As
we get later and later in the season each match of course grows more
and more important. San Francisco sits alone atop their division
for
the first time, and I'm sure would like to stay there while New York
really can't afford any further slip ups if they want to catch the
frontrunning Boston Blitz. I predicted these two teams meeting in
the
finals and though they are not using precisely the players I
expected,
they both have still brought over the top (at least rating wise)
lineups to the table, both clearly intent on winning the
match.
Board
1 we have a rematch from last year between IM Friedel and GM
Charbonneau. GM Charbonneau got the better of their meeting last
year,
but much has changed since then so it's difficult to know if that can
have any relevance here. The one thing that has not changed since
then though is how well Charbonneau has been playing as just as
last
year, he's been on a tear this season so I have to think that he has a
slight edge here even with the Black pieces.
Board
2 of IM Krush - IM Bhat, like Board 1, was a match I expected to see in
the finals and felt was a tossup. Both players though playing
rather
sparsely in the league have been very impressive in their few showings,
but really nothing has happened since then and now to change my view
that this match is probably a toss up.
Board
3 we have IM Pruess facing off against NM Molner. IM Pruess,
just like
last season, has been playing very well while NM Molner has
stumbled
out of the blocks losing his first two league matches so it would be
hard not to ascribe a real edge for San Francisco on this board.
Board
4 pits FM Privman versus NM Pinto. Like Board 2,
neither of these
players has played a great deal in the league. NM Pinto in his
few
outings (this season and last) has done very well for
the Mechanics,
but it's difficult to overlook the fact that he's at a decent
rating
disadvantage and has the Black pieces so probably New York has a
small
edge here.
On
the whole, I honestly feel that a case could be made for predicting any
of the three possible results, and it's not easy for me to
choose.
However, given the large number of death threats I received from
the
San Francisco team last time I predicted them to lose, deciding
that
way might not be wise. On the other hand, New York has
threatened
to file a complaint against me for going to the bathroom too many
times
during their match should I choose them to lose so that might not
be
the best practical decision either. So in the best interests of
my
personal well being, even if it gets me fired, I'm going to have to
pick in favor of a 2-2 tie.
FM Ron Young also predicts a 2-2 tie.