Closure of SPICE: A Major Setback for Collegiate Chess in the U.S.

End of an Era: Webster University’s SPICE Chess Program Discontinued

April 30, 2023 — St. Louis, MO

In a surprising announcement that has sent shockwaves through the chess community, Head Coach GM Liem Le revealed that the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE) at Webster University will be discontinued. This program, which has been a powerhouse in collegiate chess for over a decade, has produced two world champions, three Olympiad gold medals, and more than 90 national titles.

Founded in 2007 by renowned chess player GM Susan Polgar at Texas Tech University, SPICE relocated to Webster University in 2012. Under Polgar’s leadership, the program flourished, securing 10 Pan-American Intercollegiate Championships and seven Final Four titles. Notable alumni include grandmasters such as Wesley So, Ray Robson, and Awonder Liang, who have all credited SPICE with shaping their careers.

In a heartfelt statement, Le expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be part of such a transformative program. “What I can say is that the SPICE program represented something truly special in collegiate chess,” he said. “Over the past 14 years, it consistently operated at the highest level, creating meaningful opportunities for student-athletes from around the world to pursue both academic and chess excellence.”

Despite the program’s success, the decision to discontinue SPICE was made by university officials, leaving Le and many others in the chess community disappointed. Polgar, who was not consulted about the decision, took to Instagram to criticize the university’s handling of the situation, likening it to major athletic programs being shut down at prominent universities. “This is the poorest handling of a major athletic program by a university president that I have ever witnessed,” she stated.

The SPICE team recently celebrated its record-tying 10th Pan-American Intercollegiate Chess Championship victory, highlighting the program’s ongoing success. However, financial constraints have plagued Webster University, which has faced declining enrollment and budget shortfalls. According to Patrick Giblin, Sr. Director of Public Relations at Webster, maintaining the program cost over a million dollars annually, and the university was unable to raise sufficient endowments to support it.

“While we are proud of the team’s achievements, the program never met its stated objectives of raising donations or attracting significant numbers of students to the St. Louis campus,” Giblin explained. The funds previously allocated to SPICE will now be redirected to enhance educational programming at the university.

Awonder Liang, who joined the SPICE program last year, reflected on its impact, stating, “The opportunity to play strong players without traveling abroad is a gift for any young American player.” Liang emphasized that SPICE has been instrumental in fostering a robust chess ecosystem in the U.S., inspiring other programs to recruit top talent.

As the chess community grapples with this significant loss, the future of collegiate chess in the U.S. remains uncertain. The closure of SPICE serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by university programs across the nation, particularly in the arts and humanities.

In a follow-up statement, Polgar expressed her discontent with the university’s rationale for the program’s closure, asserting that the damage to her professional reputation and the legacy of SPICE is irreparable. “Several glaring inaccuracies in the reporting require correction,” she stated, emphasizing her commitment to the welfare of the student-athletes affected by this decision.

As the dust settles on this shocking announcement, the chess community is left to ponder the future of collegiate chess and the lasting legacy of the SPICE program.