Special videos:
Photos from the 2011 College Chess Final Four in Washington, DC: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess/2011FinalFourInWashingtonDC
Photos from the heroes’ welcome at Lubbock International Airport:
https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess/WelcomeHomeKRNationalChamps
Celebration with Chancellor Hance, President Bailey, Provost Smith, and VP Munoz: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess/2011FinalFourTTURecognition
In only our second year competing in Division I, team captain GM Davorin Kuljasevic scored a clutch win against the highest FIDE rated player in the Final Four, GM Leonid Kritz, in the last match to bring the biggest College Chess National Title to Texas Tech!
This is a huge upset because Texas Tech came into the tournament as the 4th seed with average rating of 50 points lower than the other 3 teams. It is like David versus Goliath.
This is the strongest Final Four in history as each team has at least 3 Grandmasters and 1 International Master. The average USCF rating of the four teams is about 2580! If the tournament starts over tomorrow, there is no telling which team will win. A single move could decide the fate of the entire tournament.
I would like to thank Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc. for sponsoring this spectacular event. The entire Final Four was first class all the way.
Final standings
1. Texas Tech
2. UTD by tiebreak over UTB
3. UTB
4. UMBC
The National Champion Texas Tech Knight Raiders chess team arrived in Lubbock at midnight after a series of long delays. But it is all worth it as they came home to a cheering crowd.
KR Recognition with Chancellor Hance, President Bailey, Provost Smith, and VP Munoz:
Here is the link to 40 pictures from the special banquet this afternoon to honor the Texas Tech Knight Raider Chess Team, 2011 National Champion.
Texas Tech Chancellor Kent Hance, President Dr. Guy Bailey, Provost Dr. Bob Smith, Vice President/Vice Provost Dr. Juan Munoz, Lady Raider Basketball Coach Kristy Curry, Deans, Department Chairs, and many other VIPs came to congratulate the Knight Raiders.
Go tech!
https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess/2011FinalFourTTURecognition
Party time!
WOW That is HUGE
Congrats Knight Raiders!
Congrats Susan!
Yes! Finally! They were so close in Milwaukee.
Congrats all around.
Dr. K
Congratulations on a well-deserved title!
The Lelko Family
Is that Texas Tech’s 1st Championship since Sheryl Swoopes led the Lady Raiders to the 1993 NCAA Womens Basketball Championship?
so proud of my teammates! they rock!
Yep, Party Time!!
What nice results this weekend has given us.
Congrats! and Well done!.
Mike Magnan
1310 The Ticket in Dallas just reported Tech’s big victory.
Well, their lead was “UT-Dallas takes second place,” but they mentioned Texas Tech’s victory.
Dude!
18 years later, minus one day, the Knight Raiders follow in the Lady Raiders’ footsteps.
Nothing could be as big as that championship (ask anyone who watched it on TV or drove through the campus over the next 36 hours), but this is a super-achievement for Texas Tech, showing once again that we really CAN out-think far more heralded and celebrated universities.
Diamant meu herói, Suzan meu sonho de professora ! hehee
Sucesso !!!