The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Chess Program is one of the major chess organizations in the Rio Grande Valley and an affiliate of the

United States Chess Federation The United States Chess Federation (also known as US Chess or USCF) is the governing body for chess competition in the United States and represents the U.S. in FIDE, the World Chess Federation. US Chess administers the official national rating s ...

(USCF). It consists of the Chess Team and Chess Club. The UTRGV Chess Club has approximately 100 members, which include grandmaster Anton Kovalyov, Andrey Stukopin, Carlos Hevia, Vladimir Belous, International Masters Felix Ynojosa, Guillermo Vazquez, Joshua Ruiz and Yannick Kambrath. The UTRGV Chess Team is coached by Polish grandmaster

Bartłomiej Macieja Bartłomiej (Bartek) Macieja (born 4 October 1977) is a Polish chess player who holds the FIDE title of Grandmaster (GM). He is married to Mexican chess master Alejandra Guerrero Rodríguez. He currently serves as the head chess coach for ...

. The Chess Club provides students ranging from beginner to expert a place for them to improve their game. UTRGV Chess competes at the state, national and international levels. They also help promote chess around local communities.

Organization

The UTRGV Chess Team faculty consist of Head Coach grandmaster

, Program Coordinator grandmaster Aleksander Miśta, and Dr. Douglas Stoves. The UTRGV Chess Club faculty consists of Dr. Nancy Razo and President Manuel Gonzalez.

History

UTRGV Chess was established August 31, 2015.

National championships

In 2018 the UTRGV Chess Team won its first national championship defeating the 5-time reigning national champs Webster University. In 2019, the UTRGV Chess Team successfully defended its title to win once again. In 2019, they also won the 2019 National Collegiate Rapid Chess Championship

Awards and honors

Proclamation of the City of Brownsville, Texas November, 2019
Chess College of the Year August, 2019
The State of Texas Governor Recognition May, 2019
The Texas State Senate Resolution May, 2019
The Texas House of Representatives Resolution May, 2019
UT Board of Regents Recognition May, 2019
Chess College of the Year August, 2018
Proclamation of the Hidalgo County May, 2018
Proclamation of the City of Brownsville, Texas May, 2018
Proclamation by City of Edinburg, Texas April, 2018
Letter from Senator Ted Cruz March, 2018
Letter from Congressman Vicente Gonzalez January, 2018
Proclamation of The City Commission of Brownsville TX Spring, 2016
The Texas House of Representatives Resolution Fall, 2015
The Texas State Senate Proclamation Fall, 2015
The US Chess Federation named Brownsville as the 2014 Chess City of the Year 2014
Accomplishments UTB - Legacy Institution 2002-2015

Team tournaments

References

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External links

UTRGV Chess website
Chess clubs in the United States University of Texas Rio Grande Valley 2015 establishments in Texas