In the News: Webster Chess Team’s Historic Sweep of U.S. Open

In a historic feat, members of Webster University’s chess team swept all three titles in the prestigious 113th U.S. Open Chess Championship, Aug. 4-12, in Vancouver, Wash.

Manuel Leon Hoyos took the overall title, Andre Diamant won the blitz, and Vitaly Neimer won the Game/15. It was the first time in history that the U.S. Open champions in all three categories came from the same university.

A sampling of coverage of the feat:

From “Reflections on a Model U. S. Open” (U.S. Chess Federation, Aug. 14):

“I’d be remiss not to point out that the results of the Open and its ancillary events were a romp for three representatives of Webster University’s new 2012-13 squad, two of whom were previously on Texas Tech’s 2011-12 university championship team. The three new Webster U. teammates won three titles: U.S. Open, U.S. Open Blitz and U.S. Open game/15. Manuel Leon Hoyos, the current champion of Mexico and first board on that nation’s Olympiad team, took the overall title by virtue of his eight-point score, tie-breaks over GM Dmitry Gurevich, and a win in the one-game Armageddon playoff against John Bryant of New York.

“Teammate Andre Diamant, former Brazilian champ, won the blitz title, besting the frenetic 129-player field, while teammate Vitaly Neimer won the Game/15 over 37 others.”

Also see “113th United States Open Chess Championship – Webster makes a clean sweep” (Chessdom, Aug. 13).

Updates previously mentioned in Webster Today: “Chess Accolades; Webster Students Win U.S. Open; Polgar Named a Top Trainer in the World”

KMOX-AM: Chess in St. Louis

Finally, a recent KMOX-AM segment profiled how St. Louis has become a hub of chess activity, including the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence move to Webster University.

Tags: Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence

Category: Webster in the News, Webster News