Ivan Ivanisevic wins 2008 Serbian Championship

GM norms for Boban Bogosavljevic and Milos Pavlovic

Three players have entered the last round with same points, but only GM Ivan Ivanisevic managed to defeat his opponent and this valuable point brought him the championship trophy. Ivan had excellent finish, winning last three games in a row. GM Bojan Vuckovic tried his best to win with black pieces, but IM Dejan Leskur played safe variation against the Sicilian defence and was able to reach a draw rook endgame. Nevertheless, clear second place is excellent result for Vuckovic.

GM Dejan Pikula had a nice lead after 11 rounds, but then suffered two consecutive losses. He lost in the last round to FM Boban Bogosavljevic, who played very aggressive with black pieces because this point was necessary to reach GM norm. Bogosavljevic and Pikula finished tied on 3rd place. IM Milos M Pavlovic also earned his 2nd GM norm.

Ivan Ivanisevic receiving the trophy

GM norm for Boban Bogosavljevic

Round 13 results:

GM Markus Robert 2575 ½ - ½ GM Perunovic Milos 2570
IM Pavlovic Milos M 2457 ½ - ½ GM Kovacevic Aleksandar 2575
IM Leskur Dejan 2468 ½ - ½ GM Vuckovic Bojan 2556
GM Ivanisevic Ivan 2649 1 - 0 GM Sedlak Nikola 2568
GM Drazic Sinisa 2489 ½ - ½ GM Damljanovic Branko 2582
IM Velickovic Sasa 2401 ½ - ½ GM Miladinovic Igor 2604
GM Pikula Dejan 2524 0 - 1 FM Bogosavljevic Boban 2492

Final standings:

1. GM Ivan Ivanisevic 2649 9.0
2. GM Bojan Vuckovic 2556 8½
3-4. FM Boban Bogosavljevic 2492 and GM Dejan Pikula 2524 8.0
5. GM Milos Perunovic 2570 7½
6-8. GM Aleksandar Kovacevic 2575, GM Igor Miladinovic 2604 and IM Milos M Pavlovic 2457 7.0
9-10. GM Robert Markus 2575 6½
10. GM Branko Damljanovic 2582 6.0
11. GM Nikola Sedlak 2568 5½
12. GM Sinisa Drazic 2489 5.0
13. IM Dejan Leskur 2468 3½
14. IM Sasa Velickovic 2401 2½

GM Dejan Pikula receiving his prize

Srdjan Spasojevic, president of Serbian Chess Federation and Boban Bogosavljevic

Arbiters: Petar Katanic-Vujic and Milivoje Milivojevic

Vladica Andrejic was in charge of live games transmission

Players in group photo