A number of women who attended the Women’s Committee Meeting / Workshop came up with some excellent points and suggestions. In the past few years, the Susan Polgar Foundation has focused on helping girls in chess. We now have 3 very successful events:
– The annual SP National Invitational for Girls (the most prestigious all-girls event in the US)
– The annual SP National Open for Girls (the largest all-girls event in the US)
– The annual SP World Open for Girls (the only all-girls event open for foreigners)
This year, we included the open section (for all ages). In the past 3 years, we have awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships, stipends and prizes (from many of our sponsors and donors).
However, we have not focused enough in getting more adult women to learn chess. Many chess Moms do attend chess events because of their children. They usually bring books or laptops to keep themselves busy. The proposal is to have mini camps / workshops to get them to learn chess. I think it is a wonderful idea!
Therefore, starting next year, we will have workshops and unrated tournaments for all women at our 3 events. Thank you for the suggestions!
Dear GM Polgar,
This is great news and great work on your part. Yet another excellent example of why we need you as the new USCF President. I certainly hope you are the next president.
We need to help more females become involved in chess and other “mind sports.” The scholarship amount is great news.
Though the chess politicians might be trying to work against your good plans, always remember that you have so many supporters who really appreciate your dedication and hard work.
You are proof positive that one person CAN make a positive difference if they have the desire.
So…for anyone out there who thinks “what can I do? I’m just one person.”
Well, you already know the answer. Thanks, Susan, for being such a positive role model for the many young chess players (girls and boys) here in the U.S.
I’d be interested in attending the workshops and tournaments for moms!
–Liz Marshall
Great idea to hold workshops and tournaments for moms. In our family and maybe others, my husband is the one who learned how to play chess as a child and first taught my daughter but I am the one who shleps her to tournaments so I welcome the opportunity to learn how to play.
Great Idea.
You are the best. Keep up the good work. Chess needs you.
Great Idea.
You are the best. Keep up the good work. Chess needs you.
Dear Susan,
That observation about getting moms to play is a very good one. Organizations ultimately thrive not just because of the excellence of the quality of the game, sport or activity but on a social element. That may be why chess, whose players are notorious for being prickly and touchy, have problems forming and keeping organizations going. THere is a long history of this – just look at the first big chess boom in the USA – not the Fischer boom, but the Morphy boom – many chess clubs and organizations were organized but most ultimately ended up failing due to acrimony after a few months or years.
Was the Women’s Committee Workshop closed to men?
Michael Langer
Was the Women’s Committee Workshop closed to men?
Good point about chess players being prickly and touchy. Check out the USCF issues forum for some prime examples of anti-social behavior.
… “awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships”. Does this anticipate all of these scholarships being taken up by out-of-state winners?
Do Texas Tech refuse admission to students who are good at chess but not good enough for their chosen course?
What % of these scholarships are taken up, passed up, revoked or are still ‘pending’.
Do the accompanying fathers gather in the carpark for a gripe about the opposite sex, or do they get to satisfy their urge for a quick King’s Indian?
If my mom plays, she’ll know if I lost deservedly or not. I could not invent excuses any more.
Keep talking like that and none of the moms will allow the men to play chess. Learn some manners. Try to be a good example that dads can be nice.