Chicago, IL, May 19, 2004 -- Everyone who participated was a winner at the inaugural National All-Girls Chess Championships, which took place at Chicago's Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum, May 15 - 16, 2004. The tournament, organized by the Kasparov Chess Foundation, featured competition among nearly 200 girls, ages 5 through 18 from public, private and home schools throughout the United States.

Although girls from the New York Metro area were considered favorites and did prove their chess prowess across all age groups, other participants from Florida, Texas, Ohio, Illinos and Kentucky finished strong. Their success demonstrates the increase in popularity of the sport of chess throughout the United States.

Following are the results based on age groupings:

Eight Years Old or Younger

Individual Winners:
1. Anna Matlin, NJ
2. Eve Zhurbinsky, NJ
3. Alice Li, KY

Team Winners:
1. West Homestead, FL
2. Latin, IL
3. McKenzie, IL

Ten Years Old or Younger

Individual Winners:
1. Liliya Leybova, NY
2. Eve Litvak, NJ
3. Adriana Kille, IL

Team Winners:
1. Half Day Elementary, IL
2. PS 180, NY
3. Greenhill School, TX

Twelve Years Old or Younger

Individual Winners:
1. Alisa Melekhina, PA
2. Courtney Jamison, TX
3. Abby Marshall, OH

Team Winners:
1. Spence School, NYC
2. Arai Middle School, IL
3. Prussing, IL

Combined Fourteen, Sixteen and Eighteen or Younger

Individual Winners:
1. Medina Parrilla, NY
2. Stephanie Ballom, TX
3. Anna Ginzburg, NY

Team Winners:
1. MS 118, NY
2. IS 318, NY
3. Lane Tech College HS, IL

According to Michael Khodarkovsky, Vice President of Kasparov Chess Foundation, the tournament was a tremendous success and there are already plans underway for next year1s event. "This was a great showing for an inaugural tournament with players representing nearly every corner of the country and as far away as Hawaii," said Mr. Khodarkovsky.

About Kasparov Chess Foundation
Founded by World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov, KCF's mission is to bring the many educational benefits of chess to children throughout the United States by providing a complete chess curriculum and enrichment programs. The Foundation promotes the study of chess as a cognitive learning tool in curricular classes and after-school programs for elementary, middle and high schools, both in the public and private school sectors. The not-for-profit educational organization also organizes tournaments and competitions on a local and national basis. For more information, please visit http://www.kasparovchessfoundation.org.

Back Top