Congratulating The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley chess team on earning a share of the national championship at the 2025 President's Cup tournament.

89(R) SR 426 - Enrolled version - Bill Text

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.

________________________________

Secretary of the Senate

________________________________

Member, Texas Senate