09/14/2005

  A look ahead at the Week 3 Matchups..
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by IM Greg Shahade                       
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Let's take a look at this week's matchups and the importance they hold for each team:

Carolina Cobras  0.5/2			Boston Blitz     1.0/2
IM-elect Lev Milman - 2474			GM Larry Christiansen - 2596
IM Jonathan Schroer - 2462			IM Josh Friedel - 2477
FM Matthew Hoekstra - 2407			FM William Kelleher - 2383
NM Greg Samsa - 2200			Ilya Krasik - 2123
Avg Rating - 2385			Avg Rating - 2394
Carolina Total -------	0.0	0.0	------- Boston Total

  This matchup is huge for both teams. Boston has drawn their first two matches and in both cases they were very close to victory. Just a few improvements in the first two weeks, and Boston would be 2-0 now and in firm control of the Eastern Division. Instead they are mired in a dogfight with Philadelphia at 1.5/2 and New York tied with them at 1/2.
  Carolina is at .5/2 and really needs to get something out of this match as well. Losing the match and falling to .5/3 would do serious damage to their playoff hopes.

Philadelphia Masterminds  1.5/2			Baltimore Kingfishers   0.5/2
FM Norman Rogers - 2307			IM Pascal Charbonneau - 2506
NM Carl Boor - 2329			FM Tegshsuren Enkhbat - 2453
IM Richard Costigan - 2295			IM Larry Kaufman - 2331
NM Elvin Wilson - 2239			NM Ray Kaufman - 2231
Avg Rating - 2292			Avg Rating - 2380
Philadelphia Total -------	0.0	0.0	------- Baltimore Total

 Philadelphia has shocked the world so far with an impressive 1.5/2 and now they face off against the last place team in the East, the Baltimore Kingfishers (.5/2). This is a key match for both teams. Baltimore is facing a lower rated team, and can jump right back into contention with a win, whereas if Philadelphia wins or draws, they are guaranteed to still be on top of the East. Baltimore was fortunate to not drop to 0/2 as Larry Kaufman snatched victory from the jaws of defeat last week. The Kingfishers now have a chance to make a serious push in the East and end Philadelphia's cinderella type of run.

Dallas Destiny          1.0/2			Miami Sharks          2.0/2
GM Alejandro Ramirez - 2565			GM Julio Becerra - 2622
GM Magesh Panchanathan - 2487			FM Marcel Martinez - 2469
IM Dmitry Shneider - 2488			IM Blas Lugo - 2422
Sam Copeland - 1960			Jose Cabrera - 2093
Avg Rating - 2375			Avg Rating - 2401
Dallas Total -------	0.0	0.0	----- Miami Total

This is the match that everyone's waiting for. Miami is on top of the US Chess League with a 2-0 record, whereas Dallas is at 1-1 and were the preseason favorites to win the USCL. With a win by Miami, they will be way in front in the West and the rest of the season should result in the other teams playing catch up. If Dallas can clip Miami then there would be a two way tie at the top of the West and it'll be anyone's game.

New York Knights           1.0/2			San Francisco Mechanics  0.5/2
GM Alex Stripunsky - 2663			IM Vince McCambridge - 2502
NM Gregory Braylovsky - 2376			IM John Donaldson - 2442
WGM elect Jenn Shahade - 2318			FM David Pruess - 2432
FM Dr. Lewis Eisen - 2325			NM Mark Pinto - 2200
Avg Rating - 2420			Avg Rating - 2394
New York Total -------	0.0	0.0	----- San Francisco Total

This is another match between teams that hoped to be doing better than they are now. New York has 1/2, but was oh so close to victory last week. Meanwhile San Francisco was one Dmitry Zilberstein move away from winning and being at 1.5/2 instead of 0.5/2. Both teams were dissapointed last week, and hope to score their first win tonight.



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