Webster Hosts International Chess Players at Annual SPICE Cup Open Tournament

Webster University hosted its annual chess tournament at the Clayton Plaza Hotel in St. Louis on Oct. 17-22, welcoming 33 participants, including seven Grandmasters, six International Masters, 10 FIDE Masters, and three Candidate Masters. The youngest participant was 10 years old; the oldest 57 years old. The annual tournament is sponsored by Webster University and former chess coach Susan Polgar’s foundation.

The winner of the competition was Grandmaster Illia Nyzhnyk, winning the top prize of $5,000. Nyzhnyk is an MBA student at Webster University and currently ranked #61 in the world.

Tied for second place were three players, two of whom are Webster University students: Grandmaster Benjamin Gledura from Hungary; Grandmaster Yuniesky Quesada from Cuba (but now representing the U.S.); and 14-year old International Master Christopher Yoo from California.

Webster University President Julian Schuster opened the tournament by highlighting the support and dedication that Webster University provides to collegiate chess players and the local community.

“We are thrilled to host the SPICE CUP in St. Louis and offer our sincerest congratulations to the winners,” said Coach Liem Le. “We look forward to seeing some of the best players in the world again next year.”

Le previously served as captain of the top-ranked Webster chess team (2015 to 2017), coached by retired Susan Polgar who founded the SPICE Institute. He is a Grandmaster, ranked #1 in Vietnam and Southeast Asia and #31 worldwide. The Webster University chess team has been ranked #1 in Division I College Chess since its inception in August 2012. To learn more about Webster’s chess program, please visit webster.edu/spice.