Thirteen-Year-Old Leads International Chess Tournament

Written by Cory Chandler

After three rounds of play, a 13-year-old Texan is leading an international slate of chess heavyweights at the 2010 SPICE Spring Invitational.

The tournament, hosted by the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence, features grandmasters (chess’ highest designation), international masters and a two-time U.S. women’s champion in one of the strongest invitational chess tournaments held in the U.S. so far this year.

However, World Chess Federation (FIDE) master Darwin Yang, of Plano, is creating the stir in room 201 of the English Building on the Texas Tech campus.

Yang has two wins and one draw to lead the tournament. Additionally, Yang could qualify for international master or even grandmaster status if he wins enough rounds in the tournament.

The ten tournament players include three members of the Texas Tech Knight Raiders A team, who will compete in the College Final Four Chess Championship in April.

Play resumed this afternoon (March 15) and continues until 8 p.m. in Room 201 of the English Building.

The remaining tournament schedule:

• Round 5: 2 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Tuesday (March 16)
• Round 6: 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Wednesday (March 17)
• Round 7: 3:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday (March 17)
• Round 8: 2-6:30 p.m. Thursday (March 18)

Games are available live at Chess Daily News and MonRoi.