No nonsense here. Just some straight up predictions.
MondayArizona over Chicago 3-1See
this.
UPDATE: Arizona won, but with 2.5WednesdayNew York and Boston tie, 2-2The top board Shabalov-Sammour Hasbun will be exciting, and likely the most watched match of the night. If USCL rookie and former US Champion Shabalov can hold off the Blitz powerhouse player (uncharacteristically playing first board), New York is in good shape. If he loses, watch out. Spectators should keep an eye on Jay "45,000 rated games a week" Bonin and Shmelov, who've had some entertaining encounters in past USCL games.
UPDATE: Watch out was right. Shabalov lost, and so went the Knights, losing 3-1.New Jersey over Baltimore 2.5-1.5With a year under their belt, the Knockouts ought to start the year off right. Benjamin and Erenburg both have had some OTB success this year. Look for a win from the KOs with White, either board two Dean Ippolito or board four, Victor Shen, which should put them over the top.
UPDATE: Well, both Shen and Ippolito won, so New Jersey won 3-1.
Philadelphia over Queens 2.5-1.5The key here is newcomer to the USCL, Alex Lenderman. While he seemingly lives on ICC and is obviously used to the interface, he is taking on USCL veteran Richard Costigan, who tends to come up big in USCL play. If Lenderman draws (or loses), Queens will lose. If he wins, the match will be a tie.
UPDATE: Lenderman won, and Queens squeaked above Phildephia 2.5 - 1.5.
Carolina over Tennessee 3-1The Battle of the Blue Ridge should see the Cobra desynch the Tempo. Wins are more likely to come from the edge boards, while the middle boards ought to slug it out.
UPDATE: The two top boards were decisive, but it was 3 - 1 Carolina.San Francisco over Dallas 2.5-1.5The Mechanics have a real good shot of taking down last year's champions Dallas. Chief Mechanic Patrick Wolff should gobble newcomer Marko Zivanic, while the bottom board is a toss-up, since World Champion Daniel Naroditsky has black, and the match is probably past his bedtime. A good longshot to bet on is for Dallas' second board Kulasevic to take down should-be-a-GM-any-day-now-if-FIDE-would-get-their-act-together Josh Friedel.
UPDATE: I got the score, but not the details. SF wins 2.5 - 1.5.Seattle over Miami 2.5-1.5This is probably the safest bet of the night; Seattle might even win 3-1 or 3.5-0.5. The top two boards for Miami are overmatched -- the Shark's perennial MVP Julio Becerra is off for the night. Miami can probably win one of the two games on the bottom boards, but not both.
UPDATE: Did I say this was the safest bet? You all knew I was kidding and wrote this on opposite day... All I can say is "oops". Miami a big winner at 3.5 - 0.5.
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