2009 SPICE Cup

I usually don't report on tournaments where just chess dudes are playing, but because this is a Polgar/SPICE event, I'm making an exception! Polgar and SPICE (in conjunction with Texas Tech University) have worked practically 24/7 and have done a tremendous job of putting together world-class chess events and bringing lots of excitement to U.S. chess through the SPICE Cup and other SPICE-sponsored tournaments - in just two years. It's amazing to me how quickly I, one of the audience, have gotten used to seeing Polgar put on these quality events, and it seems like it's been a long time, but it's only been a little over two years since Polgar first made the announcement of the formation of SPICE at Texas Tech in the Spring, 2007 commencement address which she gave to that graduating class. This Tournament's B Group action is exciting, I have to say! It looks like IM Ben Feingold has a good chance to score his final GM norm - he has only to get 1 out 3 points! And 14-year old IM Ray Robson is still technically alive to scoring his final GM norm too, although he faces a much greater task than Feingold. Robson needs to score 2.5 out of 3. Can he do it? Oh my! Other norms are still possible too - here is the complete breakdown courtesy of Susan Polgar's chess blog: B group 1. IM Finegold 5.0 (needs 1/3 for GM norm and title) 2-3. GM Bhat, GM Perelshteyn 4.0 4. Robson 3.5 (needs 2.5/3 for GM norm and title) 5. IM Antal 3.0 (needs 3/3 for GM norm and title) 6-8. IM Papp, IM Kuljasevic, FM Rensch (needs 1.5/3 for IM norm and title) 2.5 9. GM Diamant 2.0 10. IM Ippolito 1.0 Of course, there is lots of fabulous chess taking place among the players in the A Group, too (what is wrong with Akobian? I do not think he is outclassed by the competition - does he have the flu or something?) - but you know, I always love an underdog and with American players vying for norms, call me sentimental - I'm rooting for them all the way! There has been something of an "explosion" of American-born chessplayers earning GM and IM titles the past couple of years - it is a very exciting time in American chess. Of course, I would like to see more chess femmes participating in the mix. Could Abby Marshall (first female to win the Denker) be our first home-grown GM? Stay tuned...