11/15/2006

SemiFinals Predictions
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by FM Ron Young
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  Boston Blitz (8.0-2.0) vs New York Knights (4.5-5.5)

(Boston receives draw odds)

 Starts at 7:00 PM ET       Time Control - Game 90 with 30 second increment    

Boston Blitz			New York Knights
GM Larry Christiansen - 2633			GM Pascal Charbonneau - 2500
IM Igor Foygel - 2533			IM Irina Krush - 2445
NM Charles Riordan - 2283			FM Robert Hess - 2369
NM Ilya Krasik - 2162			Matthew Herman - 2172
Avg Rating - 2403			Avg Rating - 2372
Boston Total -------	0.0	0.0	------- New York Total

In these teams’ two meetings this season, Boston won
once while the other match was drawn. In the
individual match-ups that are repeating, though,
New York scored three points of four. New York is going
with the players who have performed best this season,
rather than the ones with the highest ratings. Coach
Shahade realizes that higher ratings didn’t ensure
victory in past USCL games, and so having won past
USCL games should ensure victory in tonight’s games.
Another way to look at it is to say that Charbonneau
beats Christiansen, Christiansen beats Reshevsky,
Reshevsky beats the crowned heads of Europe, the
crowned heads of Europe don’t beat anybody, but
they’ve still got their crowns. So it will go here.
Boston won’t win the match, but they’ll hold the East
division crown at the end.
 

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  San Francisco Mechanics (8.5-1.5) vs Seattle Sluggers (7.0-3.0)

(San Francisco receives draw odds)

Starts at 9:00 PM ET       Time Control - Game 75 with 30 second increment

San Francisco Mechanics			Seattle Sluggers
IM Josh Friedel - 2513			GM Gregory Serper - 2570
IM Vinay Bhat - 2463			IM Georgi Orlov - 2580
IM David Pruess - 2459			FM Marcel Milat - 2345
Sam Shankland - 2106			Michael Lee - 2102
Avg Rating - 2385			Avg Rating - 2399
San Francisco Total -------	0.0	0.0	------- Seattle Total

Though the overall strength of these teams is pretty
equal, San Francisco fields three IM’s while Seattle
presents a regular rainbow of titles. The question is
whether this diversity is helpful or harmful. To
answer, I would point out that if you tell your
friends that you’re a master, they’ll say “wow, that
sounds good”. If you tell them you’re a grandmaster,
they’ll say “wow, that sounds great”. If you tell them
“I’m an international master”, though, they won’t say
anything except for a slow “uh, huh” while trying to
come up with an excuse to move across the room. So
IM’s usually don’t have such a good time at parties
but as a result work harder at their chess. I think
this hard work will pay off for San Francisco in the
form of a 2.5-1.5 victory.

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Ron picked:

Boston ties New York 2-2
San Francisco over Seattle 2.5-1.5

Arun picked:

Boston ties New York 2-2
San Francisco ties Seattle 2-2


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