2008 U.S. Women's Chess Championship

The USCF website has published a new article about the soon to be held "qualifier" event for the 2008 U.S. Chess Championships. The pertinent part as far as Goddesschess is concerned (one of our goals is to promote women's chess) is about the women's event. In short - to quote directly from USCF's press release: the top female finisher will receive a nod to the Women's Championship. Math tiebreaks will be used to determine those slots, if necessary. According to this current information, it appears that only four women in the entire USA have decided to enter the qualifier, hoping for a shot at one of the 10 spots in the U.S Women's Chess Campionship: WFM Iryna Zenyuk, WFM Chouchan Airapetian, Mila Mokriak and Alexey Root. Good luck to all of these chess femmes! In 2007, Goddesschess awarded a $300 brilliancy prize at the 2007 U.S. Women's Chess Championship, which was won by Liz Vicary. This year Goddesschess is sponsoring a $350 "Fighting Chess" award/prize for the best game among the women at the 2008 U.S. Women's Chess Championship. GM Susan Polgar has graciously agreed to be the judge of the game best fitting the "Fighting Chess" title in the style epitomized by the Polgar sisters. It is the intent of Goddesschess that this will be a long-term sponsorship for the benefit of the women competing in the U.S. Women's Chess Championship each year.