Time Control 90 min. with 30 sec. increment
Baltimore Kingfishers vs. Boston Blitz
GM Giorgi Margvelashvili (2593) - SM Denys Shmelov (2502)
GM Larry Kaufman (2445) - FM Kazim Gulamali (2419)
NM Jared Defibaugh (2357) - NM Vadim Martirosov (2345)
FM Ralph Zimmer (2304) - NM Ilya Krasik (2261)
Note: Players in italic have the white pieces.
The Baltimore Kingfishers (4.5-3.5, 6th place) battle the Boston Blitz (4.0-5.0, 7th place) in the final week of the USCL regular season. Both teams are fighting for a playoff spot, but even with a match victory here, they will need help from the other matches going a favorable way. Baltimore could finish as high as 3rd place while Boston could move into the 4th spot in the Eastern Division. Now, Boston leads the all-time series with 6.5 match points to Baltimore's 4.5 match points. They last played in Week 9, 2011 when Boston won 3-1. Four players (GM Kaufman, FM Zimmer, NM Martirosov, and NM Krasik) in that match return to play this time.
Board 1: GM Giorgi Margvelashvili vs. SM Denys Shmelov. GM Giorgi Margvelashvili, is (+2 =2) in his 2nd USCL season. He has not played against Boston previously. He won with white on Board 1 against GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) in Week 7. He will be facing SM Denys Shmelov, who is (=2) in his 5th USCL season and (+1 =1 -1) against Baltimore. He drew last week as black against IM Jonathan Yedida (NE) on Board 2.
Board 2: FM Kazim Gulamali vs. GM Larry Kaufman. FM Kazim Gulamali is (+4 -3) in his 1st USCL season. He won last week as white against FM Braden Bournival (NE) on Board 2. His challenger, GM Larry Kaufman is (+1 =2 -1) in his 8th USCL season and (=2 -5) against Boston. He won in Week 7 as black against FM Michael Bodek (NY) on Board 2.
Board 3: NM Jared Defibaugh vs. NM Vadim Martirosov. NM Jared Defibaugh is (+3 -3) in his 3rd USCL season and (+1) against Boston. He lost in Week 8 as white against IM Albert Kapengut (NJ) on Board 3. His opponent, NM Vadim Martirosov is (+2 =1) in his 6th USCL season and (=5) against Baltimore. He drew with black against NM Christopher Wu (NJ) on Board 3 in Week 7.
Board 4: NM Ilya Krasik vs. FM Ralph Zimmer. NM Ilya Krasik is (+3 -1) in his 8th USCL season and (+4 =1 -3) against Baltimore. He won with white against NM Andrew Ryba (MAN) on Board 4 in Week 8. He will have a somewhat familiar opponent in FM Ralph Zimmer, whom NM Krasik won against in Week 8, 2008. FM Ralph Zimmer is (+3 =1 -1) in his 7th USCL season and (=3 -1) against Boston. He won in Week 8 with black against Praveen Balakrishnan (NJ) on Board 4.
Will either team make the playoffs? Everything will be decided this week so follow the action live on chess.com or as relayed on ICC!
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