National Girls Tournament of Champions

 Who's the Smartest of Them All?

Naomi took third place at the 2018 National Girls Tournament of Champions in Madison, WI on July 28-31. 

The Washington State team took second place at the 2018 team championship -- with Naomi Bashkansky at the Girls Championship, Anthony He at the Barber Championship, and Roland Feng at the Denker Championship.

Similarly, the Washington State team took second place at the 2017 team championship -- with Naomi Bashkansky at the Girls Championship, Jason Yu at the Barber Championship, and Bryce Tiglon at the Denker Championship.

Naomi played in the Tournament of Champions for two years: NationalGirlsChess.com/champions

Here are the Google Photos albums from the tournament, by date:

2018-07-28 National Girls Tournament of Champions: Opening Ceremony, Round 1

2018-07-30 NGTOC in Madison, Round 4

Naomi Bashkansky vs. Veronika Zilajeva (OK)

2018-07-31 NGTOC in Madison, Round 6, Awards

Naomi Bashkansky, Anthony He, Roland Feng

Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Invitational

Flying Solo

The 15th Annual Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Invitational (SPFGI) took place on July 21-26, 2018 at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Naomi was traveling to this chess tournament alone, for the first time ever!  

Here are the photos of Naomi from SPFGI, in the date/time order: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Y1aQ2Fg6EHJzcEmPA

Here are all the photos from SPFGI, in reverse date/time order: https://photos.app.goo.gl/hBnFwn29dppULCQK6

Saturday, July 21

Arrival Day.  After sending off Naomi on a flight to St Louis, we went to play disc golf and see a botanical garden nearby: https://photos.app.goo.gl/mquXWay7gZ9qcQuEA

Meanwhile Naomi flew to St Louis, where the organizers met her and other girls at the airport, and drove them to a Webster University dorm.

Sunday, July 22

9:00 am – 12:00 pm: Seminar & Training

2:00 pm – 2:30 pm: Puzzle Solving Championship

3:00 pm: Blitz Championship

Video: https://www.facebook.com/susanpolgarchess/videos/1784422264937569

Monday, July 23

1:00 pm Opening Ceremony

2:00 pm Round 1

Tuesday, July 24

9:30 am Round 2

3:00 pm Round 3

Wednesday, July 25

9:30 am Round 4

3:00 pm Round 5

Thursday, July 26

9:00 am Round 6

There was a 5-way tie for first place, and Sasha Konovalenko won the playoff:

https://www.themaven.net/chessdailynews/scholastic/5-way-tie-for-1st-at-2018-spfgi-konovalenko-wins-playoff-photos-standings-6bum_IAKi0KhVd-3knOwDQ/

2:00 pm Closing Ceremony

After the closing ceremony, the organizers drove Naomi to the airport and she flew to Atlanta to catch a connecting flight to Madison, WI.  

Serendipitously, Dylan Porth from Idaho flew the same route.  They had a good time:

In Madison's suburb Middleton, the National Girls Tournament of Champions is about to start: http://www.nationalgirlschess.com/selection-procedures-for-invitees/

And here, Susan Polgar shares her thoughts on all-girls chess tournaments:

https://www.themaven.net/chessdailynews/womens/why-is-there-a-need-for-some-all-girls-or-women-s-chess-tournaments-jchwvXHHk0SuodXKDF7FFQ/