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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The chess team of The University of Texas Rio Grande |
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Valley continued its tradition of excellence by winning the 2021 |
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President's Cup tournament, claiming its third consecutive title in |
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this prestigious event; and |
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WHEREAS, Joining the other three top collegiate teams in the |
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country for the President's Cup virtual competition on April 3 and |
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4, the UTRGV players staged an impressive comeback, overtaking |
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Saint Louis University on the final day of the tournament to win the |
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championship; the "three-peat" triumph follows first-place cup |
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finishes in 2018 and 2019, with the 2020 event being cancelled due |
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to the COVID-19 pandemic; and |
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WHEREAS, The Vaqueros were paced by grandmaster Kamil Dragun, |
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who placed third in the individual scoring; grandmasters Mateusz |
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Bartel, Hovhannes Gabuzyan, and Vladimir Belous also contributed to |
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the team's point total, finishing fifth, sixth, and seventh, |
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respectively; the team also received valuable contributions |
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throughout the year from the other members of the roster: Vladimir |
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Fedoseev, Sanan Syugirov, Ildar Khayrullin, Irakli Beradze, Ulvi |
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Bajarani, Felix Ynojosa, Yannick Rajesh Kambrath, and Askar |
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Nurbekov; these accomplished players benefited from the leadership |
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and support of head coach Bartlomiej Macieja, associate dean of |
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students Douglas Stoves, and program manager Aleksander Mista; and |
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WHEREAS, The 2020-2021 season also marked the first time |
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UTRGV sent its women's players into competition; the individuals |
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who proudly represented their school included Yuliia Osmak, Alicja |
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Sliwicka, Julia Antolak, Ana Shamatava, Lauren Tovias, and Lorena |
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Garcia Ramon; and |
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WHEREAS, Through the skill, hard work, and unwavering |
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determination of its members, the UTRGV chess program has |
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established itself as one of the most successful in the nation, and |
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all those associated with the team are to be commended for their |
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achievements; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate The University of Texas Rio Grande |
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Valley chess team on winning the 2021 President's Cup tournament |
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and extend to the players and staff sincere best wishes for the |
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future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the team as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |