TITLE: 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.

SUMMARY: 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.

FULL TEXT:
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 President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on April 22, 2025.