Let’s quickly look and see what Week 9 has in store for us. NJ is going to try and clinch the East, while Seattle closes in on the West. Everyone seems to be alive in the East while the West is seed-to-be-determined, with Dallas having an outside chance. I have done much lately in picking, although of course that’s all luck.

Queens Pioneers vs. Carolina Cobras

Queens wins to keep mathematically alive. Queens wins 2.5-1.5.

Dallas Destiny vs. Chicago Blaze

A battle for Dallas to stay alive in the West – Dallas and Chicago battle to 2-2 tie.

San Francisco Mechanics vs. Tennessee Tempo

San Francisco wins 3-1 – they have more to prove than Tennessee, who has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Philadelphia Inventors vs. New Jersey Knockouts

Gulko = win for NJ – should wrap up the division and may dash the playoff hopes of Philly. NJ wins 2.5-1.5.

Baltimore Kingfishers vs. New York Knights

The biggest match of the night perhaps. NY has the edge on board 4. Erenberg probably needs a win with white for Baltimore to have a chance. NY wins 2.5-1.5.

Boston Blitz vs. Miami Sharks

A match with significance for both teams. No Becerra, no LarryC – should be a tight match. Perelshteyn gives Boston the edge and a very narrow win. Boston wins 2.5-1.5.

Seattle Sluggers vs. Arizona Scorpions

I predict my Scorpions and Seattle battle to a tie, 2-2.

Last week – 5-2! (That is 10-4 in 2 weeks!).

Lets briefly recap Week 7, (where I finally picked well (5-2). I mean I had to pick well once this year).  Seattle solidified their stranglehold on 1st place in the West Division with a hard fought win over Miami, while both New Jersey and Boston improved their record to 6-1 as they continue their dominance in the East.  Arizona, San Francisco, and Miami are all tied for 2nd in the West, with a record of 4-3. All teams in the East except Carolina are in playoff contention in the East, with only 1 match win separating 3rd from 5th place.  The results this week should clarify or confuse the division.

New Jersey Knockouts vs Boston Blitz

With firstp lace on the line in the East, except a very competitive match.  No GM Joel for NJ, and no GM Larry for Boston. The GM match-up of  Boris Gulko and Eugene Perelshteyn should be a dandy – as both are undefeated in USCL play this year. Boston seems a little stronger on the other boards and that should provide an edge. NJ has been impressive this season, so we will see if that difference matters. I think Eugene will hold Gulko to a draw and therefore the edge switches to Boston, and therefore Boston wins. 2.5-1.5.

Dallas Destiny vs Miami Sharks

Miami has a slight rating advantage, and because of  Dallas’s late substitution on board 4, Miami has the edge on most of the boards. For Dallas to be successful, they need IM John Bartholomew to hold at least a draw and perhaps have IM Daniel Ludwig exact some revenge from his previous loss to IM Bruci Lopez.  Despite the advantages for Miami, somehow I think Dallas and Miami battle to a tie, 2-2.

Chicago Blaze vs Arizona Scorpions

Go Scorpions! Arizona wins.
New York Knights vs Carolina Cobras

Rating advantage on 3 boards + Need to win to keep hold of 3rd place = Win for NY Knights, though it will be closer than people think,  NY 2.5-1.5

Philadelphia Inventors vs Baltimore Kingfishers

Philly better make their move soon if they are gonna make the playoffs, like my beloved Phillies. This match is a total toss-up. Philly seems a little stronger, though Baltimore is very close to making the playoffs if they can find a way to win. This should be an exciting match – I predict a draw, that way no one is happy.

San Francisco Mechanics vs Queens Pioneers

Queens needs this badly or their playoff hopes are over. San Francisco needs it as well to keep pace in the West. SF wins a close one, 2.5-1.5.

Tennessee Tempo vs Seattle Sluggers

It is so difficult to pick against Seattle when Nakamura is playing, no matter who the opponent. TN chose not to use either of their GM’s, its hard to pick anything but a Seattle win.  TN has to hope for production on boards 3 and 4, and a draw on boards 1 or 2. TN will put up a valiant effort, in the end, you cant get around the NAKA factor. Seattle wins 3-1.

Last Week 5-2!

What a ridiculous, incredulous, and ludicrous (enough -ous’s?) back and forth encounter that I know I will never forget! I have followed the US Chess League since its inception and can honestly say I have never seen a crazier match than this week’s match between the San Francisco Mechanics and your beloved Arizona Scorpions. Fans of both teams and the USCL were treated to a back and forth affair that had the ICC kibitzers going nuts. This match easily could have finished 3.5-.5 in favor of the Arizona, or 3.5-.5 in favor of San Francisco. Click here for a preview of the match by Scorpion’s IM Mark Ginsburg. http://arizonascorpionchess.com/2009/10/week-7-match-preview/

Even though I am keenly aware that many matches come down to the last few minutes and the actual position often doesn’t mean a hill of beans, I am still amazed at what happens in these matches each week. Some players play well at the beginning of the match and lose the thread; some don’t wake up until they are in trouble; some don’t “get” playing online at all; some do better when they have a few seconds on their clock before they make a move and get the 30 second increment. I guess it is this uncertainty that makes the USCL so entertaining.

In the past three weeks, Arizona faced arguably one of the toughest three game schedules in USCL history (though in the USCL each week is so difficult). In Week 5, the Scorpions took on the two-time defending USCL Champions, the Dallas Destiny (tying them 2-2); in Week 6, Arizona defeated the previously undefeated New Jersey Knockouts; this week – week 7, AZ faced the San Francisco Mechanics, a team that seems to own the Western division and a team for which I have the ultimate respect.  And for a bizarre yet funny non-chess video preview of the match click here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NsvwaowPHI Please don’t ask me what possessed Mark to even think of something so ridiculous.

Scorpion Players Awarded GM Title, IM Title, and NM Title!!
Before looking at the matches, I want to make special mention of some great accomplishments of some Scorpion players. First, congrats to now-GM Rogelio Barcenilla for being awarded the Grandmaster title at the FIDE Congress being held as we speak. Also kudos to now-IM Danny Rensch who was awarded the IM title at the latest Congress. Finally, congratulations to National Master David Adelberg, who achieved the master title at the just completed 2009 Los Angeles Open. Congrats to Rogelio, Danny and David! And wouldn’t you know it, but all three were in action this week.

The games are covered in the order they finished to get a sense of what was going through each player’s mind.

Read the rest of this entry »

Now it’s crunch time. Teams are not separated by much so the last 4 weeks are critical and almost no teams have been eliminated. Boston and NJ look to keep pace with each other in the East while Miami looks to top the Naka-led Sluggers, and SF looks to continue their West division dominance.

And of course, no comment on my picking ability please.

New York Knights vs. Philadelphia Inventors

Given the rating advantage for NY, this should be an easy one for NY – they win 3-1.
Carolina Cobras vs. Dallas Destiny

Dallas is favored on paper and needs a win, while you have to think Carolina scores one of these weeks – heck, the Panthers won this week vs. the hapless Fail to the Skins. I could take the easy way out and pick the favorite, and that’s exactly what I am going to do. Dallas wins a very close one 2.5-1.5.

Boston Blitz vs. Queens Pioneers

Boston has played well since their Ohh-fer and I don’t see them having a problem against Queens who lacks any real advantage on any of the 4 boards. Boston should coast in this one, and stay tied for first in the East. I promise not to make any further references to a certain professional baseball team who laid a huge egg against a city that has Disneyland nearby. Boston wins 3-1.

Baltimore Kingfishers vs. New Jersey Knockouts

A match that has huge playoff implications for both teams. Baltimore really can’t afford to lose this match, while NJ has to feel like Boston is nipping at their heals.  Baltimore goes with the balanced lineup, except it’s not as balanced as it has been. Meanwhile, I expect GM Joel to rebound from his tough loss last week, and GM Boris Gulko, well it’s just criminal he is on board 2, should handle fellow GM Larry Kaufman, especially with the white pieces. Boards 3 and 4 are toss-ups, so NJ should win this one 3-1.

Chicago Blaze vs. Tennessee Tempo

This could be an elimination match for the loser. Funny things can happen in the USCL – and any team can get hot. Because of TN’s double GM lineup, Chicago has to get production from boards 3 and 4, especially from IM Angelo Young, who has yet to lose a game in USCL team play, though John Bick has played fantastic for TN thus far . Board 4 is a toss-up. Overall, TN is favored and should win, but I think this will be a close match, where Chicago ends up on the short end of the stick. TN wins 3-1.

Seattle Sluggers vs. Miami Sharks

Miami has been playing under the radar thus far, while Seattle is having a great season. If Miami wins, they are tied for first in the West, while Seattle needs to continue winning to hold off San Francisco in the West. Nakamura vs. Becerra should be a treat – Seattle needs this one.  If Naka wins – which he should, Seattle will be tough to stop. I think Seattle wins though I think this match could swing to Miami’s favor just as easily. Call it the NAKA Factor – Seattle wins 2.5-1.5.

Arizona Scorpions vs. San Francisco Mechanics

Let’s see – I picked against them last time (though I really didnt). Lets try sort of picking them again – ok thats dumb.  AZ wins.

A quick look at Week 6 matches – every match and game point is so critical and can make the difference of making the playoffs. My percentage for picking correctly has improved since I changed the name of the column from “Predictions” to “Picks.”

New York Knights vs. Baltimore Kingfishers

The match of the Double GM lineups – Scary good GMs on boards 1 and 2 for both teams. GM Giorgi Kacheisvili will try to duplicate his outstanding performance from last week that earned him GOTW in his win over GM Josh Friedel, while GM Leonid Kritz looks to bounce back from his disappointing loss to GM Larry Christiansen where he held an edge for much of the game. Board 2 features USCL monster, Sergey Erenberg with white against NY’s GM Pascal Charbonneau. As I have said before, these GM matchups tend to split, so its all up to boards 3 and 4. It will be impossible for NY’s NM Matt Herman to play a crazier game than he did last week – unless he plays some bizarre line against Uesugi’s Sveshnikov. NY’s biggest edge lies on board 4, where NM Yaacov Norowitz, who is now rated over 2400, faces Expert Ian Harris. Given this advantage, I give NY the edge, and they win 2.5-1.5.

Chicago Blaze vs. Philadelphia Inventors

Both teams need a win desperately.  Philly is a little bit stronger on boards 1-3 collectively, and Chicago is stronger on board 4. Frankly, no result will surprise me here, but I give Philly a slight nod. 2.5-1.5, and of course the Phillies will prevail, at least in the first round of the playoffs.

Arizona Scorpions vs. New Jersey Knockouts

Another great match (see my Week 6 preview) . Scorpions need this one badly, but GM Joel thinks its bad luck for NJ when people pick them to win, so I will temporarily jump on his bandwagon and pick, sort of, NJ to win. At least I am not as bad as HA81 to never picks his own team, Seattle, to win.

Carolina Cobras vs. Boston Blitz

Boston is just too strong here though this will be closer than it looks- Boston wins 2.5-1.5, though their Red Sox will falter to the Yankees.

Tennessee Tempo vs. Dallas Destiny

This match is extremely critical for both teams – expect a fierce contest here. Even though Dallas has not performed that well this season, you can’t discount their experience and potential (see the match where they beat Boston 4-0). Tennessee is a much improved team this year, and with their double GM lineup, they have to be favored by a little. TN takes it 2.5-1.5.

San Francisco Mechanics vs. Miami Sharks

I will pick SF here simply because I can’t seem them losing 2 matches in a row, and they need to keep pace with Seattle. Also, SF is just a stronger team. If Miami is to be succesful, Eric needs to beat Daniel “silent assassin” Naroditsky. A close one but SF wins 2.5-1.5.
Queens Pioneers vs. Seattle Sluggers

Originally, I thought Seattle might win easily, but this is a close one. Without Naka for the 2nd straight week, how will this play out? For Queens to be successful, they need to come through on the top boards. I don’t think it happens – Seattle wins 2.5-1.5.

Last week 3-4.

Season 15-25.