Texas Tech Hosts 2011 SPICE Spring Invitational

Written by Jaryn Jones

Texas Tech University will host the 2011 Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE) Spring Invitational Saturday-Wednesday (March 12-16) in the English and Philosophy Building.

The opening ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m. Saturday in Room 201. Rounds will begin at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day.

This year’s competitors include several Texas Tech students and two high school students. The competitors are:

Faik Aleskerov – a Senior Master currently attending graduate school at Texas Tech.

Darwin Yang – a FIDE Master and currently the number one junior in Texas at 14 years old.

Daniel Naroditsky – an International Master and former World Youth Champion. He currently holds the title of number one junior in California at 15 years old.

Davorin Kuljasevic – a Grandmaster currently serving as captain of the Texas Tech Knight Raiders.

Istvan Sipos – an International Master and junior at Texas Tech.

Levon Altounian – an International Master and former North American Champion.

Marc Esserman – an International Master and former number one player at Harvard.

Andre Diamant – a Grandmaster and former Brazilian National Champion. He is currently a freshman at Texas Tech.

Anatoly Bykhovsky – a Grandmaster and former Israeli National Champion. He is currently a freshman at Texas Tech.

Jake Kleiman – an International Master and currently the number one junior in Tennessee.

The invitational is open to the public and free of charge. For more information about SPICE visit http://www.depts.ttu.edu/spice/.

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CONTACT: Paul Truong, director of marketing, SPICE, Texas Tech University, (806) 742-7742 or paul.truong@ttu.edu.