Week 9 Lineup/Preview

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

Boston Blitz vs. Baltimore Kingfishers
SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (2604) - GM Larry Kaufman (2467)
IM Jan van de Mortel (2499) - IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2426)
NM Vadim Martirosov (2329) - FM Ralph Zimmer (2280)
NM Ilya Krasik (2264) - NM Ian Schoch (2296)

Note: Players in italic have the white pieces.

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Board 1: SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun vs. GM Larry Kaufman. SM Sammour-Hasbun is (+4 -1) on the season and (+2 -1) against Baltimore. GM Kaufman is (=3 -3) on the season and (=2 -4) against Boston. SM Sammour-Hasbun has a large rating advantage and the white pieces so it will be all GM Kaufman can do to try to at least hold a draw.

Board 2: IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat vs. IM Jan van de Mortel. IM Enkhbat is (+2 =3 -3) on the season and (+2 =1 -3) against Boston. IM van de Mortel is (=3) on the season and has not played Baltimore. IM van de Mortel has a rating edge but IM Enkhbat has the white pieces so this match-up seems about even.

Board 3: NM Vadim Martirosov vs. FM Ralph Zimmer. NM Martirosov is (+2 =1 -2) on the season and (=4) against Baltimore. FM Zimmer is (=1) on the season and (=2 -1) against Boston. These two played to a draw during last year's Quarterfinals. NM Martirosov has a slight rating advantage and the white pieces.

Board 4: NM Ian Schoch vs. NM Ilya Krasik. NM Schoch is (+3 -1) on the season and (+1) against Boston. NM Krasik is (+1 -4) on the season and (+3 =1 -3) against Baltimore. This time, NM Schoch has the only rating edge for Baltimore, albeit a slight one, and the white pieces.

Both teams are fighting for a playoff berth with Boston currently holding the 4th and last spot in the Eastern Division. Baltimore, which is 1 match point behind, can tie Boston (and be ahead on the first tie-break) with a win this week. Also, either the New England Nor'easters or Carolina Cobras could take control of that coveted final playoff spot if Baltimore wins.

A drawn match would still keep some faint playoff hopes alive for Baltimore, but it would depend on having at most one team of Manhattan, Boston, New England, and Carolina passing 4.5 match points for the season and Baltimore being able to pass those teams in game points. Of course, Baltimore would like to avoid such a dire scenario.

Finally, a match loss would eliminate Baltimore from playoff contention.

Week 8 Lineup/Preview

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

Manhattan Applesauce vs. Baltimore Kingfishers
IM Eli Vovsha (2531) - GM Giorgi Margvelashvili (2538)
IM Dmitry Schneider (2522) - GM Larry Kaufman (2467)
FM Andrei Zaremba (2417) - IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2426)
NM Matan Prilleltensky (2186) - Charles Yang (2046)

Note: Players in italic have the white pieces.

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Board 1: IM Eli Vovsha vs. GM Giorgi Margvelashvili. IM Vovsha is (+1 =1) on the season and (+2 =1 -1) against Baltimore. GM Margvelashvili is (=1 -1) on the season and has not played Manhattan.

Board 2: GM Larry Kaufman vs. IM Dmitry Schneider. GM Kaufman is (=3 -2) this season and (+2 -1) against Manhattan. IM Schneider is making his season debut and is (+1 =1) against Baltimore.

Board 3: FM Andrei Zaremba vs. IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat. FM Zaremba is (=1) on the season and (+1 =1) against Baltimore. Meanwhile IM Enkhbat is (+2 =3 -2) this season and (=2 -2) against Manhattan.

Board 4: Charles Yang vs. NM Matan Prilleltensky. Charles Yang is making his USCL debut for the Baltimore Kingfishers. NM Prilleltensky is (+1 -1) on the season and has not played Baltimore.

The top 3 boards in this match are all fairly even match-ups, but Manhattan has a relatively good advantage on Board 4 as NM Prilleltensky has a 140-point rating advantage over Baltimore's youngest and newest team member, Charles Yang. Manhattan currently sits with 3.5 match points in 3rd place in the Eastern Division. Baltimore is only half a match point back along with 3 other teams (5th place by tie-break). With only 3 weeks to go and practically just 2 playoff spots up for grabs, every game point could turn out to be the difference between a post-season berth or season's end for either team.

Week 7 Lineup/Preview

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

Baltimore Kingfishers vs. Carolina Cobras
GM Larry Kaufman (2467) - IM Jonathan Schroer (2435)
IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2426) - FM Kassa Korley (2368)
NM Jared Defibaugh (2363) - FM Ron Simpson (2317)
FM Ralph Zimmer (2280) - NM Craig Jones (2305)

Note: Players in italic have the white pieces.

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Board 1: GM Larry Kaufman vs. IM Jonathan Schroer. GM Kaufman is (+3 =1 -1) against Carolina and (=2 -2) on the season while IM Schroer is (+1 =3 -1) against Baltimore and (+1 =1 -2) on the season. These two have played twice before: a draw in 2007 and a GM Kaufman win in 2010. This is a pretty even match-up but having the white pieces and a win in their previous head-to-head game bodes well for GM Kaufman.

Board 2: FM Kassa Korley vs. IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat. FM Korley is (+2 =1 -1) on the season but he has not yet played Baltimore while IM Enkhbat is (+3 =2 -2) against Carolina and (+2 =3 -1) on the season. IM Enkhbat has the slight rating advantage but FM Korley has the white pieces. This game may come down to which team needs to press for a win as the match situation clears up.

Board 3: NM Jared Defibaugh vs. FM Ron Simpson. NM Defibaugh is (=1) against Carolina and (+3 -2) on the season while FM Simpson is (-2) against Baltimore and (+2 =2) on the season. NM Defibaugh has the slight rating edge and the white pieces. He will be looking to snap the recent (-2) cold streak after starting (+3) this season.

Board 4: NM Craig Jones vs. FM Ralph Zimmer. NM Jones is (+1 =2 -3) against Baltimore and (=2 -2) on the season while FM Zimmer is making his season debut and (+1 =1 -2) against Carolina. These two have also played twice before: a NM Jones win in 2007 and a draw in 2006. Another fairly even match, but this time, Carolina's NM Jones has the white pieces and the plus score in the head-to-head.

Week 6 Lineup/Preview

Wednesday, 8:00 PM EDT
Time Control 75 min. with 30 sec. increment

Chicago Blaze vs. Baltimore Kingfishers
GM Mesgen Amanov (2576) - GM Giorgi Margvelashvili (2538)
GM Dmitry Gurevich (2547) - IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2426)
IM Angelo Young (2415) - NM Jared Defibaugh (2363)
NM Gopal Menon (2222) - NM Ian Schoch (2296)

Note: Players in italic have the white pieces.

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Board 1: GM Mesgen Amanov vs. GM Giorgi Margvelashvili. GM Amanov is (+2) this season while GM Margvelashvili is (-1) this season. Amazingly, GM Amanov will be playing on the third different board in his third game. He faces fellow-GM Margvelashvili who will be looking to rebound from the loss in his first USCL game. This is one of the few times Baltimore has not been heavily out-rated on Board 1 this season, so they would definitely like to make the most of the opportunity.

Board 2: IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat vs. GM Dmitry Gurevich. IM Enkhbat is (=1) against Chicago and (+1 =3 -1) on the season while GM Gurevich is (+2 =1) on the season. A tough match-up for IM Enkhbat as he at a 121-point rating disadvantage and GM Gurevich has only conceded 1 draw in 6 USCL games against non-GM opponents.

Board 3: IM Angelo Young vs. NM Jared Defibaugh. IM Young is (=1) against Baltimore and (+2) on the season while NM Defibaugh is (+3 -1) on the season. IM Young will face his toughest opponent so far this season while NM Defibaugh looks to put last week's loss behind him. IM Young has the rating edge and the white pieces while this will be NM Defibaugh's first game with the black pieces this season.

Board 4: NM Ian Schoch vs. NM Gopal Menon. NM Schoch is (+3) on the season while NM Menon is (+1) on the season. NM Schoch has the only rating advantage for Baltimore in this match and he will have the white pieces. That bodes well for continuing his excellent record from the first half as he faces another league newcomer in NM Menon.

Week 5 Lineup/Preview

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

Philadelphia Inventors vs. Baltimore Kingfishers
GM Sergey Erenburg (2679) - GM Larry Kaufman (2467)
FM Tom Bartell (2405) - IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2426)
IM Jay Bonin (2438) - WGM Sabina Foisor (2416)
NM William Fisher (2369) - NM Jared Defibaugh (2363)

Note: Players in italic have the white pieces.

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Board 1: GM Sergey Erenburg vs. GM Larry Kaufman. GM Erenburg had previously played for Baltimore until moving to Philadelphia this year so he has not played against Baltimore while GM Kaufman is (+2 =3 -2) against Philadelphia. This game is the biggest ratings mismatch (212 point difference) of the season for Baltimore. As the other boards are quite evenly matched according to ratings, Philadelphia will surely want GM Erenburg to push for a win on this board with the white pieces. Will GM Kaufman be able to fend off his former teammate? Vote in the polls on our sidebar with your predictions!

Board 2: IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat vs. FM Tom Bartell. IM Enkhbat is (+3 =1 -1) against Philadelphia while FM Bartell is (+1 =3 -1) against Baltimore. In fact, these two played to a draw in 2009. This season, IM Enkhbat is (+1 =2 -1) and FM Bartell is (+1 =2). This is the only board where Baltimore has a rating advantage, but it is marginal, so this is a toss-up.

Board 3: IM Jay Bonin vs. WGM Sabina Foisor. IM Bonin is (+1 =2 -3) against Baltimore while WGM Foisor has not played against Philadelphia. IM Bonin is (+1 =2) this season and WGM Foisor is making her season debut. This game is another toss-up as both players are fairly close in rating.

Board 4: NM Jared Defibaugh vs. NM William Fisher. NM Defibaugh is (-1) against Philadelphia while NM Fisher, who is in his first USCL season, has not yet played against Baltimore. Both players are 3-0 this season and are 6th and 7th, respectively, in the USCL MVP Race - a fairly surprising matchup to see on a Board 4. Also, this game is probably the highest rated Board 4 matchup in USCL history!

Week 4 Lineup/Preview

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

Baltimore Kingfishers vs. Boston Blitz
GM Larry Kaufman (2467) - FM David Griego (2494)
IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2426) - NM Vadim Martirosov (2329)
NM Jared Defibaugh (2363) - NM Ilya Krasik (2264)
NM Ian Schoch (2296) - Christopher Gu (2283)

Note: Players in italic have the white pieces.

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Board 1: GM Larry Kaufman vs. FM David Griego. GM Kaufman is (=1 -4) against Boston. FM Griego is new to the USCL this year and only has one game (-1) under his belt. This is the only board where Boston has a rating advantage, but it's only 27 points and GM Kaufman has the white pieces, so it is a wash.

Board 2: NM Vadim Martirosov vs. IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat. NM Martirosov is (=3) against Baltimore while IM Enkhbat is (+2 -3) against Boston. IM Enkhbat has a 97 point rating edge. With the black pieces, he will look to play solidly and then strike outwardly if the opportunity presents itself.

Board 3: NM Jared Defibaugh vs. NM Ilya Krasik. NM Defibaugh has not yet played Boston and NM Krasik is (+3 =1 -2) against Baltimore. NM Defibaugh has both a 99 point rating advantage and the white pieces. It is the best statistical advantage of the match especially noting NM Krasik's record against Baltimore with the black pieces is (=1 -2) as opposed to (+3) with white, so NM Defibaugh should be pressing here.

Board 4: NM Christopher Gu vs. NM Ian Schoch. NM Gu is another Boston Blitz player who is new to the league this year. He has played just one game so far - a draw with the black pieces. NM Schoch has not played against Boston. These players are very closely matched in rating, but despite that fact, do not expect a draw as I anticipate both players aiming for victory.

Week 3 Lineup/Preview

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

New England Nor'easters vs. Baltimore Kingfishers
GM Sam Shankland (2624) - GM Larry Kaufman (2467)
IM David Vigorito (2547) - IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2426)
FM Braden Bournival (2396) - NM Adithya Balasubramanian (2292)
NM Mika Brattain (2208) - NM Ian Schoch (2296)

Note: Players in italic have the white pieces.

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Board 1: GM Sam Shankland vs. GM Larry Kaufman. Neither of these two players played in the previous NE-BAL match last year - New England's inaugural USCL match, which they won 2.5-1.5. GM Shankland is returning from the World Cup, which he explains here at the USCF site. GM Kaufman faces another tough matchup with a large rating disdvantage (157 points) and the black pieces.

Board 2: IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat vs. IM David Vigorito. IM Enkhbat is (-1) against New England while IM Vigorito is (+1) against Baltimore. IM Enkhbat sat on Board 1 last in the last NE-BAL match, but Board 2 will not be much easier with a 121-point rating disadvantage. However, he will have the white pieces for the first time this season.

Board 3: FM Braden Bournival vs. NM Adithya Balasubramanian. Baltimore is again at a rating disadvantange, but this is a rematch from Week 1 last year, which ended in a draw. Expect a similar Philidor Defence from these two again.

Board 4: NM Ian Schoch vs. NM Mika Brattain. NM Schoch is (+1) against New England and he squares off against another player making his USCL debut - NM Brattain. This appears to be a developing theme with NM Schoch as he is (+2) against USCL debutants and (+3) against players in their first USCL season. This is the one board where Baltimore holds a rating edge and judging from NM Schoch's previous games, it will be a highly entertaining affair.

Week 2 Lineup/Preview

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

Baltimore Kingfishers vs. New Jersey Knockouts
GM Larry Kaufman (2467) - GM Boris Gulko (2587)
IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2426) - IM Dean Ippolito (2554)
NM Jared Defibaugh (2363) - FM Arthur Shen (2291)
NM Ian Schoch (2296) - Christopher Wu (2151)

Note: Players in italic have the white pieces.

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Board 1: GM Larry Kaufman vs. GM Boris Gulko. New Jersey really seems to have GM Kaufman's number as he is (-3) against them while GM Gulko's only game (+1) against Baltimore was with GM Kaufman. Having a 120-point rating disadvantage, GM Kaufman will have a tough time turning that dubious record around against GM Gulko, who is one of the best performers (in terms of win percentage and performance rating) in USCL history.

Board 2: IM Dean Ippolito vs. IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat. IM Ippolito is (+3 =1) against Baltimore and IM Enkhbat is (+2 =2 -2) against New Jersey. These two players have actually squared off three times (See 1 2 3) already with 2 wins for IM Ippolito and a draw between them. IM Enkhbat did manage to draw against GM Fedorowicz last week. With the black pieces again this week and facing another large rating disadvantage (128 points), IM Enkhbat will look to hold on again.

Board 3: NM Jared Defibaugh vs. FM Arthur Shen. NM Defibaugh is (-1) against New Jersey while NM Shen is playing for the first time against Baltimore. NM Defibaugh notched the only victory for Baltimore last week while FM Shen, the only returning player from New Jersey's Week 1 lineup, drew his game. This time, with a slight rating edge and the white pieces again, NM Defibaugh has a great opportunity to make a strong start this season.

Board 4: Christopher Wu vs. NM Ian Schoch. Christopher Wu is playing his first USCL game while NM Schoch scored 2.0/3 overall last year. NM Schoch has a significant 145-rating advantage, so he will be counted on to press for victory with the black pieces.

Week 1 Lineup/Preview

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

Baltimore Kingfishers vs. New York Knights
GM Giorgi Margvelashvili (2538) - GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (2653)
IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2426) - GM John Fedorowicz (2523)
NM Jared Defibaugh (2363) - SM Matt Herman (2426)
NM Adithya Balasubramanian (2292) - NM Justus Williams (2239)

Note: Players in italic have the white pieces.

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Board 1: GM Giorgi Margvelashvili vs. GM Giorgi Kacheishvili. GM Margvelashvili is new to the USCL while GM Kacheishvili is (=1) against Baltimore. GM Margvelashvili takes the top spot on Baltimore's roster as GM Erenburg moved to Philadelphia. He'll look to start off his USCL career with a solid showing especially having the white pieces, but he faces a tough match-up in GM Kacheishvili, who helped lead New York to the USCL Championship in 2009.

Board 2: GM John Fedorowicz vs. IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat. GM Fedorowicz has not played against Baltimore until now and IM Enkhbat is (+2 =3 -3) against New York. Facing a GM on board 2 is tough, but that should not faze IM Enkhbat as over the years, he's played on Board 1 several times so tough opposition comes with the territory. His record against GMs in the USCL is (+1 =2 -1).

Board 3: NM Jared Defibaugh vs. SM Matt Herman. NM Defibaugh is (=1) against New York while SM Herman has a record of (+1 =2 -2) against Baltimore. NM Defibaugh returns to the Kingfishers roster after a 1-year hiatus while sporting about a 200-point rating increase. However, he is still at a rating disadvantage against SM Herman. Perhaps having the white pieces will bridge that (rating-)gap.

Board 4: NM Justus Williams vs. NM Adithya Balasubramanian. Neither player has played against the other team. This is the only board that Baltimore has a rating advantage, but NM Balasubramian has the black pieces. He was (=2 -1) last year on that side of the board while NM Williams won the only game he had with the white pieces last year.