The 2008 SPICE Cup will take place from September 19-28 at Texas Tech University (Student Union Building) in Lubbock, Texas.
Here are the confirmed players so far:
USA – GM Onischuk, Alexander 2734 USCF / 2670 FIDE
GER – GM Kritz, Leonid 2667 USCF / 2610 FIDE
USA – GM Akobian, Varuzhan 2660 USCF / 2610 FIDE
USA – GM Kaidanov, Gregory 2664 USCF / 2605 FIDE
USA – GM Becerra, Julio 2619 USCF / 2598 FIDE
ISR – GM Mikhalevski, Victor 2679 USCF / 2592 FIDE
POL – GM Miton, Kamil 2703 USCF / 2580 FIDE
ISL – GM Stefansson, Hannes 2597 USCF / 2566 FIDE
USA – GM Perelshteyn, Eugene 2619 USCF / 2555 FIDE (Defending Champion)
USCF average: 2660.22
FIDE average: 2598.44
This will be a category 15 event (2600+ FIDE and 2660+ USCF) which is the highest rated 10-player International RR tournament in U.S. history. The latest preliminary inquiry has gone out to 3 players over 2650 FIDE to complete the roster. I expect to finalize the last spot soon.
Invitations were made to Gata Kamsky, Hikaru Nakamura, two of the top 4 women players in the world as well as 4 other players who are over 2700. They could not make it due to prior commitment.
The SPICE Cup Invitational will be the main attraction of the annual SPICE Cup Festival. Other activities will include the Texas Women’s Open Championship, SPICE Cup Grand Prix, SPICE Cup Scholastic, SPICE Cup Pro-Am event, etc. Our goal is to add a group B next year and even more activities.
Can you invite some Indian or Filipino players next year? Maybe Carlsen too?
Can you invite Morozevich next year?
Event rating presumably depends on what their ratings are at the time, rather than now or imminently. None are on the chess.liverating site so it’s difficult to predict their imminent rating.
You only need a FIDE 2616+ player to average FIDE 2600+ on current ratings. A FIDE 2650 player therefore puts 34 FIDE rating points ‘in the bank’: they might be needed.
It’s outstanding to see a strong international event put together in the U.S., where sponsorship is so hard to come by. And a welcome addition the the scene here, where self-financed opens dominate.
Event ratings should be determined by the latest FIDE list, not anybody’s “live rating.”
And I figure Mr. Morozevich (and perhaps Master Carlsen) demands an “appearance fee” in a prohibitive amount. Are the players getting any expenses covered?
Players’ airfares, hotels, local transportation and minor expenses are covered + other extra conditions / incentives. It will be a very nice and professionally run event. The players are treated the way how I want to be treated as a professional player.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
Woow, Susan what a great feat. In a Country that looks at Chess equal to the roller durby.
To be misunderstood is a sign of greatness.
Chess is misunderstood in the US.
Susan, this is fantastic!
May the SPICE Cups become the Piatigorsky Cups of the 21st century with much spectator interest, commentaries, and even tournament books! 🙂