Week 10 Results

Tennessee Tempo vs. Baltimore Kingfishers 2.5-1.5
GM Jaan Ehlvest (2668) - GM Sergey Erenburg (2592) 0.5-0.5
FM Todd Andrews (2350) - FM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2446) 0-1
FM John Bick (2249) - FM Ralph Zimmer (2328) 1-0
Gerald Larson (2120) - Aaron Kahn (2291) 1-0

The Kingfishers end the season with a record of 1.5-8.5 in Match Points and 14/30 in Game Points. Overall, it's been a disappointing season except for the performances (7/10) on Board 1, for which Baltimore is tied with Miami for the league lead. Special note goes to GM Sergey Erenburg for his +3 performance (5.5/8) and 16 MVP points on Board 1.

Looking forward to a clean slate next year!

Senior World Chess Championships

The 18th Senior World Chess Championship is scheduled to begin tomorrow in Bad Zwischenahn, Germany. Our own IM Larry Kaufman (seed #20) will be competing! First prize includes a gold medal, 2500 Euro (about 3100 USD), and the GM title.

Week 10 Lineup

Wednesday, 8:00 PM EDT
Time Control 90 min. with 30 sec. increment

Tennessee Tempo vs. Baltimore Kingfishers
GM Jaan Ehlvest (2668) - GM Sergey Erenburg (2592)
FM Todd Andrews (2350) - FM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2446)
FM John Bick (2249) - FM Ralph Zimmer (2328)
Gerald Larson (2120) - Aaron Kahn (2291)

Note: Players in bold have the white pieces.

Week 9 Results

New York Knights vs. Baltimore Kingfishers 3-1
GM Pascal Charbonneau (2524) - GM Sergey Erenburg (2592) 1-0
IM Irina Krush (2534) - FM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2446) 0.5-0.5
SM Gregory Braylovsky (2445) - FM Ralph Zimmer (2328) 1-0
NM Matthew Herman (2271) - Aaron Kahn (2291) 0.5-0.5

Week 9 Lineup

Wednesday, 7:15 PM EDT
Time Control 90 min. with 30 sec. increment

New York Knights vs. Baltimore Kingfishers
GM Pascal Charbonneau (2524) - GM Sergey Erenburg (2592)
IM Irina Krush (2534) - FM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2446)
SM Gregory Braylovsky (2445) - FM Ralph Zimmer (2328)
NM Matthew Herman (2271) - Aaron Kahn (2291)

Note: Players in bold have the white pieces.

Week 8 Analysis

First, congratulations to GM Sergey Erenburg for winning Game of the Week (GOTW), which carries a prize of $100. View the full article.

This week's analysis has been uploaded:

Notes: Analysis done with the aid of the Chess Tiger engine.
An 'A' denotes the move has an annotation.
A '▼' denotes variations.
Here's How to Publish a Chess Game

Week 8 Results

Baltimore Kingfishers vs. Boston Blitz 1-3
GM Sergey Erenburg (2592) - SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (2576) 1-0
IM Larry Kaufman (2424) - SM Denys Shmelov (2446) 0-1
FM Ray Kaufman (2348) - NM Marc Esserman (2307) 0-1
FM Ralph Zimmer (2328) - NM Ilya Krasik (2144) 0-1

Sadly, the Kingfishers have been officially eliminated from reaching the playoffs. It's been a tough season so far, but there are still two weeks left for the team to try to end on a high note.

There is one bright spot to keep an eye on: Sergey's win this week took 1 point off IM Alex Lenderman's lead in the MVP race. Stay tuned to see if Sergey can catch him!

Week 8 Lineup

Wednesday, 7:15 PM EDT
Time Control 90 min. with 30 sec. increment

Baltimore Kingfishers vs. Boston Blitz
GM Sergey Erenburg (2592) - SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (2576)
IM Larry Kaufman (2424) - SM Denys Shmelov (2446)
FM Ray Kaufman (2348) - NM Marc Esserman (2307)
FM Ralph Zimmer (2328) - NM Ilya Krasik (2144)

Note: Players in bold have the white pieces.

Week 7 Analysis

So I've been investigating several ways of displaying game analysis. So far, this method intrigues me the most. Let me know what you think of it!

Edit: Switched to this method.


Notes: Analysis done with the aid of the Chess Tiger engine.
An 'A' denotes the move has an annotation.
A '▼' denotes variations.

Week 7 Results

Baltimore Kingfishers vs. Carolina Cobras 0.5-3.5
GM Sergey Erenburg (2592) - IM Lev Milman (2502) 0.5-0.5
FM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2446) - IM Jonathan Schroer (2441) 0-1
FM Ralph Zimmer (2328) - FM Oleg Zaikov (2376) 0-1
Aaron Kahn (2291) - Udayan Bapat (2179) 0-1

Look for a more detailed report tomorrow night.

Week 7 Lineup

Wednesday, 7:15 PM EDT
Time Control 90 min. with 30 sec. increment

Baltimore Kingfishers vs. Carolina Cobras
GM Sergey Erenburg (2592) - IM Lev Milman (2502)
FM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2446) - IM Jonathan Schroer (2441)
FM Ralph Zimmer (2328) - FM Oleg Zaikov (2376)
Aaron Kahn (2291) - Udayan Bapat (2179)

Note: Players in bold have the white pieces.

Week 6 Results

New Jersey Knockouts vs. Baltimore Kingfishers 2-2
GM Joel Benjamin (2644) - GM Sergey Erenburg (2592) 0-1
IM Dean Ippolito (2500) - FM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2446) 1-0
NM Mackenzie Molner (2397) - FM Ray Kaufman (2348) 1-0
NM Victor Shen (2265) - Aaron Kahn (2259) 0-1

Benjamin-Erenburg after 30. ... Ke7

After enticing Benjamin's queen to the back rank, Sergey blocks in the white queen, planning to push his queenside pawns. After some maneuvering and eventually letting the white queen out, black's b-pawn could not be stopped. Sergey has improved to 2-0 against GM Benjamin. How many people can say that?


Enkhbat-Ippolito after 45. ... Rf7

Enkhbat had just over 4 minutes while Ippolito was just above 1 minute. Meaning to play 46. Ra8, Enkhbat mouseslipped 46. Ra7. Apparently not noticing that the slip had occurred, he was still trying to play Ra8, which was then set as the premove, so when Ippolito played Kxf3, it caused Enkhbat to make another move 47. Ra8. If not for the double mouseslip, he might have been able to notice that 47. Kc6 was still winning. (For example: 47. Kc6 Kg2 48. d6 Kxh2 49. Rxc7 Rf8 50. d7 Kg1 51. Rc8 h2 52. Rxf8 h1=Q+ 53. Kb6 {not 53. Kc7 Qh2+ when black can find a perpetual})


Molner-Ray Kaufman after 25. ... Ne3

In rematch of Week 1, Mackenzie Molner seems to have Ray's number as again it was the first game of the night to finish. Test your wits by figuring out how Molner finished the game.

Kahn-Shen after 40. c5

In severe time trouble, Shen plays 40. ... Rc3+? (dxc5 may have put up more resistance in light of the trick 41. Ne5+ Kg7 42. dxc5 Bxc5+ 43. Kd2? Be3+!). Aaron eventually won a piece and the game after stopping black's pawns.

With only the draw and Philadelphia's defeat of Boston, the Baltimore Kingfishers fall to 6th place. They are 1.5 match points behind Boston in the race for the last playoff spot.

Week 6 Lineup

Wednesday, 7:15 PM EDT
Time Control 90 min. with 30 sec. increment

New Jersey Knockouts vs. Baltimore Kingfishers
GM Joel Benjamin (2644) - GM Sergey Erenburg (2592)
IM Dean Ippolito (2500) - FM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2446)
NM Mackenzie Molner (2397) - FM Ray Kaufman (2348)
NM Victor Shen (2265) - Aaron Kahn (2259)

Note: Players in bold have the white pieces.

Week 5 Results

Baltimore Kingfishers vs. Chicago Blaze 1.5 - 2.5
FM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2446) - FM Florin Felecan (2449) .5 - .5
IM Larry Kaufman (2424) - IM Emory Tate (2392) 0-1
FM Ray Kaufman (2348) - FM Mehmed Pasalic (2375) .5 - .5
Aaron Kahn (2291) - IM Angelo Young (2356) .5 - .5

Another loss for the Kingfishers, but they stay in 5th place, on tiebreaks.

Week 5 Lineup

Wednesday, 7:30 PM EDT
Time Control 90 min. with 30 sec. increment

Baltimore Kingfishers vs. Chicago Blaze
FM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2446) - FM Florin Felecan (2449)
IM Larry Kaufman (2424) - IM Emory Tate (2392)
FM Ray Kaufman (2348) - FM Mehmed Pasalic (2375)
Aaron Kahn (2291) - IM Angelo Young (2356)

Note: Players in bold have the white pieces.

Week 4 Results

Baltimore Kingfishers vs. Queens Pioneers 1-3
GM Pawel Blehm (2580) - IM Eli Vovsha (2504) 1-0
FM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2399) - IM Alex Lenderman (2463) 0-1
FM Ralph Zimmer (2261) - NM Parker Zhao (2227) 0-1
Ian Harris (2051) - NM Michael Thaler (2146) 0-1

Week 4 Lineup

Monday, 7:15 PM EDT
Time Control 90 min. with 30 sec. increment

Baltimore Kingfishers vs. Queens Pioneers
GM Pawel Blehm (2580) - IM Eli Vovsha (2504)
FM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2399) - IM Alex Lenderman (2463)
FM Ralph Zimmer (2261) - NM Parker Zhao (2227)
Ian Harris (2051) - NM Michael Thaler (2146)

Note: Players in bold have the white pieces.

Week 3 Results

Carolina Cobras vs. Baltimore Kingfishers 1-3
IM Lev Milman (2502) - GM Sergey Erenburg (2592) 0-1
IM Jonathan Schroer (2441) - FM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2399) .5-.5
FM Oleg Zaikov (2376) - FM Ralph Zimmer (2261) 0-1
Udayan Bapat (2179) - Aaron Kahn (2259) .5-.5

The Baltimore Kingfishers grabbed their first win of the season with a convincing 3-1 score. Erenburg was first to finish with the Black side of a Berlin Defense. Then, almost simultaneously, Kahn and Enkhbat drew their games, by agreement and repetition, respectively. The Kingfishers had secured at least a draw in the match and all attention turned to board 3, where Zimmer, playing black, was already up a pawn and had a significant time advantage. He secured his position and took advantage as his opponent blundered in the time pressure.

Week 3 Lineup

Wednesday, 7:15 PM EDT
Time Control 90 min. with 30 sec. increment

Carolina Cobras vs. Baltimore Kingfishers
IM Lev Milman (2502) - GM Sergey Erenburg (2592)
IM Jonathan Schroer (2441) - FM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2399)
FM Oleg Zaikov (2376) - FM Ralph Zimmer (2261)
Udayan Bapat (2179) - Aaron Kahn (2259)

Note: Players in bold have the white pieces.

Week 2 Results

Philadelphia Inventors vs. Baltimore Kingfishers 2.5 - 1.5
GM Sergey Kudrin (2617) - GM Sergey Erenburg (2592) 1/2-1/2
FM Thomas Bartell (2415) - IM Larry Kaufman (2392) 1-0
NM Daniel Yeager (2304) - FM Ray Kaufman (2327) 1-0
NM Elvin Wilson (2240) - FM Ralph Zimmer (2261) 0-1

Another tough week for the Baltimore Kingfishers as early in the match, the positions were looking in their favor, but timely reversals by Daniel Yeager and Thomas Bartell did in the Kaufmans. With the match already decided in Philadelphia's favor, FM Ralph Zimmer salvaged the match score in a wild ending.

MD Action/Quick/Blitz Championships

Over the Labor Day weekend, the Maryland Chess Association (MCA) sponsored the Maryland Action, Quick, and Blitz Championships. The event was run by TDs Wilbert Brown and Sathish Nath.

In the Action (G/30) tournament, GM Sergey Erenburg won with 6.0/7 with FM Tegshsuren Enkhbat trailing in second with 5.5/7. Other Kingfisher members FM Ralph Zimmer, Scott Low, and Jared Defibaugh finished in a six-way tie for 3rd at 5.0/7.

In the Quick (G/15) tournament, GM Sergey Erenburg, IM Larry Kaufman, and IM Ray Kaufman all tied for first with 6.0/7. They were the only ones to take points off one another as Ray beat Sergey, Sergey beat Larry, and Larry beat Ray in the tournament.

In the Blitz (G/5) tournament, IM Larry Kaufman won with 7.5/10. In second, there was a three-way tie between Kingfishers FM Ray Kaufman, Jared Defibaugh, and possible-future-Kingfisher Shinsaku Uesugi.

You can see the entire tournament crosstables on the USCF's MSA site.

Week 2 Lineup

Wednesday, 7:15 PM EDT
Time Control 90 min. with 30 sec. increment

Philadelphia Inventors vs. Baltimore Kingfishers
GM Sergey Kudrin (2617) - GM Sergey Erenburg (2592)
FM Thomas Bartell (2415) - IM Larry Kaufman (2392)
NM Daniel Yeager (2304) - FM Ray Kaufman (2327)
NM Elvin Wilson (2240) - FM Ralph Zimmer (2261)

Note: Players in bold have the white pieces.

Week 1 Results

Baltimore Kingfishers vs. New Jersey Knockouts 1-3
GM Sergey Erenburg (2592) - GM Joel Benjamin (2651) 1-0
IM Larry Kaufman (2392) - IM Dean Ippolito (2426) 0-1
FM Ray Kaufman (2327) - NM Mackenzie Molner (2325) 0-1
FM Ralph Zimmer (2261) - NM Victor Shen (2246) 0-1

Sergey continued his Summer success by fending off GM Benjamin's attack, but his teammates did not fare so well. It was a tough loss for the Kingfishers this week, and the lopsided score was compounded by the fact that Larry did not notice IM Ippolito's draw offer until it was too late.

This was not the way Baltimore would have liked to start Season 4 of the US Chess League, but they should not despair too much, as in their only other season that began with a loss, they came back to make the playoffs and win the League Championship.

Will Baltimore be able to rebound from a first week loss? Continue to watch the US Chess League to find out!

The next match will begin Wednesday, Sept. 3rd at 7:15 PM EDT, when Baltimore faces the Philadelphia Inventors.

Week 1 Lineup

Wednesday, 7:15 PM EDT
Time Control 90 min. with 30 sec. increment

Baltimore Kingfishers vs. New Jersey Knockouts
GM Sergey Erenburg (2592) - GM Joel Benjamin (2651)
IM Larry Kaufman (2392) - IM Dean Ippolito (2426)
FM Ray Kaufman (2327) - NM Mackenzie Molner (2325)
FM Ralph Zimmer (2261) - NM Victor Shen (2246)

Note: Players in bold have the white pieces.

Welcome!

Welcome all to the debut of Baltimore Kingfishers Blog! My name is Brian Chan and I act as the Tournament Director/Computer Technician for the team.

The Baltimore Kingfishers, under the management of WIM Tsagaan Battsetseg, have been competing in the US Chess League since the league began 3 years ago. Baltimore actually won the League Championship in the inaugural season, but has suffered losses in the final regular season matches of the past two seasons to miss the playoffs both years. I know this year's players are looking forward to a much better outcome!

Speaking of the players, let's take a look at the Baltimore Kingfishers Roster: (Oct. 2007 Rating) [Current Rating]

1. GM Sergey Erenburg (2592) [2646]
   
2. GM Pawel Blehm (2580) [2551]
   
3. FM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2399) [2424]
   
4. IM Larry Kaufman (2392) [2445]
   
5. FM Ray Kaufman (2327) [2343]
   
6. FM Ralph Zimmer (2261) [2329]
   
7. Aaron Kahn (2259) [2294]
   
8. Jared Defibaugh (2048) [2143]
   

Alternates:

1. Scott Low (2078) [2176]
   
2. Ian Harris (2051) [2125]
   

As you can see, almost all the players have increased in rating since the October list with newcomers Jared Defibaugh and Scott Low gaining nearly 100 points each. The other two new members of the team, Aaron Kahn and Ian Harris, have shown marked improvement as well. Also, top player GM Sergey Erenburg has had quite the Summer: sharing first place in the Cleveland Open (with GM Mitkov) and the Atlantic Open (with GM Stripunsky), and taking clear first in the NJ Futurity International and New England Masters tournaments!

These signs point to an enjoyable 2008 season for the Baltimore Kingfishers!