In a move that stunned the collegiate chess community, Webster University has abruptly terminated the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence (SPICE), effectively shuttering one of the most successful dynasties in American collegiate history. The program, which has called St. Louis home since 2012, ceased all operations on April 30, 2026.
The closure of SPICE, a program that dominated the collegiate chess landscape for over a decade, has been likened by observers to a major university suddenly dropping a powerhouse football or basketball team. Despite operating with a fraction of the budget of other top-tier programs, SPICE’s track record of excellence is unparalleled.
Since its arrival at Webster University in 2012, following back-to-back national titles at Texas Tech, SPICE has consistently performed at a championship level, winning 10 Pan-American Intercollegiate Championships and 7 Final Four Championships.
The manner of the program’s dissolution has drawn sharp criticism from its founder, Grandmaster Susan Polgar. In an official statement following the announcement, Polgar revealed that she was completely blindsided by the administration’s decision.
“As the founder of SPICE, its former Director & Head Coach, and Director Emeritus, I was never contacted by the current administration or University President Dr. Tim Keane,” Polgar stated. “I was never asked to assist with fundraising, nor was I even thanked for the tremendous visibility the program brought to the university.”
Polgar noted that she only learned of the program’s fate through her former student and outgoing Head Coach, GM Liem Le. The lack of prior communication meant that no effort could be made to save the program through external fundraising or strategic reorganization. Polgar described the situation as the “poorest handling of a major athletic program by a university president” she has witnessed in her 50-year career.
With the departure of GM Liem Le and the official termination of the program, the “Chess Capital of the US” finds itself without its most prominent collegiate anchor. For the university, the move represents the loss of a major source of international recognition and institutional pride.
Webster University has already disabled the SPICE link which is now redirected to the home page.
SPICE Cup will continue to run, under the organization by the Washington State Chess Federation.
