SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 426

WHEREAS, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley chess team furthered its legacy of success by becoming co-champions of the 2025 President's Cup tournament, held April 5 and 6 in Dallas; and

WHEREAS, The Vaqueros qualified for the President's Cup with their victory at the Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Championship in January; on the last day of that tournament, the UTRGV A Team bested The University of Texas at Dallas, earning a perfect score of six points after winning all six of its matches; the Vaqueros were the only team among the 91 competing squads to execute a flawless performance; and

WHEREAS, UTRGV entered the President's Cup tournament ranked fourth out of the four qualifying teams, but its players remained undaunted; the Vaqueros opened the event against Webster University, splitting the match in a 2-2 draw, and the second round contest with Saint Louis University also ended in a 2-2 tie; going into the final round against UT Dallas, UTRGV trailed the leading teams by a half point, but the Vaqueros rallied to finish with a total score of 7, tying Webster University for a share of the championship; the team's performance earned UTRGV its fourth national title, adding to the three consecutive wins the program achieved beginning in 2018; and

WHEREAS, The UTRGV team benefited from the contributions of grandmasters Gleb Dudin, Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux, and Jose Cardoso Cardoso, and international master Jakub Fus; over the course of the year, these talented players benefited from the able guidance of coach Bartek Macieja; and

WHEREAS, By collecting four President's Cup crowns in seven years, the UT Rio Grande Valley team has distinguished itself as a powerhouse in collegiate chess, and the 2025 Vaquero competitors may indeed reflect with pride on a job well done; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th Legislature, hereby congratulate The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley chess team on earning a share of the national championship at the 2025 President's Cup tournament and extend to all those associated with the program sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared for the team as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.

Hinojosa of Nueces

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on April 22, 2025.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate