Week 7 Lineup

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

Baltimore Kingfishers vs. New York Knights
GM Giorgi Margvelashvili (2593) - GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (2697)
GM Larry Kaufman (2445) - FM Michael Bodek (2409)
NM Jared Defibaugh (2357) - NM Justus Williams (2331)
FM Ralph Zimmer (2304) - NM Alexander Katz (2250)

Note: Players in italic have the white pieces.

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The sixth-place Baltimore Kingfishers will take on the first-place New York Knights. Despite the large difference in standings, these two teams are only one match point apart. In previous matches, Baltimore and New York are tied with 5.5 match points each. In their last match in Week 1, 2011, New York won with a 2.5-1.5 score. Four players (GM Margvelashvili, GM Kacheishvili, NM Defibaugh, and NM Justus Williams) from that match return for this match. Also, only one player from that last match is not currently on either roster - GM John Federowicz (NY).

Board 1: GM Giorgi Margvelashvili vs. GM Giorgi Kacheishvili. This board sees a rematch with the same colors of Week 1, 2011 when GM Kacheishvili prevailed for the full point. Now in his 2nd USCL season, GM Giorgi Margvelashvili is (+1 =2) and drew with black last week against IM Mackenzie Molner (ARZ) on Board 1. The loss against GM Kacheishvili is his only previous game against New York. Meanwhile GM Giorgi Kacheishvili, a 4-year USCL veteran, is (+1 =2) this season and (+2 =1) against Baltimore. He last played in Week 5, a draw with white against GM Robert Hess (CON) on Board 1.

Board 2: FM Michael Bodek vs. GM Larry Kaufman. FM Michael Bodek, with 2 years in the USCL, is (+1 =1) on the season and last played on Board 3 in Week 4 - a draw with black against FM Yian Liou (SF). He has not previously played against Baltimore. His 8-year-veteran opponent, GM Larry Kaufman is (=2 -1) this season and (+4 -2) against New York. His last game occurred in Week 5 as black against IM David Vigorito (NE) on Board 2, which ended in a draw.

Board 3: NM Jared Defibaugh vs. NM Justus Williams. NM Jared Defibaugh, a 3-year USCL player, has scored (+2 -2) this season and (+1 =1) against New York. He won last week as black against IM Mark Ginsburg (ARZ) on Board 3. He will face the formidable NM Justus Williams, who is (+3) in his 3rd year in the USCL and (+1) against Baltimore. He last played in a Week 5 victory with white against NM Ian Harris (CON) on Board 3. Astonishingly, with his 10-game-history in the USCL, he has only used the black pieces once before, which happened to be the only drawn game he has played.

(TRIVIA: Which USCL player had black in all of his/her first 10 games - all of which were decisive? Answer in the comments!)

Board 4: NM Alexander Katz vs. FM Ralph Zimmer. NM Alexander Katz, in his 2nd USCL season, is (+2 =1) and played a draw last week with white against FM Alec Getz (DAL) on Board 3. He has not played Baltimore previously. Challenging him is FM Ralph Zimmer, a 7-year USCL veteran. FM Zimmer is (+2 =1) this season and (+1 -1) against New York. He last played as black to a draw against Bennet Pellows (NE) in Week 5 on Board 4.

Let us know what results you predict in the polls to the right. Catch the games live on chess.com or relayed on ICC!