GM Sam Shankland (2673) - IM Levan Bregadze (2469)
FM Steven Winer (2409) - IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (2492)
NM Mika Brattain (2364) - NM Jared Defibaugh (2297)
NM Andrew Liu (2296) - FM Ralph Zimmer (2244)
Tuesday, 7:30 PM EDT
Time Control 75 min. with 30 sec. increment
Note: Players in italic have the white pieces.
The Baltimore Kingfishers (2.5-4.5, 4th) contend with the New England Nor'easters (6.0-1.0, 1st) in a Northeast Division showdown in Week 8 of the US Chess League. New England just needs half a match point in the final 3 weeks to clinch a playoff spot while Baltimore needs a win to keep themselves from being eliminated from playoff contention. New England leads Baltimore in the all-time series with a 3.5-1.5 match score. These two teams last played each other in Week 2, 2013 when New England won with a 2.5-1.5 score. Five players (IM Levan Bregadze, IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat, FM Steven Winer, NM Jared Defibaugh, NM Andrew Liu) from that match return to play in this match as well.
Board 1: GM Sam Shankland vs. IM Levan Bregadze. GM Sam Shankland has scored (=1 -1) in his 8th USCL season and is (+1 =1) against Baltimore. He last played in Week 5 when he lost with the white pieces against GM Mikheil Kekelidze of the Connecticut Dreadnoughts on Board 1. He will be playing IM Levan Bregadze, who is (+1 =3 -1) in his 2nd USCL season and won his only game against New England. IM Bregadze last played in Week 6 when he drew with the white pieces against FM Tom Bartell of the Philadelphia Inventors on Board 1.
Board 2: IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat vs. FM Steven Winer. IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat is (+1 =2 -2) in his 9th season and has a (+1 =1 -3) record against New England. He drew in Week 6 with the black pieces against FM Dov Gorman of the Philadelphia Inventors on Board 2. He will be rematched (with colors reversed) with FM Steven Winer, who is (+2 =3) in his 3rd USCL season and has scored (+1 -2) against Baltimore. He won last week with the white pieces against IM Andranik Matikozyan of the Los Angeles Vibe on Board 2. These two players have played twice before in the USCL with FM Winer winning with the white pieces in Week 2, 2013 and IM Enkhbat winning with the black pieces in Week 10, 2005.
Board 3: NM Mika Brattain vs. NM Jared Defibaugh. NM Mika Brattain has a (+1 =2 -1) record in his 2nd USCL season and has scored (=1 -1) against Baltimore in his career. He won last week with the black pieces against IM Larry Remlinger of the Los Angeles Vibe on Board 3. He is set to play NM Jared Defibaugh, who is (+2 =2 -2) in his 4th season and has a (+1 =2) record against New England. He lost last week with the white pieces against FM Tian Sang of the Seattle Sluggers on Board 3.
Board 4: FM Ralph Zimmer vs. NM Andrew Liu. FM Ralph Zimmer is (+1 =1) in his 8th season and has scored (=2) against New England in his career. He won last week with the black pieces against FM Curt Collyer of the Seattle Sluggers on Board 4. He will face NM Andrew Liu, who has scored (+2 =2) in his 2nd season and won his only game so far against Baltimore. He won in Week 6 with the white pieces against NM Christopher Wu of the New Jersey Knockouts on Board 3.
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Reposted at: Chess.com blogs
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