Baltimore Kingfishers vs. Arizona Scorpions
IM Tanguy Ringoir (2583) - GM Mackenzie Molner (2581)
GM Larry Kaufman (2391) - IM Mark Ginsburg (2397)
NM Jared Defibaugh (2325) - IM Alexey Diulger (2421)
FM Ralph Zimmer (2268) - Matthew Noble (2084)
Wednesday, 9:00 PM EDT
Time Control: 60 min. with 30 sec. increment
Note: Players in italic have the white pieces.
In the third and penultimate interdivisional match of the season, the Baltimore Kingfishers play the Arizona Scorpions. Baltimore (3.0-3.0 match record) is in 2nd place in the Southern Division while Arizona (2.5-3.5) is in 5th place in the Western Division. Baltimore has won all three previous matches against Arizona. These two teams last played in Week 6, 2012 when Baltimore won by a 3-1 score. One Baltimore player (NM Jared Defibaugh) and two Arizona players (GM Mackenzie Molner and IM Mark Ginsburg) from that match return to play in this match.
The four weeks of interdivisional matches determine which of the three USCL divisions earns a 4th playoff spot. Currently, the Western Division leads the race with an (8.0-4.0) match record while the Eastern Division (7.0-5.0) remains close behind. The Southern Division sits at a dismal (3.0-9.0) record, but there is still time to catch up. See the full USCL playoff structure explanation here.
Board 1: IM Tanguy Ringoir vs. GM Mackenzie Molner. IM Tanguy Ringoir won his only USCL game thus far in Week 4 on Board 1 with the black pieces against IM Carlos Perdomo of the Atlanta Kings. That starts him off with a 2800 performance rating. He will be challenged by GM Mackenzie Molner, a 9-year veteran of the USCL playing in his 4th year with the Arizona Scorpions. GM Molner has a (+2 =1 -2) record this season with a 2651 performance rating. In his USCL career which has included stints with the New York Knights and the New Jersey Knockouts, he has a (+3 =2 -2) record against Baltimore. He drew last week with the black pieces on Board 1 against GM Jesse Kraai of the San Francisco Mechanics.
Board 2: IM Mark Ginsburg vs. GM Larry Kaufman. In his 6th USCL season, IM Mark Ginsburg is (+2 =2 -1) with a 2525 performance rating. He drew last week on Board 3 with the black pieces against FM Cameron Wheeler of the San Francisco Mechanics. He has a (=1 -1) record in his career against Baltimore including a drawn game in Week 4, 2009 with the same colors against this week's opponent, GM Larry Kaufman. GM Larry Kaufman lost his only game this season in Week 2 with the black pieces against NM Ilker Bozkurt of the Carolina Cobras for a 1983 performance rating. In his 10 seasons with the Baltimore Kingfishers, he has a (+1 =1) record against the Arizona Scorpions.
Board 3: NM Jared Defibaugh vs. IM Alexey Diulger. NM Jared Defibaugh has scored (+2 =2 -1) with a 2410 performance rating in his 5th USCL season. He won his only career game against Arizona. He won last week with the white pieces on Board 3 against NM Matthew Larson of the St. Louis Arch Bishops. Opposing him will be IM Alexey Diulger, who lost his only career USCL game in Week 5 with the black pieces against GM Le Quang Liem of the St. Louis Arch Bishops. That still starts IM Alexey Diulger with a relatively high 2385 performance rating.
Board 4: Matthew Noble vs. FM Ralph Zimmer. Matthew Noble is (+1 -1) in his first USCL season with a 2109 performance rating. He last played in Week 5 when he won with the black pieces on Board 4 against Julian Proleiko of the St. Louis Arch Bishops. He is set to play FM Ralph Zimmer, who is making his season debut for his 9th season with Baltimore. FM Ralph Zimmer scored (+2 =1 -1) last season with a 2337 performance rating and won his only career game against the Arizona Scorpions.
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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