Final Day of All-Girls Nationals (Reminder: Kasparov book signing today at 3 p.m.)

Mayor Emanuel meets U of C freshman Darrian Robinson (Photo Betsy Dynako for Chess Life Online)

 

Coverage at Chess Life Online.  The event is at the Swissôtel Chicago, 323 E. Wacker.  Former World Champion Garry Kasparov will be signing copies of his books from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Kasparov to appear at All-Girls Nationals

Story at Chess Life Online.  Kasparov's last Chicago appearance was at the same event in 2006.

"At Chicago chess tournament, girls rule the board"

Caeley Harihara of Rogers Park is a freshman at Payton 

Photo: Phil Velasquez, Chicago Tribune

Nice coverage in this weekend's Trib.

Local highlights:

Caeley Harihara (photo above) was playing on the top board in final round of the 16 & Under Section.  She lost to 16U winner Lilia Poteat of New York, and finished tied for third with 4-2.

Anjali Toly tied for second in the 12 & Under section, finished 5-1, and gained a bucket of ELO.

Miranda Liu (post-event rating 1675!) scored 5-1 in the 10 & Under Section, finishing tied for third in a 59-player field.

Shreya Managalm (already 1397!) "only" scored 4½-1½ in the 8 & Under Section: Shreya won her first four games, drew the second-place finisher in round 5, and lost to Maggie Ni of Texas in round 6.

Crosstables here.  The KCF All-Girls National Championship (organized by the Kasparov Chess Foundation and Renaissance Knights) drew 230 players in six sections.  And the event will return to Chicago next year!

The John Wooden of chess

Elizabeth Spiegel is a teaching dynamo who is absolutely devoted to her students at Brooklyn's I.S. 318.  She says she isn't a genius, she just works hard.  Hard work is a form of genius....

She's in town this weekend with her students at the All-Girls National Championships at the Swissotel.  Last night, Keith Ammann and I had the pleasure of congratulating Elizabeth and trying to learn from the master.

All Girls National Championship at the Swissotel

The event (organized by the Kasparov Chess Foundation, the USCF, and Renaissance Knights) begins tomorrow at 6 p.m and continues through the weekend.  You still have time to save $5 by registering today. It's open to all girls who are 18 or younger as of April 1, 2012.

 The Swissotel (at 323 E. Wacker) is a VERY COOL location for a national chess event!

IS 318 in Chicago

Girls from Elizabeth Vicary's famous IS 318 team in Brooklyn came to Chicago to participate in the All Girls, and (not surprisingly) did rather well.  Read all about it!

Vicary analyzing with her student Mariah

Moya-Cogshell, Chicago 2011

White to play and win

Analyze forcing moves first!

Final results of All Girls National

...are on the Renaissance Knights website.

Congratulations to Penny Xu, who took 2nd place in Girls' Under 18, and to Adele Padgett, who tied for first (taking 2nd on the fourth tiebreak!) in Girls' Under 16.  Story to follow on Chess Life Online.

After three rounds of All Girls National Championships

Standings are on Renaissance Knights' website; play concludes tomorrow!

223 preregistered for All Girls National Championship!

Here's the current registration list for this USCF National Event, here in Chicago this weekend!

There's still time to enter: fortunately for the out-of-towners, the All Girls is at the Doubletree Mag Mile (and not some godforsaken suburban location, far away from tourist attractions and public transportation).