For Jim Stallings, director of the UT Dallas chess program, hosting the event is an opportunity to remind recruits and the public of UTD’s status as one of the country’s top chess colleges. “The Final Four is the strongest tournament per board held annually in collegiate chess, and it determines the national championship,” Stallings said. “Chess at UT Dallas is part of our identity, a model of the intelligent student that attends the University,” Stallings said. This commitment leads to the University’s preeminent position in collegiate chess.”The U.S. collegiate chess landscape is dominated by schools from Texas and Missouri, and UT Dallas provides roots in both states. MU head coach Cristian Chirila BA’14 started the chess program there, and he will return to UTD with hopes of winning the President’s Cup with his team.