Filipino Grandmaster Wesley So will leave for the US early next year to accept an offer to study under an athletic scholarship at Texas Tech, a US NCAA Division I school where he hopes to play on the top board.

So, 18, got the invitation from Hungarian GM Sofia Polgar, who coached the Knight Raiders to the national chess championship despite playing with an underdog team of players coming from different countries.

“I will go to college at Texas Tech to take up a computer course and play there upon the invitation of Sofia Polgar,” So, the country’s youngest GM and the highest ranked national chess player, told The STAR recently.

“But first, I need to pass the entrance examination before I could play there,” he added.

Aside from So, who recently received P150,000 cash incentive from the Philippine Sports Commission for winning a gold and a silver medal in last month’s 26th Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia, 24-year-old German GM Georg Meier is also being recruited by Polgar to join Texas Tech.

Interestingly, both So and Meier happened the have the same FIDE rating of 2659 that was good for a share of 89th place in the world rankings.

“She (Polgar) told me I might play Board One or Two since George and I are almost of equal strength,” said So. “But I really must pass the exams for me to get the scholarship and I’m confident I will.”

So and Meier are expected to join GM Anatoly Bykhovsky of Israel, GM Davorin Kuljasevic of Croatia, GM Andre Diamant of Brazil, IM Istvan Sipos of Hungary and Faik Aleskerov of Azerbaijan, who were all part of the US NCAA champion squad, at Texas Tech. 

source: Joey Villar | philstar.com

http://teampilipinas.info/2011/12/wesley-so-invited-to-join-texastech.html

There was not much choice by Wesley. He's chess career is stagnant in the pHilippines.

This is GOOD for Wesley ! 

The Knight Raiders w/ Coach Susan Polgar at the helm assisted by her husband as coach would be great !

In her (GM S. Polgar) response to my previous query, she replied ...

May-12-11

Susan Polgar: I think he will benefit a great deal but his heart has to be in it. There will be a team of at least 5-6 other GMs at Texas Tech who can help him get to the next level. We are all ready to help him when he is ready to commit. I have no doubt that he will be 2700+ for years to come if he has the right training. Best wishes,  Susan ref:  http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=15162

This is definitely a good thing for him right now. He will learn some other aspects of the game that he probably didn't know existed. The college experience will be good for him. If his chess career does not attain the potential that everyone hopes for, he still gets a degree. How can you beat this deal?

Another case of brain-drain in the Philippines for lack of opportunities in the country. Sad day for Philippine chess. Bye Wesley and good luck!

SCOPE ...

Jan-27-12 Susan Polgar: There are more  6 of the 8 GMs in the SPICE program next year represent their countries in Olympiad / World Team.

Ray Robson will also be a part of the SPICE program next year. There will be 8 GMs total. More top players are coming. I want to give all these young men the opportunity to receive a wonderful education and chess training at the same time. More details to come soon! It will be very different than what you expect  Stay tuned!

By rating order: 
Meier - So - Robson - Hoyos - Moradiabadi - Bykhovsky - Diamant - Boros, etc.

This is just the beginning. The press release will come out soon but the SPICE program will move its main operation from Texas Tech to another university next year, a tier 1 private university in a major city (Texas Tech is not a tier 1 university as of now), which will fund the entire program. The funding from the other university will be many times bigger than at Texas Tech and that is how we are able to have 8 GMs and more coming.

All the students, including Wesley, have been told and they are very happy with the new location which will further help their chess.

Both Texas Tech and the new university are preparing the press releases now  You are the first to hear it 

Meier, Bykhovsky, Boros, Diamant, Moradiabadi, Aleskerov, and Neimer are eligible. Others will come in August 2012.

source: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=95915&kpage=4714

Feb-03-12

Susan Polgar: It is now official: Webster University acquired SPICE and Champion US College Chess Team The following students have been accepted / committed to Webster University for the Fall 2012 (August)- order based on current FIDE ratings Grandmaster Georg Meier - Germany - Sophomore  Grandmaster Wesley So - Philippines - Freshman  Grandmaster Ray Robson - USA - Freshman  Grandmaster Manuel Leon Hoyos - Mexico - Freshman  Grandmaster Elshan Moradiabadi - Iran - Graduate student Grandmaster Anatoly Bykhovsky - Israel - Junior  Grandmaster Andre Diamant - Brazil - Junior  Grandmaster Denes Boros - Hungary - Junior  International Master Vitaly Neimer - Israel - Sophomore International Master Faik Aleskerov - Azerbaijan - Graduate student

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessplayer?pid=95915

http://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/2012/02/spice-and-champion-us-college-chess.html#links

It's ...

St. Louis, MO

2012 College Chess Final Four
March 30 - April 1 in Herndon, VA / Washington DC area

#1 seed Texas Tech
#2 seed UTD
#3 seed UMBC
#4 seed NYU

Texas Tech University Knight Raiders Roster

Board 1: Grandmaster Georg "the German Precision" Meier (Germany)
Freshman - Finance
FIDE rating: 2671 - USCF rating: 2722
2011 European Team Championship Gold medalist, winner of the 19th Pamplona International, 2-time runner up of the SPICE Cup A group, #2 player on the German Olympiad team

Board 2: Grandmaster Elshan "the Knowledge Tree" Moradiabadi (Iran)
Graduate student - Business
FIDE rating: 2538 - USCF rating: 2594
Former National Champion of Iran, World Mind Sports Games Bronze medalist, #2 player on the Iranian Olympiad team

Board 3: Grandmaster Anatoly "the Rocket" Bykhovsky (Israel)
Sophomore - Finance
FIDE rating: 2536 - USCF rating: 2640
3-time National Youth Champion, 2-time Israeli Blitz Champion, 2-time SPICE Cup Champion, key member of the 2011 National Collegiate Chess Championship team

Board 4: Grandmaster Andre "the Shiny" Diamant (Brazil)
Sophomore - Economics
FIDE rating: 2494 - USCF rating: 2538
Former National Champion of Brazil, former top ranked Brazilian junior, member of the Brazilian Olympiad team, key member of the 2011 National Collegiate Championship team

First alternate: Grandmaster Denes "the Entertainer" Boros (Hungary)
Sophomore - Psychology
FIDE rating: 2482 - USCF rating: 2524
Former Hungarian youth rapid champion, former member of the Hungarian Youth Olympiad Gold medalist team

Second alternate: International Master Vitaly "the Diplomat" Neimer (Israel)
Freshman - Finance
FIDE rating: 2381 - USCF rating: 2421
Former Israeli Youth Champion, World under 14 and 16 runner up, Certified Chess Trainer

Head Coach: Grandmaster Susan Polgar
Coach: FIDE Master Paul Truong
Team Assistant: IM-elect Faik Aleskerov

bakit si GM Meier naka line-up din sa Texas Tech at naka line-up din sa Webster Univ?

^^^  Bro ivan ... the transfer of SPICE program from TTU to Webster will still be in August 2012.  Means next cycle pa for CY 2012-2013.

Copy bro joeyj. 

SPICE and Champion U.S. College Chess Team Moving to Webster University

St. Louis, Feb. 3, 2012 – Building on St. Louis’ growing reputation as a world-class chess center, Webster University is making some exciting chess moves.

The University today announced that chess Grandmaster Susan Polgar, World and Olympiad Champion, and her Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE), will relocate to Webster from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, on June 1, 2012.

In addition, all members of the reigning national collegiate champion Texas Tech “A” chess team will transfer to Webster and be enrolled at the University in the 2012-2013 academic year.

read more:  http://www.chessdom.com/spice-and-champion-u-s-college-chess-team-moving-to-webster-university