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The Pan-Am Intercollegiate tournament is one of a kind experience. This year's event took place in the nation's capitol of Washington, DC. University of Maryland-Baltimore (UMBC) served as the host and would be making an attempt to win yet another national title. However, rival University of Texas-Dallas (UTD) would be fielding a formidable challenge.
UTD coach Rade Milovanovic decided to field two equally-talented teams and both tied for first place. UTD's "A-team" which boasted GMs Alejandro Ramirez and Magesh Panchanathan, finished second due on tiebreaks. UMBC took 3rd place after losing to both UTD teams. UMBC is the only other team to win the national crown during UTD's glorious run.
According to UTD's website,
In the past decade, UT Dallas and UMBC have emerged as unquestionably the two best college chess teams in the nation. One or the other has won the Pan Am eight years in a row. In another major annual college chess competition, the Final Four of Chess, no team other than UT Dallas and UMBC has won the event in its six-year history.
International Master Amon Simutowe has helped UTD to yet another national collegiate crown. Simutowe recently earned his undergraduate degree in economics and finance and is making preparations for graduate school. Simutowe competed for UTD's "B-team" which fielded five International Masters.
There were several familiar teams in the running including Miami Dade College, Universidad Católica del Perú, Duke University, Yale University and University of Texas-Brownsville which has also instituted a new scholarship program. Conspicuously absent was a local favorite Howard University. The school had fielded a team a few years back, but were unable to assemble a team to compete.
Mon Roi (results, games, photos)
Press Release (UTD)
Results (UMBC)
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