SPICE Cup begins on 19th!

2009 SPICE Cup

The highly-anticipated SPICE Cup tournament will begin on September 19th and touts one of the strongest lineups in U.S. history for a closed tournament. GM Susan Polgar has raised the stakes and improved on last year’s tournament that had an average rating of 2605.5. This year’s field has an array of strong, young talent including several of the world’s top junior players. The strength tips the scale at 2631 or Category 16.

Player
Nation
Flag
ELO

GM Dmitry Andreikin

Russia
Russia
2659

GM Wesley So

Philippines
Philippines
2644

GM Varuzhan Akobian

USA
USA
2636

GM Yuriy Kuzubov

Ukraine
Ukraine
2636

GM Rauf Mamedov

Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
2626

GM Jon Ludvig Hammer

Norway
Norway
2585


There is also a Category 11 “B” tournament held in conjunction with the “A” tournament. This tournament also boasts an impressive field with 14-year old phenom IM Ray Robson vying for his last Grandmaster norm. He will have a tough road in facing top seed IM Gabor Papp of Hungary. There is another player vying for his 3rd GM norm and that is IM Benjamin Finegold. The Michigan-based player is arguably the strongest IM in the country and hopes to close the deal in Lubbock.


Player
Nation
Flag
ELO
IM Gabor Papp
Hungary
Hungary
2562
IM Davorin Kuljasevic
Croatia
Croatia
2547
GM Eugene Perelshteyn
USA
USA
2542
IM Ray Robson
USA
USA
2527
GM Andre Diamant
Brazil
Brazil
2526
IM Ben Finegold
USA
USA
2515
IM Gergely Antal
HUN
Hungary
2486
GM Vinay Bhat
USA
2474
IM Oliver Barbosa
PHI
Philippines
2451
FM Danny Rensch
USA
2388


In the past several years, Texas Tech has gone from being a chess desert to a chess oasis under the leadership of Polgar. She has created a thriving chess community and a powerful collegiate team. Her continued success at organizing venues for girls and women’s chess have been commendable. Now she has added elite tournaments to her agenda. Certainly this tournament will bring excitement to Lubbock, Texas. Stay tuned!

Coverage: https://monroi.com/2009-spice-cup-chess-festival-home.html
SPICE Cup reports: https://susanpolgar.blogspot.com/search/label/SPICE%20Cup

22 Comments

  1. I’m hoping for GM Ben Finegold and GM Ray Robson!
    Ben will be Michigan’s first native GM.
    If Ray earns his last norm in this tournament he will be the youngest American GM in history.

  2. SPICE Cup “A” (Round One)
    Saturday, 19th September 2009, 2pm

    Player Nation Flag Result Player Nation Flag
    Akobian USA USA ½-½ Mamedov Azerbaijan Azerbaijan
    Andreikin Russia Russia ½-½ Hammer Norway Norway
    So Philippines Philippines ½-½ Kuzubov Ukraine Ukraine

    SPICE Cup “B” (Round One)
    Saturday, 19th September 2009, 2pm

    Player Nation Flag Result Player Nation Flag
    Finegold USA USA 1-0 Ippolito USA USA
    Antal Hungary Hungary 1-0 Diamant Brazil Brazil
    Papp Hungary Hungary ½-½ Rensch USA USA
    Robson USA USA ½-½ Perelshteyn USA USA
    Bhat USA USA ½-½ Kuljasevic Croatia Croatia

    Games: https://www.thechessdrum.net/palview4/spicecup2009-1.htm
    Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess

  3. SPICE Cup “A” (Round Two)
    Sunday, 20th September 2009, 2pm

    Round Two underway!

    Player Nation Flag Result Player Nation Flag
    Mamedov Azerbaijan Azerbaijan ½-½ Kuzubov Ukraine Ukraine
    Hammer Norway Norway 1-0 So Philippines Philippines
    Akobian USA USA 0-1 Andreikin Russia Russia

    SPICE Cup “B” (Round Two)
    Sunday, 20th September 2009, 2pm

    Player Nation Flag Result Player Nation Flag
    Kuljasevic Croatia Croatia ½-½ Diamant Brazil Brazil
    Rensch USA USA 0-1 Antal Hungary Hungary
    Perelshteyn USA USA ½-½ Papp Hungary Hungary
    Ippolito USA USA 0-1 Robson USA USA
    Bhat USA USA ½-½ Finegold USA USA

    Games: https://www.thechessdrum.net/palview4/spicecup2009-2.htm
    Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess

    Group A

    1st-2nd: Andreikin, Hammer 1.5
    3rd-4th: Kuzubov, Mamedov 1.0
    5th-6th: So, Akobian 0.5

    Group B

    1st: Antal 2.0;
    2nd-3rd: Robson, Finegold 1.5;
    4th-7th: Papp, Bhat, Kuljasevic, Perelshteyn 1.0
    8th-9th: Diamant, Rensch 0.5
    10th: Ippolito 0.0

  4. SPICE Cup “A” (Round Three)
    Monday, 21st September 2009, 2pm

    A wide shot of the venue. Photo by SPICE (Polgar).

    Player Nation Flag Result Player Nation Flag
    Andreikin Russia Russia ½-½ Mamedov Azerbaijan Azerbaijan
    So Philippines Philippines ½-½ Akobian USA USA
    Kuzubov Ukraine Ukraine 1-0 Hammer Norway Norway

    SPICE Cup “B” (Round Three)
    Monday, 21st September 2009, 2pm

    Player Nation Flag Result Player Nation Flag
    Finegold USA USA 1-0 Kuljasevic Croatia Croatia
    Robson USA USA 0-1 Bhat USA USA
    Papp Hungary Hungary 1-0 Ippolito USA USA
    Antal Hungary Hungary 0-1 Perelshteyn USA USA
    Diamant Brazil Brazil ½-½ Rensch USA USA

    Games: https://www.thechessdrum.net/palview4/spicecup2009-3.htm
    Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess

    A Group

    1st-2nd: Andreikin, Kuzubov 2.0
    3rd-4th: Hammer, Mamedov 1.5
    5th-6th: So, Akobian 1.0

    B Group

    1st: Finegold 2.5
    2nd-5th: Bhat, Antal, Perelshteyn, Papp 2.0
    6th: Robson 1.5
    7th-9th: Diamant, Kuljasevic, Rensch 1.0
    10th: Ippolito 0.0

  5. Not sure where they get that record. Bhat had a big post on his blog after he made GM. He put his FIDE profile up to prove that FIDE had awarded him the title. Very nice individual. 🙂

    Bhat and Robson is a match between two former record holders for youngest U.S. National Master. Nicholas Nip now owns that record (age nine).

  6. SPICE Cup “A” (Round Four)
    Tuesday, 22nd September 2009, 2pm

    Player Nation Flag Result Player Nation Flag
    So Philippines Philippines ½-½ Mamedov Azerbaijan Azerbaijan
    Kuzubov Ukraine Ukraine ½-½ Andreikin Russia Russia
    Hammer Norway Norway 1-0 Akobian USA USA

    SPICE Cup “B” (Round Four)
    Tuesday, 22nd September 2009, 2pm

    Player Nation Flag Result Player Nation Flag
    Finegold USA USA ½-½ Robson USA USA
    Bhat USA USA ½-½ Papp Hungary Hungary
    Ippolito USA USA 0-1 Antal Hungary Hungary
    Perelshteyn USA USA 1-0 Diamant Brazil Brazil
    Kuljasevic Croatia Croatia ½-½ Rensch USA USA

    Games: https://www.thechessdrum.net/palview4/spicecup2009-4.htm
    Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess

    A Group

    1st-3rd: Hammer, Kuzubov, Andreikin 2.5
    4th: Mamedov 2.0
    5th: So 1.5
    6th: Akobian 1.0

    B Group

    1st-3rd: Antal, Finegold, Perelshteyn 3.0
    4th-5th: Bhat, Papp 2.5
    6th: Robson 2.0
    7th-8th: Rensch, Kuljasevic 1.5
    9th: Diamant 1.0
    10th: Ippolito 0.0

  7. Live Action at the SPICE Cup!

    Live Action at the SPICE Cup!

    SPICE Cup “A” (Round Five)
    Tuesday, 23rd September 2009, 2pm

    Player Nation Flag Result Player Nation Flag
    Andreikin Russia Russia ½-½ So Philippines Philippines
    Akobian USA USA ½-½ Kuzubov Ukraine Ukraine
    Mamedov Azerbaijan Azerbaijan ½-½ Hammer Norway Norway

    SPICE Cup “B” (Round Five)
    Tuesday, 23rd September 2009, 2pm

    Player Nation Flag Result Player Nation Flag
    Antal Hungary Hungary 0-1 Bhat USA USA
    Robson USA USA ½-½ Kuljasevic Croatia Croatia
    Papp Hungary Hungary 0-1 Finegold USA USA
    Diamant Brazil Brazil ½-½ Ippolito USA USA
    Rensch USA USA ½-½ Perelshteyn USA USA

    Round 5: https://www.thechessdrum.net/palview4/spicecup2009-5.htm

    A Group

    1st-3rd: Hammer, Kuzubov, Andreikin 3.0
    4th: Mamedov 2.5
    5th: So 2.0
    6th: Akobian 1.5

    B Group

    1st: Finegold, 4.0 (needs 2/4 for GM norm and title)
    2nd-3rd: Bhat, Perelshteyn 3.5
    4th: Antal,3.0
    5th-6th: Papp (3.5/4 for 2nd GM norm), Robson (3.5/4 for GM norm & title), 2.5
    7th-8th: Rensch (2/4 for IM norm & title), Kuljasevic (needs 4/4 for GM norm & title), 2.0
    9th: Diamant 1.5
    10th: Ippolito 0.5

  8. SPICE Cup “B” (Round Six)
    Thursday, 24th September 2009, 2pm

    Player Nation Flag Result Player Nation Flag
    Kuljasevic Croatia Croatia ½-½ Perelshteyn USA USA
    Ippolito USA USA ½-½ Rensch USA USA
    Bhat USA USA ½-½ Diamant Brazil Brazil
    Finegold USA USA 1-0 Antal Hungary Hungary
    Robson USA USA 1-0 Papp Hungary Hungary

    Games: https://www.thechessdrum.net/palview4/spicecup2009-6.htm
    Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess

    B Group

    1st: Finegold 5.0 (needs 1/3 for GM norm and title)
    2nd-3rd: Bhat, Perelshteyn 4.0
    4th: Robson 3.5 (needs 2.5/3 for GM norm and title)
    5th: Antal 3.0 (needs 3/3 for GM norm and title)
    6th-8th: Papp, Kuljasevic, Rensch (needs 1.5/3 for IM norm and title) 2.5
    9th: Diamant 2.0
    10th: Ippolito 1.0

  9. SPICE Cup “A” (Round Six)
    Friday, 25th September 2009, 2pm

    Player Nation Flag Result Player Nation Flag
    Mamedov Azerbaijan Azerbaijan ½-½ Akobian USA USA
    Hammer Norway Norway ½-½ Andreikin Russia Russia
    Kuzubov Ukraine Ukraine ½-½ So Philippines Philippines

    SPICE Cup “B” (Round Seven)
    Friday, 25th September 2009, 2pm

    Player Nation Flag Result Player Nation Flag
    Papp Hungary Hungary ½-½ Kuljasevic Croatia Croatia
    Antal Hungary Hungary ½-½ Robson USA USA
    Diamant Brazil Brazil ½-½ Finegold USA USA
    Rensch USA USA ½-½ Bhat USA USA
    Perelshteyn USA USA ½-½ Ippolito USA USA

    Games: Group A Group B
    Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess

    A Group (six rounds)

    1st-3rd: Hammer, Kuzubov, Andreikin 3.5
    4th: Mamedov 3.0
    5th: So 2.5
    6th: Akobian 2.0

    B Group (seven rounds)

    1st: Finegold 5.5 (needs .5 /2 for GM title)
    2nd-3rd: Perelshteyn, Bhat 4.5
    4th: Robson 4.0 (needs 2/2 for GM title)
    5th: Antal 3.5
    6th-8th: Papp, Kuljasevic, Rensch 3.0 (needs 1/2 for IM title)
    9th: Diamant 2.5
    10th: Ippolito 1.5

  10. SPICE Cup “A” (Round Seven)
    Saturday, 26th September 2009, 2pm

    Player Nation Flag Result Player Nation Flag
    Andreikin Russia Russia ½-½ Akobian USA USA
    So Philippines Philippines ½-½ Hammer Norway Norway
    Mamedov Azerbaijan Azerbaijan ½-½ Kuzubov Ukraine Ukraine

    SPICE Cup “B” (Round Eight)
    Saturday, 26th September 2009, 2pm

    Player Nation Flag Result Player Nation Flag
    Antal Hungary Hungary 1-0 Papp Hungary Hungary
    Robson USA USA 1-0 Diamant Brazil Brazil
    Finegold USA USA ½-½ Rensch USA USA
    Bhat USA USA ½-½ Perelshteyn USA USA
    Kuljasevic Croatia Croatia ½-½ Ippolito USA USA

    Games: Group A Group B
    Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess

    A Group (seven rounds)

    1st-3rd: Hammer, Kuzubov, Andreikin 4
    4th: Mamedov 3.5
    5th: So 3
    6th: Akobian 2.5

    B Group (eight rounds)

    1st: Finegold, 6 (GM norm!)
    2nd-4th: Perelshteyn, Bhat, Robson (needs 1/1 for GM title), 5.0
    5th: Papp, 4
    6th-8th: Rensch (needs .5/1 for IM title), Kuljasevic, Antal, 3.5
    9th: Diamant, 2.5
    10th: Ippolito, 2

  11. Quick Flash!

    The SPICE “B” group has been the tournament of action. Fighting games, norms on the line and ambitious play has created quite an exciting future for budding GMs. Ben Finegold has scored his last GM norm and Danny Rensch has scored his last IM norm. There was a three way tie for 1st with Finegold, Vinay Bhat and Eugene Perelshteyn scoring 6/9. Bhat was a last-minute replacement for GM Amon Simutowe.

    The “A” is competitive, but perhaps a bit too many draws. There is a round in progress and one more round remaining. There is three-way tie for 1st place with Hammer, Kuzubov, Andreikin on +1. With a group of young stars, the play has been relatively even with no breakaway result.

  12. SPICE Cup “A” (Round Eight)
    Sunday, 27 September 2009, 2pm

    Player Nation Flag Result Player Nation Flag
    Mamedov Azerbaijan Azerbaijan ½-½ Andreikin Russia Russia
    Akobian USA USA ½-½ So Philippines Philippines
    Hammer Norway Norway ½-½ Kuzubov Ukraine Ukraine

    SPICE Cup “B” (Round Nine)
    Sunday, 27th September 2009, 10am

    Player Nation Flag Result Player Nation Flag
    Antal Hungary Hungary ½-½ Kuljasevic Croatia Croatia
    Diamant Brazil Brazil 0-1 Papp Hungary Hungary
    Rensch USA USA ½-½ Robson USA USA
    Perelshteyn USA USA 1-0 Finegold USA USA
    Ippolito USA USA ½-½ Bhat USA USA

    Games: Group A Group B
    Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess

    A Group (eight rounds)

    1st-3rd: Hammer, Kuzubov, Andreikin 4.5
    4th: Mamedov 4.0
    5th: So 3.5
    6th: Akobian 3.0

    B Group (Final Standings)

    1st-3rd: Finegold, 6 (GM norm!), Perelshteyn, Bhat, 6.0
    4th: Robson, 5.5
    5th: Papp, 5.0
    6th-8th: Rensch (IM norm!), Kuljasevic, Antal, 4.0
    9th: Diamant, 2.5
    10th: Ippolito, 2.0

  13. SPICE Cup “A” (Round Nine)
    Monday, 28 September 2009, 2pm

    Player Nation Flag Result Player Nation Flag
    Mamedov Azerbaijan Azerbaijan ½-½ So Philippines Philippines
    Andreikin Russia Russia ½-½ Kuzubov Ukraine Ukraine
    Akobian USA USA 1-0 Hammer Norway Norway

    Games: https://www.thechessdrum.net/palview4/spicecup2009-9a.htm
    Photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/SPICEChess

    A Group (nine rounds)

    1st-2nd: Kuzubov, Andreikin, 5.0
    4th-5th: Mamedov, Hammer, 4.5
    5th-6th: So, Akobian, 4.0

    Analysis: This will turn out to be an exciting finale despite the high number of draws (22/27). The field is evenly-matched and only one point separates the field with one round remaining. This will be a tournament to analyze. Certainly not a boring tournament, but the players have paced themselves and avoided (at all costs) falling too far behind. There are some crazy mathematical possibilities.

    The final pairings are: Hammer-Mamedov, Kuzubov-Akobian and So–Andreikin. If Akobian and So win and Hammar-Mamedov match is draw there could a massive six-way tie!! Wow!

  14. A three-way playoff is being played to determine the overall winner. Susan Polgar has reported that Kuzubov has won the championship in the blitz tiebreak.

    Game 1: Kuzubov 1-0 Mamedov
    Game 2: Mamedov 1-0 Kuzubov

    Game 3: Andreikin 1/2 Mamedov
    Game 4: Mamedov 0-1 Andreikin

    Game 5: Kuzubov 1/2 Andreikin
    Game 6: Andreikin 0-1 Kuzubov

    Final: Kuzubov 2-1/2, Andreikin 2, Mamedov 1-1/2

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