Girls Nationals Kicks Off on Friday
By Jennifer Shahade   
April 24, 2008
Angelicalead.jpg
Angelica Berrios from I.S. 318. Photo Elizabeth Vicary
The 5th Annual All-Girls Nationals, presented by the Dallas Chess Club and the Kasparov Chess Foundation (KCF) kicks off Friday April 25 with a simultaneous by Irina Krush. Reigning U.S. Women's champion and IM Krush will be in a particularly inspired mood for the girls, as she was just awarded the 2008 Samford Fellowship.

The main event begins on Saturday, April 26 with four rounds, and two more on Sunday.  Some notable pre-registered players include 2008 U.S. Women's Championship wild card Courtney Jamison, World Youth silver-medalist Sarah Chiang and members of the many-time National Championship team I.S. 318 Darrian Robinson and Angelica Berrios, pictured to the left. Other high-ranked entries include Anna Matlin, Medina Parilla, Sylvia Yang and Linda Diaz. Check out the full list here.

At stake in the Under 18 section is a Scholarship to the University of Texas at Dallas, valued at over $65,000 for an out-of-state student.

KCF President Michael Khodarkovsky is happy that this year the tournament will include: "195 registered players and the strongest ever field of competitors so far."

Look for Irina Krush's wrap-up on the event on Chess Life Online.