The winner of the eighteenth annual FRANK P. SAMFORD, JR. CHESS FELLOWSHIP is Rusudan Goletiani, a twenty-three year old chess teacher and Women's Grandmaster (WGM) of Hartsdale, New York. The Samford Fellowship identifies and assists brilliant young American chessmasters by providing the resources and funding needed to enhance their skills and reach their full potential. The total value of the Fellowship is approximately $32,000 per year. The prize is awarded for one year, renewable for a second year.

The winner was chosen by the Samford Fellowship Committee, consisting of Frank P. Samford III (son of Samford Fellowship founder Frank P. Samford, Jr.), former U.S. Chess Champion Grandmaster Arthur Bisguier and International Master John Donaldson. The winner's potential was determined based on her chess talent, work ethic, dedication and accomplishments.

Ms. Goletiani, the first woman to win the Samford, was born in Sukhumi, Soviet Georgia, in 1980. At age ten she won the USSR Chess Championship for Girls under age 12. While still in Georgia Ms. Goletiani won a number of other important chess contests, including the World under-14, under-16 and under-18 Championships for Girls. In 1999 she finished third in the World Championship zonal tournament which qualified her for the Women's World Championship.

In 2000 Ms. Goletiani emigrated to the United States. She won the Pan American Women's Championship in Venezuela in 2003, which also qualified her to compete for the Women's World Championship. Her other chess activities in America include teaching chess to schoolchildren from age five through middle school. Here is a typical Goletiani game:

WGM Rusudan Goletiani- WIM Elena Lopatskaya Moscow, 1998 1. Nf3 c5 2. e4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. Nbd2 e5 6. Bg2 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Rel f6 10. c3 Kh8 11. Nh4 Be6 12. f4 Qd7 13. f5 Bf7 14. Be4 b5 15. Qf3 Rfd8 16. a4 a6 17. axb5 axb5 18. Rxa8 Rxa8 19. c4 bxc4 20. dxc4 Ndb4 21. Ng6+ hxg6 22. fxg6 Be6 23. Bf5! Kg8 24. Qh5 Qd6 25. Ne4 Qd4+ 26. Be3 Qxc4 27. Bxe6+ Qxe6 28. Ng5 Black Resigns

Speaking of the opportunities offered by the Samford Fellowship, Ms. Goletiani said, "I have been dreaming about this since I was six years old."

The Samford Chess Fellowship was created by the late Frank P. Samford, Jr. of Birmingham, Alabama. Mr. Samford was a distinguished attorney and CEO of Liberty National Life Insurance Company (now Torchmark). He was active in civic, business, political, educational and cultural affairs and was an enthusiastic competitor in chess tournaments. The Samford Fellowship provides top-level coaching, strong competition and access to study materials. The Fellowship also provides a monthly stipend for living expenses so that the winners may devote themselves entirely to chess.

Over the last sixteen years the Samford Fellowship has proven very successful. Several of the Fellows have become grandmasters and a few have won the U.S. Chess Championship. Ms. Goletiani's term as Samford Fellow will begin on July 1, 2004. The Fellowship is administered by the U.S. Chess Trust (Ms. Barbara Vandermark, at 845-562-8350, Ext.138).

Generous contributions from Mrs. Virginia Samford and Torchmark Corporation support the Fellowship. The Samford Fellowship is a fitting memorial to an extraordinary man. The dedication, creativity and achievement that marked Mr. Frank P. Samford, Jr.'s life are examples for all chessplayers to admire and emulate.