23rd Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Invitational

23rd Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Invitational

June 6-7, 2026 -- Online on Chess.com

Welcome to the 23rd Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Invitational. This year the event will be held online by combining elements from the past in-person and online events.
 

Eligibility

• The event will only be open to female players with USA residence, born on or after January 1, 2007;
• Each State Federation can nominate up to two representatives;
• The winner of each girls’ section of the 2025 SPFNO;
• Limited number of personal invitations;

The event will have two stages:

• Main Event: Players will play in a 6-round Swiss event on Day 1;
• Play-off: Top 4 players then move onto a Play-off on Day 2: a single elimination bracket with 2-game matches and possible Armageddon to break the tie.

Main Event

• Event date: Saturday, June 6
• Event start time: 1:00 pm ET / 12:00 pm CT / 10:00 am PT
• Event format
  • One open section
  • 6-round Swiss tournament
  • Games will be USCF Online regular-rated
  • 25’ + 5” time control
  • Pairing will be based on June 2026 supplemental OTB or online regular rating, whichever is higher.
• Round times (in Pacific Time zone):
  Games start at 10:00 a.m. and run on a rolling schedule, with each round beginning shortly after the previous round concludes and pairings are announced.
• 30-minute break between Round 3-4 (around 1:00-1:30pm PT)
• Players will earn 1 point for the win, 0.5 point for a draw, and 0 point for a loss
• The following Tie-Break Systems will be used:
  If only a two-way tie:
  • Direct encounter
  • Modified Median
  • Median
  • Solkoff

If three or more:

• Modified Median
• Median
• Solkoff
• Direct encounter
• Games will be played on chess.com:
  • The tournament director will be starting the games: players do not need to challenge each other, or “join” a tournament.
  • Players need to be on www.chess.com/play/online and wait for their game to start.
• Standings and match information will be available in a Google Sheet.
• Players must adhere to the Fair Play Regulations  outlined below.

Play-off

• Event date: Sunday, June 7
• Event start time: 1:00 pm ET / 10:00 am PT
• Event format
  • 4-player single-elimination bracket
  • 2 games per match
  • Games will be USCF Online regular-rated
  • 25’ + 5” time control
  • Match start times: (first game start time; second game starts 10 minutes following the first game finish)
    • Semifinals: 10:00 am PT
    • 3rd Place Match and Final: TBD after the Semifinals, around 4:00 pm ET.
    • Players will earn 1 point for the win, 0.5 point for a draw, and 0 point for a loss.
    • The first player to reach 1.5 points wins the match.
  • If tied, an Armageddon game to break tie:
    • Drawing for colors will be determined by random computer draw.
    • White gets: 5 minutes
    • Black gets: 3 minutes
    • No increment.
    • Black has draw odds.
• Games will be played on chess.com:
  • The tournament director will be starting the games: players do not need to challenge each other or “join” a tournament.
  • Players need to be on www.chess.com/play/online and wait for their game to start.
• Standings and Pairings will be available in a Google Sheet.
• Pairings will be posted as soon as possible.
• Players must adhere to the Fair Play Regulations outlined below.

Prizes

Cash Prizes: $1,500 total in cash scholarship to be used towards any chess activity.

• $600 - First place
• $400 - Second place
• $200 - Third place
• $100 - Fourth place
• $100 prize to the top finisher under 13 years old (born after January 1, 2013)
• $100 under 10 years old (born after January 1, 2016).
    ** Prizes will be paid electronically via Zelle or Paypal, or a check will be sent via mail.

Additional Prizes

• 1st Place: Free entry to the 2026 SPICE Cup (Nov 4-9, 2026 in Bellevue, WA).

Fair Play Regulations

• Chess.com account
  • All players must have a chess.com account in good standing.
  • All players must display their full name in their profile during the duration of the tournament. (Pre- and post-tournament players are welcome to remove it.)
  • If an account is a second chance account, players are required to disclose that to the Chief Tournament Director.
  • Players whose account is closed for fair play violation during the event will be disqualified immediately, and the result of any completed games will be adjusted per US chess rules.
  • Games will be reviewed after the event for fair play. Players whose account is closed as a result of the review will be disqualified from the event, and their results will be adjusted per US Chess rules.
• All players, for all games, are required to join a video conference call for monitoring by tournament officials.
• Games will not start until both players are on the call and the tournament director has finished examining players.
• No chat between players during the game.
• Zoom meeting
  • Click here for the link:
  • ID: coming soon, Passcode: coming soon
• Two-camera setup
  • Players might be required to share their computer screen and have two cameras.
  • One camera must clearly show the player’s full face and immediate surroundings beyond the player.
  • The other camera should be placed behind the player diagonally at approximately a 30-degree angle with the player’s desk and monitors clearly visible.
  • One camera must have audio turned on, the second camera does not need to have audio connected.
  • Players may further be requested to submit to a Computer Inspection, an Environment Inspection at any time in any match.
  • Headphones and blurred backgrounds are not allowed for this event.
• All players must share their screen and record their own screenshare to their local computer, and upload it to an online folder. A link will be provided closer to the event.

Information for State Affiliates

• Please nominate players via the following Google Form: https://forms.gle/inFyRP9YKN8gS6JU6
• Deadline to nominate: Wednesday, May 27

Contact Details

• Tournament Organizer
  • Susan Polgar Foundation
  • Email: [email protected]
• Chief Tournament Director
  • NTD, IA Judit Sztaray
  • Cell: +1-919-265-7560
  • Email: [email protected]
• Players Meeting
  Wednesday, June 3rd at 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT