CHESS Stephen Dann
LIFESTYLE
December 09. 2012 12:00AM
Alexander Ivanov of Newton won the Open section of the Pillsbury Memorial in Marlboro. Grant Xu of Shrewsbury tied for second. Peter Teodorescu of Marlboro swept the Under-1900 section; Joe Treacy of Dedham and Max Zhao of Bolton split first in the U-1600, and Sandra Shur, 9, of Agawam, topped the U-1200 group. A full list of 19 prize winners is at www.masschess.org.
Meanwhile in Florida, 18 Massachusetts students traveled to the 1,600-player National Grade Championships in grades K-12. With about 1 percent of the players, three students earned top-10 honors in 3 of the 13 grade sections, all of whom competed for 7 rounds.
Siddharth Arun of Medfield tied for 6th place in Grade 9, Andrew Liu of Westboro tied for 7th in Grade 8, and Jason Tang of Belmont took 7th in grade 4, undefeated with three draws. Weston was the only school from Mass. to send a team, comprising grade 11 and 12. Full results at www.uschess.org.
December 3rd Chess Chat program, on demand now at www.fatv.org, is one of the best half-hour amateur/volunteer chess documentary programs you may ever see. It addresses not only the history of Wachusett chess, but how one professor at Fitchburg State University made such a difference in his community, while raising a family. .
Dr. Ernest Fandreyer (1926-2012), was not just a 33-year math professor at FSU, but an educational icon who came to Arkansas as a prisoner of war in 1943, returning to Germany in 1947 to graduate from the University of Bonn, with a dual major of math and English. He then emigrated to the U.S., getting his masters from Marquette U., and doctorate from Boston University, and retiring at the age of 72, never ceasing to bring charm and dignity to education.
John Curdo of Auburn topped another Greater Worcester CC event, the Noble November Open, reports Donna Alarie. Other prize winners were Muharrem Brahimaj and Richard Marseglia. The game/55 section was swept by Boquan Li, and other prizes went to Marc Quevillon and brothers Jason and Justin Wang. Club events are listed at www.chesspals.com.
After his sale of www.chesscafe.com, entrepreneur Hanon Russell of Milford, Conn., continues to publish books at www.russell-enterprises.com. View the 2012 Holiday Chess Quiz, open and without entry fee, but a real challenge that ends next Sunday.
Russell has a free offer worth noting five of his illustrative bookmarks if you send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Box 3131, Milford, Conn. 06460.
Good one.