Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE)
“The goal of SPICE is to work with our friends and colleagues to enhance chess, education, technology, and research. I strongly believe that College Chess is a critical bridge between Scholastic and Adult Chess. If we can successfully promote College Chess, we will retain a lot more of our scholastic players and transition them to Adult Chess.
“Chess as a sport is not big enough yet and there is plenty of room to grow. Therefore, it is vital that we work together and assist each other for the best interest of our sport.”
-Susan Polgar, Executive Director of SPICE
18 national, 2 state, and 2 regional titles, in addition to the national #1 ranking in College Chess in less than 5 years.
Now a new chapter at Webster University (www.WebsterChess.com) as the #1 College Chess program in the United States.
SPICE Mission
- To be the premier center for chess education, research, technology, and outreach in the nation
- To be a leader in promoting chess as a vehicle for enriching the education of children
- To be a leader in promoting women’s chess
- To recruit outstanding undergraduate and graduate students to Webster University
- To bring national and international recognition to Webster University
- To support and promote competitive chess at the college level
- To support the nation’s most elite chess program
Below is the list of Grandmasters enrolling at Webster University in the Fall of 2012:
The Webster University Chess Team is expected to be ranked #1 in the United States for the 2012-2013 season.
August 2012 ratings
| Name | Country | FIDE |
| GM Wesley So (Freshman) | Philippines | 2652 |
| GM Georg Meier (Sophomore – Co-Captain) | Germany | 2648 |
| GM Fidel Corrales Jimenez (Freshman) | Cuba | 2612 |
| GM Ray Robson (Freshman) | USA | 2598 |
| GM Manuel Leon Hoyos (Freshman) | Mexico | 2579 |
| GM Anatoly Bykhovsky (Junior – Co-Captain) | Israel | 2527 |
| GM Denes Boros (Junior) | Hungary | 2485 |
| GM Andre Diamant (Sophomore) | Brazil | 2473 |
IM Vitaly Neimer, FM Jake Banawa, and WIM Inna Agrest…
Past titled players: GM Gergely Antal, GM Gabor Papp, GM Davorin Kuljasevic, GM Elshan Moradiabadi, IM Istvan Sipos, IM-elect Faik Aleskerov, etc.
If you would like to be a part of the #1 College Chess program in the United States, please feel free to contact me at SusanPolgar@aol.com. Full and partial scholarships available for qualified student players.
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 14, 2011 – Webster University’s Study Abroad programs rank in the top 2 percent of the 1,600 colleges and universities surveyed in the just-released “America’s Best Colleges” 2012 edition of U.S. News & World Report. Webster is one of just 27 U.S. institutions to share this distinction, which recognizes study abroad programs that involve substantial academic work for credit and considerable interaction between the student and the culture.
In addition to Webster, other schools cited for their excellent study abroad programs include American University, Boston University, Carleton College, Columbia University, Dartmouth College, Duke University, Georgetown University, Middlebury College, New York University and Syracuse University, according to the U.S. News report.
“The U.S. News & World Report rankings are a confirmation of everything that makes Webster University a first-choice institution for students seeking global academic excellence,” said Webster University President Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble. “The report highlights our longtime and growing commitment to global study and global citizenship, which is recognized throughout the United States and around the world.”
Overall, Webster University continues as a Tier 1 institution, ranking 28th in the “Regional University-Midwest category and, for the third consecutive year, first in its class in the St. Louis area. U.S. News defines institutions in this category as those that provide a full range of undergraduate majors and master’s programs. Nationwide, 575 universities are in the “Regional University” category; 146 of those are in the Midwest region. Webster has been ranked a Tier 1 institution for more than a decade.
Ranking criteria include peer assessment, average freshman retention rate, average graduation rate, percent of classes with fewer than 20 students, percent of classes with more than 50 students, student/faculty ratio, percent of faculty who are full time, SAT and ACT scores, acceptance rate, percent of freshmen in the top 25 percent of their high school graduating class and average alumni giving rate.
With its home campus in St. Louis, Webster University is the only Tier 1, private, non-profit U.S.-based university providing a network of international residential campuses. Founded in 1915, Webster University’s campus network today includes metropolitan, military and corporate locations around the world, as well as traditional residential campuses in Asia, Europe and North America. The university is committed to delivering high-quality learning experiences that transform students for global citizenship and individual excellence.
Webster University will have their hands full with Lindenwood.