The 15th Annual Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Invitational is set to take place from July 21-26, 2018 at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri.
Since 2003, the Susan Polgar Foundation, through its supporters, donors & partners, has awarded $5+ million in scholarships & prizes!
Rules & Conditions
The Annual SPF Girls’ Invitational (SPFGI), in its 15th year, is the most prestigious All-Girls event in the United States. It is also the first All-Girls event approved and sanctioned by the USCF back in 2003. It is an international invitational event, and will be held at Webster University campus in St. Louis, Missouri.
Each state, as well as each country in the American Continent (South, Central, and North America, as well as the Caribbean), is allowed to nominate one representative. Each Canadian province is allowed one representative to be nominated.
Official representatives should be nominated by June 1, 2018. Should the state affiliate / country fail to respond to the notice for this tournament, the SPFGI Committee may determine the candidate from that state, province or country. Official representative alternates may be substituted no later than July 7, 2018.
Special qualifying events: The Susan Polgar Foundation (SPF) will award automatic qualifying spots to the reigning winners in each section of the annual SPF National Open for Girls, the SPF World Open for Girls, as well as to the winner of the top section of the North American All Girls Championship.
SPFGI Committee and its members may elect to award a limited number of wild cards each year for the SPF Girls’ Invitational.
Eligibility: All participants should be under the age of 19 as of January 1st of the year in which the tournament is held (regardless if they are in elementary, middle or high school or even college). For 2018, this means players must be born on or after January 1, 1999.
There is no entry fee to participate in the 2018 SPFGI. Webster University will provide complimentary room and meal accommodation during the event on campus for all qualifiers! However, players are responsible for their own travel.
All past participants of the SPNI and SPFGI (Susan Polgar National Invitational/Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Invitational 2004–2017) are invited to participate in the 2018 SPFGI. Alumnae under the age of 19, can participate in all events just as qualifiers do. Alumnae born prior to January 1, 1999 will have a separate Alumnae Championship on Saturday and can also participate in the training session, bughouse and puzzle solving competitions. Alumnae registration is due by June 1, 2018.
For alumnae participants, wild card / special invitees, coaches, parents, or other family members, inexpensive accommodations are available for housing and dining on Webster’s campus. Please note that all reservations and registrations MUST be made (and accommodation expenses prepaid) no later than June 15, 2018, at the http://www.webster.edu/spice/spfgi/ event website.
Event format: 6 rounds, G/90+30, FIDE and USCF rated championship. (FIDE rules will apply).
All SPFGI participants are expected to take part in the Blitz (5+0) and Puzzle Solving competitions, while the Bughouse event is optional.
Prizes: Trophies / plaques will be awarded to the winners of the SPFGI Puzzle Solving, Blitz, Bughouse and the SPFGI Championship, as well as top under 10 and 13. Co-champions are recognized in the case of a tie, with each champion receiving a Champion’s Plaque or Trophy (co-champion’s award to be sent after the event if needed).
The Champion (or Co-Champions) of the main event will automatically be considered as a personal qualifier(s) and be invited to defend her/their title (must meet age requirement) at the 2019 SPFGI.
SPFGI Champion: Webster University full tuition and fees scholarship* (approximately $27,000 + per year x 4 years) + Champion’s Cup+ Special SPICE training package (valued at $4,000).
2nd place: Webster University scholarship (approximately $18,000 + per year x 4 years) + trophy
3rd place: Webster University scholarship (approximately $14,000 + per year x 4 years) + trophy
In case of a tie, a playoff will be used to determine the level of scholarships. For other ties standard FIDE tiebreak methods will apply.
*The scholarships to Webster University must be exercised no later than Fall of 2021, and are not transferable. These scholarships cannot be combined with other academic scholarships, or stacked. If players won scholarships in past events, they can choose to exercise the highest one. Regular academic admission criteria apply.
Increased cash scholarships this year!
1st place = $4,000
2nd place = $2,000
3rd place = $1,000
4th place = $500
Top under 13 = $500
Top under 10 = $500
Triple-crown champion (main event, blitz, and puzzle solving) = $1,000
Brilliancy prize = $100
Biggest upset prize (each round) = $50 x 6 rounds = $300
Best dressed player = $100
Best written essay about the SPFGI experience = $100
In case of a tie, cash prizes will be shared.
Eligibility for the special U-10 and U-13 prizes are for girls born after January 1, 2008 and 2005 respectively.
The Polgar Committee’s goal is to have all 50 states (including two representatives for California, and two for Missouri), the District of Columbia, as well as each country in the American Continent (South, Central, and North America as well as the Caribbean) represented. We strongly encourage each state and the District of Columbia affiliate to hold a scholastic championship tournament to determine each state’s champion and representative. Failing this, rating criteria may be acceptable. A scholastic girls’ champion or the highest rated girls’ scholastic player in a state who has no state affiliate of the USCF should contact the SPFGI Committee as soon as possible.
Event schedule:
Saturday, July 21
Arrival Day
2:00 pm Alumnae Tournament – Rapid / Blitz
(for alumnae born after before January 1, 1999)
Sunday, July 22
9:00 am – 12:00 pm: Seminar & Training
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Puzzle Solving Championship
3:00 pm: Blitz Championship
7:30 pm: Bughouse Championship
Monday, July 23
1:00 pm Opening Ceremony
2:00 pm SPFGI Championship Round 1
Tuesday, July 24
9:30 am SPFGI Championship Round 2
9:45 am Friends & Family Event Round 1
3:00 pm SPFGI Championship Round 3
3:15 pm Friends & Family Event Round 3
Wednesday, July 25
9:30 am SPFGI Championship Round 4
9:45 am Friends & Family Event Round 3
3:00 pm SPFGI Championship Round 5
3:15 pm Friends & Family Event (final) Round 4
Thursday, July 26
9:00 am SPFGI Championship Round 6
2:00 pm Closing Ceremony
3:00 pm Departure
The SPFGI Committee Chairperson is Martha Underwood (AZ).
For further details see the FAQ page.
NOTICE TO ALL STATE OFFICIALS: Please send the nomination from your state/prince/country to the SPFGI Committee: PolgarCommittee@gmail.com
Contact info in regards to event accommodation and other logistical questions: Clare Brown at 314-246-8075 or email clarebrown99@webster.edu
