Photo courtesy of the Mayor’s Office

New York City Mayor’s Cup Super Chess Championship

On Sunday, June 25, and Monday, 26, the New York Athletic Club, at 180 Central Park South, will host the first-ever Mayor’s Cup Invitational Super Chess Tournament. The presenters of this prestigious event are the Susan Polgar Foundation, the New York City Sports Commission, the New York City Mayor’s Office, and the NYAC. The tournament’s purpose is to raise chess awareness in New York City and promote chess and education across the country.

This double round-robin tournament, with six top U.S. chess champions already confirmed, will be the strongest ever held in the United States! There to witness it and present awards will be NYC Sports Commissioner Ken Podziba. Mayor Michael Bloomberg is also expected.

Grand Master Alex Onischuk, USCF 2704, FIDE 2650
* Reigning U.S. champion
* 2000 Ukrainian Champion
* 2004 US Open Champion
* Former #1 ranked US player
* Olympiad Silver Medalist (1996) and Bronze Medalist (1998)
* Co-Champion of the 1995 World Youth Championship
* Co-Champion of the prestigious 2001, 2002 and 2003 World Open
* Co-Champion of the prestigious 2001 and 2002 National Open

Grand Master Gata Kamsky, USCF 2736, FIDE 2671
* Currently the #1 USCF & FIDE rated player in the U.S.
* Former #3 FIDE rated player in the world
* U.S. Olympian
* 1993 World Team Championship Gold medalist
* 1991 U.S. champion
* 1996 World Championship runner-up
* Winner of many prestigious events worldwide

Grand Master Susan Polgar, USCF 2557, FIDE 2577
#1 rated woman in U.S. – #2 rated in the world (former #1 and top 3 for over 21 straight years)
* Five-time Olympic Champion (5 Gold, 4 Silver, 1 Bronze)
* Winner of 4 Women’s World Championships – The only World Champion (male or female) in history to win the Chess Triple–Crown (World Blitz, Rapid and Classical Champion)
* First woman to earn the men’s grandmaster title
* First woman in history to qualify for the Men’s World Championship
* 2-time US Open Blitz Champion
* Current holder of 4 World Chess Records

Grand Master Boris Gulko, USCF 2659, FIDE 2585
* 1990 & 1998 Olympic Silver Medalist
* 1996 Olympic Bronze Medalist
* 1994 & 1999 U.S. Champion
* 1997 U.S.S.R. Champion
* 1993 World Team Championship Gold medalist
* Participated in numerous World Championships

Grand Master Alex Stripunsky, USCF 2659, FIDE 2569
* Tied for first at the 2005 U.S. Championship and 2002 U.S. Open
* Tied for second at the 2003 U.S. Championship
* Winner of the 1997 Atlantic Open and 1998 USCF Grand-Prix
* Winner of the prestigious 2001 Foxwoods Open
* Winner of the 2004 Continental Open

Grand Master Ildar Ibragimov, USCF 2704, FIDE 2637
* U.S. Olympian
* #4 USCF and FIDE rated player in the US
* Co-Champion of the prestigious 2000 & 2004 Foxwoods Open
* Co-Champion of the 2002 North American Open
* Winner of the 2004 Atlantic Open and 2004 & 2005 Continental Open,
* Winner of the 2003 & 2005 National Congress and 2005 Western State Open

The USCF average of this tournament is 2670; the FIDE average is 2615!Posted by Picasa

Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
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