The 2009 SPICE Cup A group has been finalized. This event will break the U.S. record by a big margin. Last year’s SPICE Cup was a category 15 event with average rating of 2605.5. This year’s average rating will be 2643.5!
Confirmed players for group A (6-player DRR – Category 16):
GM Dmitry Andreikin 2659 – Russia (#6 junior under 20 in the world – Russian Junior Champion) GM Pashikian Arman 2650 – Armenia (#4 player in Armenia, the country which won the last 2 Olympiad) GM Wesley So 2646 – Philippines (#7 junior under 20 in the world – #1 in the Philippines) GM Rauf Mamedov 2645 – Azerbaijan (#5 player in Azerbaijan) GM Yuriy Kuzubov 2635 – Ukraine (#8 junior under 20 in the world – #12 in Ukraine) GM Varuzhan Akobian 2626 – USA (#6 in the U.S. – 2008 SPICE Cup Co-Champion – 2-time Olympiad Bronze Medalist)
Because the USCF chess politicians don’t give a damn about the growth or prestige of chess in America. They’re the joke of the town. They only care about their pocketbooks and how much they can grease their friends. What a bunch of corrupt ….
Very impressive. How come the USCF doesn’t put together an event like this?
Because the USCF chess politicians don’t give a damn about the growth or prestige of chess in America. They’re the joke of the town. They only care about their pocketbooks and how much they can grease their friends. What a bunch of corrupt ….
This is a very young group, with an average age of about 20. I go for the youngest, 15-year-old Wesley So. He will top this tournament.
Wesley and Ray will combine forces to become….
Fischer Man! ™
Better than ever and back from the dead!
When was the last time Akobian was the lowest seed in a tournament!!
Next year, I hope Susan gathers an even younger group – Caruana, So, Negi, Hou, Giri, Robson. The whiz kids of chess. That would be superb!