H.R. No. 1037
R E S O L U T I O N
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 masters Jakub Fus and Ekin Baris Ozenir;
over the course of the year, these talented players benefited from
the able guidance of coach grandmaster Bartek Macieja and program
manager Anthony Colt Smith-Muñoz; 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 House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
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 by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Gámez
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1037 was adopted by the House on May
8, 2025, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House