Chess Team Warming Up for Winter Break

It’s a time for finals and, evidently, a chilly winter break. But the UT Dallas Chess Team is warming up for one of the season’s biggest tournaments.

The team will spend December preparing for the Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship, known as “The World Series of Chess,” which is Dec. 27-30 in Dallas. Since 2000, the chess team has won the championship or tied for first eight times. Last year, the team went undefeated to claim the championship.

“We will have a bull’s-eye painted on our backs from our convincing 6-0 win last year. Still, I think everyone would prefer it that way,” said Jim Stallings, the chess program director.

To get ready for the Pan-American, nine team members will play in the eighth annual UT Dallas Grandmaster Invitational at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Richardson Dec. 15-20. They are:

	•	Grandmaster Valentin Yotov
	•	Grandmaster Cristian Chirila
	•	Grandmaster Julio Sadorra
	•	International Master  Milos Pavlovic
	•	International Master Salvijus Bercys
	•	International Master Puchen Wang
	•	International Master Conrad Holt
	•	International Master Eric Hansen
	•	FIDE Master Tyler Hughes

The distinguished visitor of the invitational this year is Grandmaster Alexander Onischuk, the third highest ranked grandmaster in the United States.

“Our players will have a tough time playing against Onischuk, but it will be excellent training for the Pan-American,” said Rade Milovanovic, the chess team coach.

Other honorees, who will also be making ceremonial first moves, include Dr. Abby Kratz, UT Dallas associate provost; Rodney Thomas, IBM executive and advisory president for the Chess Program; and John Jacobs, senior vice president for economic development at the Richardson Chamber of Commerce.

Games from the Invitational tournament can be seen online at the Mon Roi website or at the Internet Chess Club (ICC) website.