Providence, RI -- The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Chess Team tied for first place at the 2001 Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship, held Dec. 26-29 in Providence, RI. The victory is UMBC's fifth championship in the past six years, securing their place as one of the most dominating college chess teams in the history of the tournament.

This year's team is one of the most impressive ever fielded by UMBC. Led by captain and International Master Eugene Perelshteyn, the reigning U.S. Junior Chess Champion, the team includes Grand Master Alex Wojtkiewicz, the eleventh ranked chess player in the U.S., Senior Master William "The Exterminator" Morrison, and Senior Master Bryan Smith. The team is coached by Life Master Igor Epshteyn.

For the second consecutive year UMBC and the University of Texas, Dallas faced off in the fourth round and tied the match. Both teams won all of their other matches, making them co-champions once again. Other teams in the competition included MIT, Stanford, and the University of Chicago.

The Pan-Am Intercollegiate Chess Tournament is the largest and most prestigious college chess tournament in the Western Hemisphere. Each year, Universities from around the United States, Canada, and various Latin American countries send their top players to compete for the title, "Pan-Am Intercollegiate Champion.”

For more information on the UMBC Chess Team, go to http://www.umbc.edu/NewsEvents/chess2001.htm