10/13/2005

  The Sharks keep swimming along, move to 5-2
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by IM Greg Shahade                       
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Miami vs Dallas

1. GM Julio Becerra (MIA) vs GM-elect Magesh Panchanathan (DAL)  1/2-1/2
2. IM Dmitry Shneider (DAL) vs FM Marcel Martinez (MIA)  0-1
3. IM Blas Lugo (MIA) vs IM-elect Daniel Fernandez (DAL)  1-0
4. Andres Suarez (DAL) vs Jose Cabrera (MIA)  1-0


 The Miami Sharks made it look easy again this week, as they dispatched the Dallas Destiny. FM Marcel Martinez, whom had drawn every league game up until this week, got things off on the right note with a swift victory over IM Dmitry Shneider:


Shneider - Martinez (Black to Move)

Marcel had sacrificed the exchange just a few moves earlier, all with the idea of reaching a favorable endgame after 23...Qb6+!. It turns out that the endgame is nearly winning for black, as the g-pawn is nearly unstoppable and will keep the white pieces bottled and tied up for the remainder of the endgame. Marcel won in impressive fashion and helped Miami to a quick 1-0 lead.

IM Blas Lugo scored a smooth win over newcomer, IM-elect Daniel Fernandez, but Miami's Jose Cabrera lost to Andres Suarez. During the game I kibitzed that Cabrera missed a win with 27...Be3, however I stand corrected as white can defend with 28.Rd6 Ke7 29.Kf3 (although black would still be able to draw in this variation).

 It now all came down to the first board matchup between GM Julio Becerra and GM-elect Magesh Panchanathan in which Panchanathan needed to win to tie the match. Unfortunately for Dallas, Magesh was fighting for his life and although he was eventually able to draw the game, he never had any serious chance of winning.


 Miami is two games in front of the San Francisco Mechanics for first place in the West, and have the oppurtunity to clinch the Division next week if they can win next week, while San Francisco draws or loses to Philadelphia. Miami is going to have their toughest test of the season in Week 8 however, as they face off against the league leading New York Knights. The Miami and New York players have been playing well all season long and it should be fantastic to see them finally go head to head. The Western Division has been outclassed by the Eastern Division so far this season, and Miami would love to take it to the class of the East.

 Dallas is faced with what might be a must win match next week, as they go up against the struggling Boston Blitz. Dallas is one game behind San Francisco for the final playoff spot, and sorely needs a win to get back in the thick of things. In any case, Dallas gets a rematch against San Francisco in Week 9. The Destiny defeated the Mechanics in their first match of the season, and will likely need to do so again if they want to squeeze into the playoffs.




Miami Sharks         


Dallas Destiny             
GM Julio Becerra - 2622 0.5
 0.5
 GM Magesh Panchanathan - 2487
FM Marcel Martinez - 2469 1.0
 0.0
 IM Dmitry Shneider - 2488
IM Blas Lugo - 2426 1.0
 0.0
 FM Daniel Fernandez - 2389
Jose Cabrera - 2093 0.0
 1.0
 Andres Suarez - 2087
Avg Rating - 2401

Avg Rating - 2363
Miami Total -------
 2.5
 1.5
 ----- Dallas Total


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