BEGIN:VCALENDAR PRODID;X-RICAL-TZSOURCE=TZINFO:-//com.denhaven2/NONSGML ri_cal gem//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN VERSION:2.0 BEGIN:VEVENT DESCRIPTION:Webster University will host the Ninth Annual Susan Polgar Gi rls&rsquo\; Invitational\, the most prestigious all-girls chess event in the United States\, July 22 through July 27. The tournament\, which is a partnership between the Susan Polgar Foundation and Webster University \, will showcase some of the top young (under age 19) female chess talen t from across the United States.The Girls&rsquo\; Invitational begins wi th two days of intensive\, world-class training sessions with Susan Polg ar and her team\, followed by a six-round championship tournament. More than $100\,000 in chess prizes and scholarships will be awarded. The fir st- and second-place winners will each receive a four-year\, $13\,000-pe r-year scholarship to Webster University.The formal opening ceremony for the Girls&rsquo\; Invitational will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday\, J uly 24 at the Loretto Hilton Center on the Webster University campus\, 1 30 Edgar Rd. in Webster Groves. Round 1of the tournament will begin imme diately following on the Loretto Hilton stage\, at 2:30 p.m. The ceremon y and all tournament rounds are free and open to the public.Rounds 2 and 3 will take place on Wednesday\, July 25\, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.\ , and from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.\, respectively. Rounds 4 and 5 will be held on Thursday\, July 26\, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 8: 30 p.m. The tournament wraps up on Friday\, July 27\, with Round 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.\, immediately followed by the closing ceremony.St . Louis native Margaret Hua\, 13\, is the tournament&rsquo\;s top seed.C hess is increasingly valued for its instructional impact. Globally\, edu cators recognize chess as a tool to cultivate interest and success in ST EM (science\, technology\, engineering and math) disciplines. \;Abou t Susan PolgarChess Grandmaster Susan Polgar\, World and Olympiad Champi on\, and her Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE) relocat ed to Webster University in June from Texas Tech University. In addition \, all members of the reigning national collegiate champion Texas Tech & ldquo\;A&rdquo\; chess team are transferring to Webster to be enrolled a t the University this fall. At Webster University\, SPICE and Susan Polg ar are leaders in promoting chess as a vehicle for global diversity and academic excellence\, enriching the education of children and for promot ing women's chess. The mission of SPICE is to be the nation's premier ce nter for chess education\, research\, technology and outreach.Susan Polg ar is one of the strongest female chess players in history. She is the w inner of four world championships and the only world champion in history &ndash\; male or female &ndash\; to win the Triple Crown (Rapid\, Blitz and Classical Chess world championships). Polgar also is the first woma n to break the gender barrier to qualify for the Men&rsquo\;s World Cham pionship Cycle\, earn the Men&rsquo\;s Grandmaster title\, and to receiv e the Grandmaster of the Year Award. In 2011\, Polgar became the first f emale head coach to lead a men&rsquo\;s Division 1 team (Texas Tech Univ ersity) to the national title. Polgar led her team to a second national title in 2012.Polgar is considered a trailblazer who has made an enormou s impact in the chess world. She is recognized as the one who laid the f oundation for female chess players everywhere. She also believes in the ability of chess to help children of all ages to do better in school as well as develop important like skills. \;About Webster UniversityWit h its home campus in St. Louis\, Webster University (www.webster.edu) is the only Tier 1\, private\, non-profit U.S.-based university providing a network of international residential campuses. Founded in 1915\, Webst er University&rsquo\;s campus network today includes metropolitan\, mili tary and corporate locations around the world\, as well as traditional r esidential campuses in Asia\, Europe and North America. The university i s committed to delivering high-quality learning experiences that transfo rm students for global citizenship and individual excellence. \;# # # \; \; \; \; URL:http://webstergroves.patch.com/events/susan-polgar-girls-invitational -chess-competition SUMMARY:Susan Polgar Girls' Invitational Chess Competition LOCATION:Loretto-Hilton Center: 130 Edgar Rd\, Webster Groves\, MO END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR