2014 Week 10 Preview

Connecticut Dreadnoughts vs. Baltimore Kingfishers
GM Mark Paragua (2588) - IM Levan Bregadze (2530)
GM Oliver Barbosa (2579) - GM Larry Kaufman (2391)
NM Kapil Chandran (2365) - NM Jared Defibaugh (2325)
NM Yoon-Young Kim (2116) - FM Alex Barnett (2330)

Tuesday, 7:30 PM EDT
Time Control: 75 min. with 30 sec. increment

Note: Players in italic have the white pieces.

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The Connecticut Dreadnoughts and the Baltimore Kingfishers clash in a match that will decide which team makes the playoffs. Both teams sit at a (4.0-5.0) match record, but Connecticut is in 3rd place in the Southern Division thanks to their 18.5 game points to Baltimore's 17.5 game points. In essence, Connecticut has draw odds with regards to making the playoffs. With the Miami Sharks (4.5-4.5 match record with 16.5 game points) playing against the Atlanta Kings (3.5-5.5 match record with 18.0 game points), only one team from each of these two matches can make the playoffs despite the possibility of all four teams ending up tied with a (4.5-5.5) match record. In that very special case, Atlanta and Connecticut would make the playoffs as they both would have at least 20.5 game points to win the first tie-breaker. That tiebreaker is also why the other Southern Division match-up, Carolina Cobras (3.5-5.5 match record with 16.0 game points) vs. St. Louis Arch Bishops (6.5-2.5), only serves to determine St. Louis' seeding in the playoffs as Carolina cannot make the playoffs even with a 4-0 victory. Also note that last week, the Western Division secured their Interdivisional supremacy, so they receive a 4th playoff spot this year. See all of the playoff structure here.

In the all-time series, Connecticut leads Baltimore with a (2.5-0.5) match record. These two teams last played against each other in Week 9, 2013 when Connecticut won with a 3.5-0.5 score. Only two Baltimore players (GM Larry Kaufman and NM Jared Defibaugh), who played in that match, return to play this week. Coincidentally, Connecticut starts a lineup that also won by a 3.5-0.5 score last week against the New England Nor'easters. Meanwhile Baltimore debuts a more balanced lineup than we have seen them use this year.

Board 1: GM Mark Paragua vs. IM Levan Bregadze. GM Mark Paragua is (+1 =3 -1) with a 2586 performance rating in his first USCL season. He drew last week with the black pieces on Board 1 against SM Mika Brattain of the New England Nor'easters. He will be challenged by IM Levan Bregadze, who is (+4 -2) with a 2670 performance rating in his 3rd USCL season and 2nd season with Baltimore. IM Levan Bregadze has a (-2) career record against Connecticut. He won last week with the white pieces on Board 2 against FM Denys Shmelov of the Boston Blitz.

Board 2: GM Larry Kaufman vs. GM Oliver Barbosa. GM Larry Kaufman is (=1 -2) with a 2163 performance rating in his 10th USCL season. He has a (=1 -1) score in his career against Connecticut. He last played in Week 8 when he drew on Board 2 with the black pieces against GM Renier Gonzalez of the Miami Sharks. He will battle GM Oliver Barbosa, who is (+2 =2) with a 2672 performance rating in his first USCL season. GM Oliver Barbosa won last week with the white pieces on Board 2 against FM Steven Winer of the New England Nor'easters.

Board 3: NM Kapil Chandran vs. NM Jared Defibaugh. NM Kapil Chandran won his season debut last week with the black pieces on Board 3 against FM Christopher Chase of the New England Nor'easters. That starts him off with a 2811 performance rating in his 3rd USCL season. His opponent, NM Jared Defibaugh, has a (+3 =2 -2) record with a 2398 performance rating in his 5th season. NM Jared Defibaugh has a (-3) career record against Connecticut. He last played in Week 8 when he lost with the white pieces on Board 3 against NM Federico Gonzalez of the Miami Sharks.

Board 4: FM Alex Barnett vs. NM Yoon-Young Kim. FM Alex Barnett lost his USCL debut last week with the black pieces on Board 3 against NM Chris Williams of the Boston Blitz. That starts him with a 1910 performance rating. This week, he is set to play NM Yoon-Young Kim, who is (+2 -3) with a 2176 performance rating in his first USCL season. NM Yoon-Young Kim won last week with the white pieces on Board 4 against Carissa Yip of the New England Nor'easters.

Catch the games live on ICC and let us know your predictions in the 5 polls linked below/shown to the right!
Board 1 Result? | Board 2 Result? | Board 3 Result? | Board 4 Result? | Match Result?

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Reposted at: Chess.com blogs