Norfolk Initiative for Chess Excellence – N.I.C.E. (a partnership with Norfolk Public Schools and Urban Chess) is creating the state’s first all-girl national qualifier tournament to send girls to the Nationals and Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Chess Invitational at Texas Tech University.
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
This is a great idea.
We’ve had all-girl championships before. They were run by the Spotsy Chess Club. Check w/ USCF Board Member Mike Atkins — I think he was the Virginia Chess Federation president at the time.
Mr. Atkins didn’t put the best interest of the girls first. He’s simply a chess politician who’s doing what’s best for his political chess career. The state of Virginia sent no one to the Polgar event where girls can win scholarships, netbooks, and other prizes. The Polgar event was the first all-girls national championship which started 8 years ago and 46 players competed last year. I live in Virginia and I saw very little done for chess for girls. Thank you Ms. Suhay for creating this initiatives for many girls who were left out in the cold.
Is there a reason why Virginia didn’t send a rep to the Polgar event last year? Is there a reason why Virginia deprived their young female players of the opportunity to learn from Ms. Polgar and win college scholarships?