European Chess Union, UT Dallas Partner to Award Scholarships

The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) and the European Chess Union (ECU) will form an international partnership in intercollegiate chess to award two Academic Honors Scholarships to the winners of the Boys Under-16 and Girls Under-16 sections in Sibenik, Croatia, in September 2007. 

UTD Undergraduate Dean of Education, Dr. J. Michael Coleman, under whose auspices the Chess Program and Chess Team fall, will award the scholarships.

The idea was proposed last fall, after the UT Dallas team’s first international match with the University of Belgrade.

“This seems like the logical next move for our program,” Coleman said.

He stated that, when Jim Stallings the, first approached him with the idea, it made good sense. Coleman said, We had completed our first international match with the University of Belgrade and this seemed like the logical next move for our program internationally.” 

James Stallings, director of the chess program, said, “There is probably no other youth tournament in the world that can compare in terms of the depth and strength of competition. We also know about this tournament from international players who are now members of the UT Dallas team.”ECU President Boris Kutin described the partnership as “a fantastic idea.” 

“When Director Stallings and I discussed this proposal, my response was ‘Welcome to Sibenik!’” The partnership was formally accepted by Secretary General Horst Metzing, via correspondence noting that  the proposal had been “unanimously accepted by the ECU Board.”  

Both UTD and the ECU believe that this recognition for the talents of young master level chessplayers is good for chess and the university.

“One of the main goals of the program ten years ago was to recruit top students not just from the United States but from around the world adding to the richness of the diversity of our campus,” said Coleman. “We have not been disappointed by the quality of the students that are on our chess team. They do well academically at UTD, graduate, and go on for advanced degrees.”

The Sibenek tournament is a nine-round Swiss System that begins on September 13 with arrival of delegations and an opening ceremony. The ninth round and closing ceremony will be on Sunday, September 23.  Sibenik is the oldest Croatian town on the Adriatic coast with a natural port and a population of 51,000.

UT Dallas’ chess team is part of a much broader chess program that includes, among other things, on-line chess instruction for teachers and students on the use of chess in the classroom as an educational tool. Learn more at the Chess Program website.

About UT Dallas

The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor, enrolls more than 14,500 students.  The school’s freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores.  The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs.  For additional information about UT Dallas, please visit the university’s website at www.utdallas.edu.

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