De Firmian, Ivanov Win Empire City Open:
Finish Atop 51-Player Field
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International Grandmaster (GM) Nick DeFirmian of New York City and GM Alexander Ivanov, of Brookline, Massachusetts, tied for First in the 24th Annual Empire City Open, held January 19-21 at the historic Marshall Chess Club in New York City. Both GM's drew each other while defeating their other four opponents, finishing up with 4½ points and $506 each. DeFirmian marked the occasion by raising his rating to 2701, pushing him into the country's Number Two spot. International Master (IM) Jay Bonin of Flushing, NY, National Master (NM) Angelo Young of Staten Island, and Juan Sena of Brooklyn all tied for Third 4 points. Bonin and Young each won $101 for the tie for Third, while Sena pocketed the $202 Under 2200 Prize. New Jersey NM's Josef Friedman and seventeen-year-old Dean Ippolito tied for Top Under 2400 with NY NM Konstantin Dolgitser, each ending up with 3½ points and $67.
Even by Marshall Chess Club standards, where strong tournaments with top players are a regular occurrence, this year's Empire City Open was a remarkably powerful competition. The 51-player field featured over twenty-five (!) Masters, including 4 GM's and 3 IM's. Steve Immitt directed the Thirty Grand Prix Point tournament for the Chess Center of New York.
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