Kamari Barth of Sheridan will become the first player from Wyoming to compete in the prestigious Susan Polgar Girls’ Invitational, a national all-girls chess tournament that draws top young players from across the United States, Sheridan Media reports.
The event, hosted by the Susan Polgar Foundation, will take place June 21–25 at Webster University near St. Louis, Missouri. The invitation-only tournament is recognized as the first all-girls chess event approved by the US Chess Federation and offers more than $285,000 in prizes and scholarships. The tournament is designed to promote the benefits of chess—academic, social, and strategic—especially among young women.
Kamari, who first learned chess from her father, Jim Barth, began honing her skills by playing online and later joining the Sheridan Chess Association (SCA), which hosts regular games at the Fulmer Library. Her interest in chess grew as she took advantage of local resources, including books and materials donated by the SCA, and steadily improved her understanding of the game.
Appearing alongside her father and SCA member Dan Casey on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse, Kamari expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming event. She said she views each game as a puzzle, focusing on learning and self-improvement more than simply winning.
Kamari and her father have prepared small gifts—custom SCA keychains made with the help of the Phorge Maker Space—to share with her opponents at the event. Travel expenses for the tournament have been supported through contributions from family, friends, and sponsors of the Sheridan Chess Association.
While she acknowledges the pressure of representing her state, Kamari said she is most looking forward to meeting other young chess enthusiasts from around the country and participating in a game she finds intellectually rewarding.
The Susan Polgar Foundation was established by Grandmaster and four-time World Champion Susan Polgar to support youth chess education and encourage participation among girls.
