Ivanov notches 9th Mass. open title

Sunday, May 31, 2009
Ivanov notches 9th Mass. open title
CHESS STEPHEN DANN

Alexander Ivanov, 53, of Newton won the 78th Massachusetts Open Championship in Boxboro, 5-1. Tied for second were David Vigorito of Somerville, Bill Kelleher of Watertown and Braden Bournival of Manchester, N.H. There were 85 players in four sections in the three-day event, and 167 in seven one-day side events.

Ivanov was fresh from winning the 17th New York State Open in Lake George, N.Y., just two weeks ago, and this was his ninth Mass. title, trailing only John Curdo of Auburn, who has won or tied for first 16 times.

A full 20 masters and experts brought intense competition to this year’s event, with Denys Shmelov, 22, of Pepperell, the 2008 champion, only taking the blitz championship title.

Other Central Mass. winners were Albert Yiming Xu, 8, of Shrewsbury, who won the Grades K-3 under 600 rated section, and brother Grant Xu, 11, who tied for second in the blitz event.

Source: http://www.telegram.com