the competition between the nation's premier chess teams. Miami Dade College and New York University finished third and fourth, respectively."

The Baltimore Sun

The full article can be found here.

"With queens and bishops, they rule the Final Four
By Joe Burris
sun reporter

April 5, 2008
As the Down and Dirty Dawg pep band blared Michael Jackson’s Thriller and the theme to Hawaii Five-O, scores of University of Maryland, Baltimore County students marveled at the scene unfolding in the student commons, complete with cheerleaders, the school mascot, the school dance team and a chess set with pieces 6 feet tall.

“Are we allowed to play with those?” asked UMBC sophomore Rupa Patel of Annapolis, as classmates posed for cell-phone photos with the oversized pieces and hoisted them from square to square as if staging an impromptu game.

“Only at UMBC, I guess,” said freshman Kat Patterson of Silver Spring.

Her words were echoed by many who attended the chess pep rally earlier this week, arranged to stoke enthusiasm as the school prepared to host the President’s Cup today and tomorrow - the Final Four of college chess.

Last month, the school got swept up in its first-ever run to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, but that was an anomaly. At UMBC, chess has long been king. It has won four President’s Cups since the event began in 2001. The game is woven into the identity of the Catonsville school, part of its aim to be viewed as a place where development of the mind takes priority over other pursuits.

To that end, UMBC has taken uncanny measures to raise the chess club’s profile, such as becoming one of the first universities in the nation to offer chess scholarships - up to full tuition plus a $15,000 annual housing stipend. The scholarships, said junior Elizabeth Kurdirka of Ellicott City, “make me wish I knew how to play.”

“UMBC is a vibrant place for smart people who value activities of the mind, and chess is an exciting spectator sport,” said UMBC chess director Alan T. Sherman. In the late 1980s, he and other school officials sought to bolster the school’s academic reputation by making chess its staple."

Here is the full article

Mind games: UMBC chess
Found on SusanPolgar.blogspot.com

" By Andrea Thomson
Senior Staff Writer

“I like its logic, irrationality and dynamics. I love harmony between pieces and how one should understand this harmony to succeed in understanding the game,” remarked Katerina Rohonyan, chess Grandmaster (GM) and member of UMBC's chess A-team.

The A-team, which consists of sophomore GM Sergey “The Stealth” Erenburg, sophomore GM Timur “The Uzebekdragon” Gareev, M.S student GM Pawel “The Polish Magician” Blehm, senior WGM Katerina “The Kiev Killer” Rohonyan, freshman Aaron “The Detroit Destroyer” Kahn, and freshman Alexander “The Washington Wizard” Barnett, is the most highly ranked of UMBC's three chess teams.

On April 5 and 6 UMBC's chess team will be hosting the U.S. Intercollegiate Chess Team Championship. The A-team will be up against opponents from New York University, Miami Dade College, and the University of Texas at Dallas. Last year UMBC took second place in the championship. The tournament will take place in the UMBC Commons Game Room, second Floor. Before this event there will be a week long festival which will include chess game exhibitions and a pep rally.

All members of the A-team have participated in chess tournaments in the past. Most of the players have won several national or international championships and are GM's. Timur Gareev, a Coca-Cola Chess Fellow and Economics major, explained that the title of Grandmaster or GM means that “you can play chess professionally.”

Gareev describes chess as a game that brings “aesthetic satisfaction”— one in which players must very often employ his best character traits and mental abilities in order to succeed. Nonetheless, “Chess is not just about having a higher rating or a GM title,” he added.

Here is the full story."

The world has less than 1,000 chess grand masters. Freshman international business major Axel Bachmann is now one of them. Becoming a grand master, the highest title in chess, takes talent, persistence and years of practice.

“We are extremely proud of Axel for attaining the title of grand master,” said Russell Harwood, UTB/TSC Chess Program director. “It’s a very important step for our chess program and for the university.

“Axel is the first student that has attained the Grand Master title while attending UTB/TSC. … It’s really hard to do being a full-time successful student and playing the required tournaments and doing really well at those tournaments in order to get the title.”

Elizabeth Perez from the Collegian
http://blue.utb.edu/collegian/stories/chess.htm

Found on Susan Polgars blogspot

Dear college chess enthusiasts,

Registration is now open for the annual college spring team championships event starting on February 3rd. There are a wide variety of colleges that will be playing. From the perennial powerhouses such as the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) and University of Maryland , Baltimore County (UMBC), all the way down to the two year community college JV teams, your club should find equally matched play. Your club does not have to be strong to play in this event; it is for everyone in our college community. There is no cost to play in the event, and for the 3rd year, the Internet Chess Club has graciously offered to provide your students with free ICC accounts. This league will be played online during Sunday afternoons, and while we encourage the teams to get together in a facility to play; it is not required—and the students may play from their own home if need be.

The tournament will be a 5 round Swiss Team Tournament. The tournament will be directed by Jon Haskel, who has vast experience directing chess tournaments and events. Jon is also recognized by the USCF, as well as FIDE where he is a titled ‘FIDE International Organizer'. His expertise will ensure that the tournament is held on schedule, and is run smoothly. The schedule is posted at http://www.tatiana.net/iccl/index.cfm?page=schedule.

Thank-you!

Sincerely,

Gregory Alexander

UTD reeled off five consecutive match victories, and scored a tie in the last round against UMBC, to retain the champion title in the 'World Series of College Chess'. According to the UTD Coach, Rade Milovanovic, the turning fifth round match was a slugfest between the two perenial rivals whom entered the match seeded 1 and 2 respectively.

“The match was even until our board 4, freshman Salvijus Bercys, finally won, and that gave us a victory of 2.5-1.5,” Milovanovic said.

“Sal was winning, but his clock got down to 18 seconds at one point,” said Jim Stallings, director of the UT Dallas chess program. “The entire championship was riding on one last play. You scored and won the game; or you lost everything.”

“The time scramble had a large crowd silently frozen as they watched,” Stallings said.

The tournament, held this year at the Miami Dade College campus, is more than 60 years old. About 150 players on 28 teams from colleges in the U.S., Canada and the West Indies took part in the event.

The final standings are at http://www.bocachess.com/2007PanAm.htm

For USCF coverage, see http://main.uschess.org/content/view/8107/431/

The entire UTD Team

UTD versus Stanford

Around 1,400 players took part in the National K-12 / Collegiate Championships in Houston this weekend, and Roy Robson, a 13 year old chess sensation, made his final IM norm.

"In The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) GM Invitational (December 6-14) Ray Robson shares the lead with 4.5/6 along with GM Alejandro Ramirez and IM Davorin Kuljasevic. With just over half the tournament over, Ray has already won his final IM norm! Can he get a GM norm? You can find out by following CLO coverage and by watching the games live on Monroi.com. Ray's play impressed GM Magesh Panchanathan so much that he decided to wear a red hat just like Ray's! (See the photo on the left.) Magesh's explanation: "Ray is my inspiration." 

The full article can be read at http://main.uschess.org/content/view/8068/141/

While this was a wonderful award to receive, I believe that it is a team award and would like to say thank-you to the entire CCL team.

"I consider this USCF award an award for our entire team. Everyone in our group is very dedicated to working together to improve college chess. I would personally like to thank Michael Aigner and the late Duncan Oxley, who were always there to assist us and the players learning on the Internet Chess Club. Michael is an extremely important asset, and I have always respected his advice. I would also like to thank Nick Mattelli who helped me follow through creating the league; Sara Walsh, whom I have always relied upon to perform as my co-tournament director; Jon Haskel, for taking over the role of the senior TD in the last two years allowing me to concentrate upon other things; and Jim Stallings—who is both my chairman and a valued friend. I look forward to continuing to serve."

Gregory Alexander, November Volunteer of the Month

Richardson, Texas (Nov. 9, 2007) —UT Dallas’ chess players triumphed in a rematch Friday, roaring back to win the trans-Atlantic competition that they had lost to the University of Belgrade in a similar Internet competition last year. Chess enthusiasts around the world monitored the rematch, including all 450 scholastic affiliates of the U.S. Chess Federation.

The final tally was eight wins for the UT Dallas team, two losses and six ties. The Comet cheerleaders got the match off to a rousing start in Davidson Auditorium, where the UT Dallas players huddled over computer screens for the 90-minute game of wits. Team members sported their new, orange jerseys for the event.

A video screen helped spectators follow some of the action from various games in the 16-game competition. In Serbia, match organizers had hoped to fill a 700-seat amphitheatre for the spectators. Among UT Dallas fans were four male students who had painted their chests with the letters to spell “Igor” in honor of Igor Shneider, a national master on the home team. They stood in silence, as is necessary during the close concentration demanded by tournament play, then joined the more relaxed play-by-play analysis group in the lobby.

It was the second year in a row that the two teams have squared off. The University of Belgrade is Europe’s best college chess team, and UT Dallas is the top-ranked U.S. team. The speed and intensity of the match has become legendary among chess aficionados. “This is the equivalent of the number one football team squaring off against the number two team,” said Jim Stallings, director of the UT Dallas Chess Team, which since its founding more than a decade ago has finished first or tied for first five times in the Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship.

Greetings everyone!

This year we are having another great 16-board match for the “Transatlantic Cup”. In 2006, The University of Texas at Dallas and The University of Belgrade teams were evenly matched with their 2330 FIDE ratings. In fact, the match went down to the last game with Belgrade winning by the score of 8.5-7.5. The 2007 match promises the same excitement with both teams again fielding teams with average ratings of 2300+. (2200 is master level in the U.S. rating system.)

Last year we spoke of the historic 20-game radio matches that took 4 days to complete decades ago. This year there is chess history as well in Dallas, Texas. It is the golden 50-year anniversary of the famous Dallas 1957 International tournament. That was held in the Adolphus Hotel and featured some of the strongest players of the day, such as Najdorf, Larsen, Reshevsky and Gligoric. The latter two tied for first. From Dallas, we wish GM Svetozar Gligoric in Belgrade the very best!

We are very pleased that you are able to join us for this great intercollegiate chess match. UT Dallas is fielding an extremely strong 16-board chess team. Almost every single team member has a master ranking. The roster of our chess team highlights UT Dallas’ ability to draw strong chess player scholars from everywhere in the world. As you look inside at the biographical information on the team, you will see team members from seven states and nine countries. Offering undergraduate students the opportunity to contend in intellectual competitions makes UT Dallas attractive to these talented students.

The Office of Undergraduate Education sponsors intellectual programs, such as the Chess Program – with its international, national, and state tournaments and matches. These programs enhance the reputation of the university and are reflective of the intellectual environment at UT Dallas. They also emphasize the role of intellectual endeavors as a part of the life of an educated individual.

Please enjoy watching some of UT Dallas’ future scientists, engineers, and business leaders of tomorrow take part in a battle of wits with the young Serbian leaders of tomorrow. This educational development of graduates is part of what UT Dallas does for “Creating the Future.”

Regards,
Jim Stallings
Director, Chess Program
The University of Texas at Dallas

The Chessville Open is played as correspondence email chess via a server that allows anyone to view and analyse the games. Most games are played at a time limit of 2 days per move. Most actual moves are made about five moves a day as average if the player isnt online with you at the time.

More details can be found at http://www.letsplaychess.com/chessclubs/tournamentviewone.asp?userid=&tournamentID=87833&from=179341

Please contact Robert at robmtchl at bellsouth.net for more information.

Hi all,

We would like to state a few rules prior to the first round of the tournament.

1. Players will be allowed to take up two 1/2 point byes.  Byes for round 5 must be reported prior to the start of the round 4 games.

2. If a player has ever had a USCF rating and it is not properly listed for that player, it must be reported to the CCL administrators ASAP so the correction can be made.  Remember that once rated always rated, so if you have a USCF rating and your last rating was from 10 years ago, you must use that rating.  Do not list an ICC rating for yourself.  If you do not have a USCF rating, but have some other established rating, you may request that the other rating be used rather than being listed as unrated.   If it is determined that you are a class winner at the end of the tournament and it is reported to us that an incorrect rating was used, you may lose that title.  Any corrections reported by others must be reported within 10 days of the conclusion of the tournament.

3.   Players not showing up within 30 minutes of the start of a round will be forfeited.  The players will also be removed from the remainder of the tournament unless they subsequently contact the administrators and the administrators allow them back in.  For the 1st round only, players may be repaired if their opponent is a no-show.

Sincerely,

Jon Haskel Senior CCL TD

Registration is now open for the upcoming online individual College Chess League (CCL) tournament that starts on October 14th. This tournament is open to all student chess players in the America’s and we will announce several category winners. The tournament starts on Sunday, October 14, and your team registrations must be in by noon Friday, October 13.

Important note: ICC will be offering free accounts, and will also graciously offer a 33% discount on ICC accounts for all student participants after the tournament!

This year’s Individual Online Championship Schedule

Games are played online on Sunday afternoons at 3 PM EST (= 2 PM CST = 1 MST PM = 12 PST).

The dates for 2007 are:

• Round 1 -- October 14,
• Round 2 -- October 21
• Round 3 -- October 28
• Round 4 -- November 4
• Round 5 -- November 11
  

Prior to registration, please review the rules

http://www.tatiana.net/iccl/index.cfm?page=generalRules

And register at http://www.tatiana.net/iccl/index.cfm?page=register

We have many Grand-Master level players, and beginners. If you want to be a spectator, free to log on ICC and root for your team, and watch the games.

If you would like to hear more about this event, please go to http://www.collegechess.org. We will also be using the ICCL email list to send out further information about upcoming tournaments, so we would appreciate it if you sign up on the ICCL mailing list.

Also, we would like to remind you that the National K-12 Collegiate Championship will take place in Houston on December 7 - 9. The Pan-American Intercollegiate Championship, our premiere OTB event, starts on December 27-30 in Miami. To register for the Pan-Am Games, go to http://www.mdc.edu/panamchess/.

Please take a look at our other planned events at http://www.tatiana.net/iccl/index.cfm?page=schedule

Thank-you for your support of college chess!

Sincerely,

Gregory Alexander
USCF College Committee Associate Chair

I am sad to report that Duncan Oxley has passed away. He was a fixture on ICC and the USCF and has done much to promote our game. He also helped to provide free ICC accounts for our college chess players in the last several years, and was available to the college community to always lend a gracious hand to us and help. I considered Duncan a true gentleman and friend and will dearly miss him. We send out our condolences to his friends and family all over the world.

Rest in peace Duncan.

Donation in memory of Duncan Oxley can be made to:
Friends of Marina Library
PO Box 493
Marina, California 93933

A four round Swiss tournament will be held on Sunday, October 28, 2007.

Sunday, October 28, 2007
Registration 8:00-9:15 AM
The Catholic University of America Pryzbala Center, Room 321
620 Michigan Avenue N.E., Washington, D.C. 20064. 

Plenty of free weekend parking or directly on the Red Line Metro!  Food available on campus!
Prizes: 80% of EF fund returned for prizes! Open: 40%-25%-15% Top U1800, U1400 each 10%

For more information, contact Bill Frame at 11FRAME at cua.edu. The flyer is posted in the CCL forums as a word document.

Note from the webmaster: we will happily announce all of the collegiate tournaments for your college. Please contact Gregory and Jim using the contacts page.

The U.S. Chess Federation presented the “Chess College of the Year” award to UTB/TSC on Saturday, August 4, during a special ceremony at Cherry, Hill, N.J.

Russell Harwood, UTB/TSC Chess Program director accepted the award on behalf of the university.

“I’m very proud to be receiving this award on behalf of the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College,” Harwood said after the ceremony. “It is validation for what we have done up until now and the direction our program is headed. I think it will encourage us to set our sights higher and will make everyone associated with the program very pleased and proud.”

Jerry Nash USCF scholastic director said UTB/TSC not only attains many qualities that placed them at the top for the award, but also serves as a model for chess organizations across the country.

“Not only did (UTB/TSC) have a strong program, but they had a strong community outreach,” he said. “The Brownsville model I think it’s being looked at all over the country as far as the impact that chess has had on the community, as well as the lead role the university has taken to influence chess. So they are really being noticed across the country.”

Although UTB/TSC has become a formidable opponent over the years to big-name teams, including the University of Texas- Dallas and The University of Maryland-Baltimore, they are also recognized by these schools for their success in the last five years.

“One of the advantages I had as chairman of the college chess committee is the chance to observe all the colleges and the work they are doing across the country,” Stallings said. “What impressed me most about UT Brownsville is what they are doing in terms of their team and that’s important because we want to model that to other colleges because sometimes the teams look at top teams and say, “We can’t get there,’ and this is an example of ‘Yes! You can get there.’”

William Marcy, Provost for Texas Tech University, announced during a press conference on Saturday May 12th the establishment of a new institute dedicated to the advancement of chess.  He also announced the hiring of several highly experienced chess professionals to head up the Institute.

SPICE will fall under the Office of the Provost and we believe it is the first time such an institute has been established at a university - possible anywhere.

The motto of SPICE is "Academic Excellence through Chess". 

SPICE will serve as the focal point for a) outreach program b) Knight Raiders chess club and a chess program c) Women's chess and d) Texas Tech University System.  Under of the groups there are many levels of categories.  For example, d)  will encompass classes, scholarships, seminars, recruitment and research.  These are further broken down into subcategories with goals and objectives.   For example, reasearch will be aimed at AI, Cognitive studies, Women's Studies, History/Politics, Child Development, Curriculum Development and Chess in Education (in the broad sense).  We anticpate to have Joint faculty from the University and the Health Sciences Center working in close colloboration with SPICE.  We will have a close colloboration with the High Performance Computing Center at TTU and many other centers throughout the campus and even with satillite campuses and/or other universities under the Texas Tech University System.  We will reveal  more of  detail of the structure of SPICE (which will hopefully also evolve) at a later date.

Sincerely,

Hal Karlsson