UT Dallas Chess Team Achieves Historic Success in Collegiate Competitions
Highlights Include Championship Victory, Strong Women’s Cup Performance, and World Championship Qualifying Efforts
UT Dallas Chess Team Achieves Historic Triumphs in Spring Competitions
Richardson, TX — The University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) chess team has made headlines this spring, capturing the Collegiate Chess League championship for the first time in its six-year history, while also securing a commendable second place in the inaugural Women’s President’s Cup and finishing third in the qualifying phase for the FIDE World University Team Chess Championship.
In a thrilling finale on April 17, the UT Dallas team triumphed over India’s SRM Institute of Science and Technology with a score of 9½-6½, marking a significant milestone for the Comets. The victory was propelled by standout performances from Grandmasters Aditya Samant and Gergely Kantor, who contributed 3 points and 2½ points, respectively. Finance junior and Grandmaster Koustav Chatterjee clinched a pivotal win in the final match, allowing his teammates to secure the championship with a draw from computer science sophomore and Grandmaster Yair Parkhov.
“This victory is a great milestone for the team, and our players absolutely deserved it with their exceptional play in the playoffs,” said UT Dallas coach and Grandmaster Mikhail Antipov. “Last semester, luck wasn’t on our side, but this time we got what we deserved.”
The Comets finished the regular season with a strong 6-1 record, tying with Saint Louis University (SLU) for the top spot. In a surprising semifinal, SRM upset SLU, paving the way for UT Dallas to avenge its only regular-season defeat in the championship match.
Team captain Rahul Srivasthav Peddi expressed pride in the team’s achievement, stating, “This is something we’ve come incredibly close to achieving over the past few seasons, so it feels especially rewarding. I’m extremely proud of our result, and we’ll do our best to defend the title this fall.”
Women’s President’s Cup
In addition to the men’s team success, the UT Dallas women’s chess team showcased their talent in the inaugural Women’s President’s Cup held in Columbia, Missouri, on March 21-22. They finished second, earning 7 points and outperforming Webster University and UTRGV. The title was decided in a tense final round, where SLU narrowly defeated UT Dallas 3-1.
Despite falling short of their expectations, the team gained invaluable experience competing at the highest collegiate level. “The team fought valiantly each round and gained valuable experience,” said GM Julio Catalino Sadorra, the chess program director.
Blitz & Rapid Championships
The UT Dallas chess program also shone at the U.S. Online Collegiate Rapid and Blitz Championships, where healthcare leadership graduate student and woman grandmaster Maili-Jade Ouellet claimed the women’s division title in the rapid event and secured second place in the blitz event. Fellow teammates Ann Chumpitaz and Munkhzul Davaakhuu also excelled, with Chumpitaz finishing second in the rapid event and Munkhzul taking third in blitz.
World University Championship
Looking ahead, the UT Dallas squad is gearing up for the FIDE World University Team Chess Championship, having finished third out of 22 teams in the first qualifying phase. The team, consisting of Samant, Parkhov, Chatterjee, and Ouellet, will compete in the knockout phase on May 16-17, aiming for a spot in the prestigious tournament set for August in Kazakhstan.
“We are grateful to our gaming and esports program manager Joshua Buchanan for providing a private playing room for the chess team, ensuring a stable internet connection during this stage of the prestigious international event,” Sadorra noted.
With a blend of historic achievements and promising future competitions, the UT Dallas chess team is poised to continue its ascent in the world of collegiate chess.