Illinois-based Ionatan Giurgiu won the Under 2000 section of the 2016 World Open completed last week in Philadelphia. Giurgiu won $12,000 with eight wins in eight games -- not even playing in the 9th round as the title was already secure. Ionatan had played nine events at Chess IQ from 2012-2014 and even played in the Illinois Open back in 2012.
Downstater Caleb Denby tied for 10th in the section with a 6.5/9 tally.
Boguslaw Niemczewski claimed the Under 1600 section with a 8.0/9 score. Niemczewski took a half point draw in the last round with the title -- and a $10,000 first prize -- secured. Niemczewski has played in many Chicago Opens including 2003-2009 consecutively.
He also played two Chess IQ / North Shore Chess Center events... and even a 2014 Knights Quest tournament.
John Thomas, also Illinois-registered according to US Chess, took clear second with 7.5, earning $5,000. Thomas, although registered from Illinois, has only played a single Illinois event -- a January 2016 tournament in Evanston. All but two of his 17 lifetime tournaments were based in Pennsylvania.
Otis Lewis scored 6.0/9 and claimed a share of the second place prize fund for those in the section rated Under 1500.
A pair of Illinois juniors traveled to Philadelphia to face off in the last round in the Under 2200 section. With a ninth-round head-to-head draw, Spencer Lehmann and Aydin Turgut split second and third place honors, both with 7.5/9's, good for $4500 paydays.
17-year old Lehmann has now exceeded the 2200-mark (2208) while 11-year old Turgut is on the cusp of masterhood at 2198.
Matthew Stevens and Duncan Shepherd were a point back with 6.5's, tying for 10th place in that group out of 225 entries.
Thanks to a re-entry, Aakaash Meduri finished 5.5/9.
With a re-entry, Darian Turner scored 6.0/9 in the Under 1800 section. while Charles Prude posted 5.5 in that section.