USCL Week 6 Predictions

Well, last week the prediction contest went my way! The model that I use tied for first in the weekly prediction contest.

What's on tap this week?

NEW YORK vs SEATTLE (Monday)

The Knights are not having a very good season, and Seattle's double-GM lineup may not help them any. In a real fight, I'd put Bonin's sword and shield over the crazy horse's boxing gloves, but not tonight.

Prediction: New York 1.0 - Seattle 3.0

ARIZONA vs SAN FRANCISCO (Monday)

The ever-powerful Mechanics ought to be able to extend their lead in the West with a win here, but intuition tells me the Scorpions very well may make it a lot closer than the model predicts. Unfortunately, I refuse to use intuition.

Prediction: Arizona 1.0 - 3.0 San Francisco

CAROLINA vs QUEENS

Cleopatra was a queen. She also had a pet snake. Okay, it was an asp, not a cobra, but you ge the idea. The snake bit her, and she died. The queen bites back.

Prediction: Carolina 1.5 - 2.5 Queens

NEW JERSEY vs BALTIMORE

This is a rematch of week 1, where New Jersey won 3-1. Baltimore can do better, but not much.

Prediction: New Jersey 2.5 - 1.5 Baltimore

BOSTON vs PHILADELPHIA

Philadelphia was soundly beaten last week by New Jersey. This week, the Blitz gets their turn. Interesting battle on Board 1 with not-a-GM-but-probably-should-be Jorge Sammour-Hasbun against ultra-solid-in-the-USCL Sergey Kudrin.

Prediction: Boston 3.0 - 1.0 Philadelphia

CHICAGO vs MIAMI

Lots of close battles on all boards as the fiery ones takes on the profit center for the Discovery channel. Water beats fire.

Prediction: Chicago 1.5 - 2.5 Miami

TENNESSEE vs DALLAS

Ehlvest is back, trying to continue his winning ways. However, he can't play in all four games, and that's where Tennessee needs help.

Prediction: Tennessee 1.5 - 2.5 Dallas

USCL Top Board Honors, Week 5

Here are the Top Board Honors, for Week 5 in the United States Chess League.

Note that players must have played at least TWO games in the 2008 season to be eligible for Top Board Honors. Rankings are done by USCL rating.

Board 1
1	2617	Jaan Ehlvest	Tennessee
2	2609	Sergey Erenburg	Baltimore
3	2606	Hikaru Nakamura	Seattle
Board 2
1	2593	Josh Friedel	San Francisco
2	2538	Drasko Boskovic	Dallas
3	2537	Eli Vovsha	Queens
Board 3
1	2461	Sam Shankland	San Francisco
2	2460	Gregory Braylovsky	New York
3	2454	Mehmed Pasalic	Chicago
Board 4
1	2571	Marc Esserman	Boston
2	2364	Eric Rodriguez	Miami
3	2350	Angelo Young	Chicago

CORRECTED: USCL Power Rankings after Week 5

NOTE: CORRECTION POSTED ON 2 OCT 2008

The BLUPRs are back! (BLUPRs - Bionic Lime USCL Power Rankings)

This is the corrected list. Big movers -- Seattle up 5, Arizona down 3.

1 -	QUE (same)
2 -	SFM (same)
3 -	NJK (up 1)
4 -	DAL (down 1)
5 -	SEA (up 5)
6 -	MIA (down 1)
7 -	BOS (down 1)
8 -	CHI (up 1)
9 -	CAR (down 1)
10 -	ARI (down 3)
11 -	PHI (up 1)
12 -	BAL (down 1)
13 -	TEN (up 1)
14 -	NYK (down 1)

2008 USCL Rating List (Week 5)

After Week 5 in the USCL, Jaan Ehlvest takes the top spot!

1	2617	Jaan Ehlvest
2	2609	Sergey Erenburg
3	2606	Hikaru Nakamura
4	2595	Patrick Wolff
5	2593	Josh Friedel
6	2590	Larry Christiansen
7	2583	Julio Becerra
8	2581	Jorge Sammour-Hasbun
9	2576	Joel Benjamin
10	2571	Davorin Kuljasevic
11	2571	Marc Esserman
12	2547	Levon Altounian
13	2539	Gregory Serper
14	2538	Drasko Boskovic
15	2537	Eli Vovsha
16	2536	Pawel Blehm
17	2529	Vinay Bhat
18	2527	Dean Ippolito
19	2518	Sergey Kudrin
20	2516	Lev Milman
21	2514	Alex Stripunsky
22	2512	Dmitry Schneider
23	2510	Pascal Charbonneau
24	2504	Jan van de Mortel
25	2498	John Bartholomew
26	2488	Alex Lenderman
27	2478	John Donaldson
28	2473	Emory Tate
29	2461	Sam Shankland
30	2460	Gregory Braylovsky
31	2454	Mehmed Pasalic
32	2452	Osmany Perea
33	2436	Denis Shmelov
34	2434	Oleg Zaikov
35	2427	Parker Zhao
36	2425	Bruci Lopez
37	2420	Marcel Martinez
38	2419	Jonathan Schroer
39	2418	Tegshsuren Enkhbat
40	2413	Blas Lugo
41	2408	Ron Burnett
42	2402	Mackenzie Molner
43	2399	Charles Riordan
44	2398	Slava Mikhailuk
45	2397	Irina Krush
46	2396	Bryan Smith
47	2392	Igor Schneider
48	2391	Ron Simpson
49	2390	Jay Bonin
50	2387	David Pruess
51	2385	Robby Adamson
52	2380	Daniel Yeager
53	2375	Mark Ginsburg
54	2367	Eric Tangborn
55	2364	Eric Rodriguez
56	2363	Richard Costigan
57	2362	Peter Bereolos
58	2350	Angelo Young
59	2338	Irina Zenyuk
60	2337	John Readey
61	2333	Ralph Zimmer
62	2329	Daniel Naroditsky
63	2322	Larry Kaufman
64	2321	Michael Lee
65	2320	Michael Thaler
66	2319	Bayaraa Zorigt
67	2310	Benjamin Katz
68	2305	Craig Jones
69	2300	Todd Andrews
70	2299	Elvin Wilson
71	2296	Victor Shen
72	2280	Matthew Herman
73	2278	Ilya Krasik
74	2276	Evan Ju
75	2266	Udayan Bapat
76	2260	Jayson Lian
77	2255	Ray Kaufman
78	2251	Evan Rosenberg
79	2249	Josh Sinanan
80	2234	John Bick
81	2232	Warren Harper
82	2205	Jennifer Shahade
83	2203	Jerry Wheeler

USCL Predictions, Week 5

Well, well, well... The Bionic Lime prediction tribulations continue, with the Lime and the regal Orange fellow tied for 2nd-3rd place, ahead of the Assistant Commissioner and behind last year's leader. I expect, however, that as the USCL ratings become more firmly established, the Lime will slowly pull ahead, proving that math beats intuition.

Anyway, here are this week's predictions

QUEENS vs NEW YORK (Monday)

The mighty Pioneers attempt to spur the Knights. However, the Pioneers are without not-so-secret weapon Alex Lenderman. Lenderman's opponents have always scored a bagel, but without Lenderman, Queens will be a little lost.

Prediction: Queens 2.0 - 2.0 New York

MIAMI vs TENNESSEE (Monday)

Miami throws up their B-line up (B = Becerra-less) against the Tempo, probably assuming the Ehlvest wouldn't play again. Wrong. The Tempo will pacify the Sharks like a Discovery Channel producer with a tranquilizer gun.

Prediction: Miami 1.5 - 2.5 Tennessee

PHILADELPHIA vs NEW JERSEY

Um... Benjamin, Gulko, and Ippolito as 1, 2, 3? Sorry Philadelphia, New Jersey will eat you like a Pat's cheesesteak with peppers and onions. (Not Gino's, sorry; Pat's is better).

Prediction: Philadelphia 1.0 - 3.0 New Jersey

BALTIMORE vs CHICAGO

I think its a bit early in the semester for Erenburg to be having midterms, so its a shame that he's not on Board 1. Chicago pulls out a solid lineup and will burn the feathers off the birds.

Prediction: Baltimore 0.5 - 3.5 Chicago

SAN FRANCISCO vs BOSTON

San Francisco rolls right along, while Boston is a little bit lost. However, Boston has pulled out their top guns this week, as Jorge Sammour-Hasbun returns to the board that made him famous, Board 2. Look for a tight battle that could go either way.

Prediction: San Francisco 2.0 - 2.0 Boston

SEATTLE vs DALLAS

I guess Nakamura didn't feel like driving this week. Without "Mr. Geethree" on Board 1, the Sluggers will be hurting a little. Dallas are still the reigning champs, and they will demonstrate it.

Prediction: Seattle 1.5 - 2.5 Dallas

ARIZONA vs CAROLINA

Scorpions and Cobras. Two things I would not like to sit on. I betting on four decisive games here, and it all coming out in the wash. Except the venom.

Prediction: Arizona 2.0 - 2.0 Carolina

Eight Pieces on a File: A Response

Recently, esteemed United States Chess League commissioner Greg Shahade posted several videos summarizing the week's action at chessvideos.tv.

In one of these videos, he showed the RCostigan-SShankland game from the Philadelphia-San Francisco match. In the position after Black's 30th move, there are eight pieces (no kings, no pawns) all on the g-file. Greg claimed that he had never seen anything like that before in a chess game, and challenged viewers to prove him wrong.

Check and mate, Mr. Commissioner.

I found 24 games that had such a set up on the c-file or f-file. In my video response, also posted on chessvideos.tv, I show how I used the position search dialog box to find these games, and show two of the positions (one from Linares 1991, and the other from a famous USCL player!).

Unfortunately, there's an annoying low hum from the microphone, which you'll have to endure. It was my fourth take doing the video (the first time I messed up the search, the second time the audio didn't record, the third time I had to give first aid to a banged up kid), and I didn't want to do it again!

So, without further ado, here's my response. I hope you enjoy it!

UPDATE: The video got munched in the upload. I'll try and re-upload it tomorrow. Until then, here are the positions.


(above) Ehlvest-Barus (Japfa op Bali 2000) after 12.Qc2


(above) Gelfand-Jussupow (Linares 2001) after 15...Qc7

UPDATE TWO: One more, in response to Shankland's comments, that occurred on a "random" file, after move 30 -- past all the opening theory.


(above) Praszak-Hausner (Prague, 1990) after the 31st move.

USCL Top Board Honors, Week 4

Here are the USCL ratings leaders after Week 4. Here's a recap of how one is eligible for this list.

1. USCL rating must be published and active -- three lifetime USCL games minimum and at least one this season.
2. Players must have played the majority of their games on that particular board. If they have played the same number of games on different boards, the most recent board on which they played is the one for which they are eligible for the Top Board Honors.

Some may ask why Alex Lenderman, who is 4-0 this year, not on the Top Board Honors. He has played two games on board 2, and two games on board 3. Because he's played on both boards, the most recent one on which he played is the Top Board Honors for which he is eligible -- that was board 2 last Monday. However, the three players listed below for board 2 honors all have higher USCL ratings than he does, and therefore, he doesn't make it.

Board 1
Gold	2609	Sergey Erenburg	Baltimore
Silver	2606	Hikaru Nakamura	Seattle
Bronze	2598	Jaan Ehlvest	Tennessee
Board 2
Gold	2593	Vinay Bhat	San Francisco
Silver	2593	Josh Friedel	San Francisco
Bronze	2538	Dean Ippolito	New Jersey
Board 3
Gold	2463	Sam Shankland	San Francisco
Silver	2460	Gregory Braylovsky	New York
Bronze	2427	Parker Zhao	Queens
Board 4
Gold	2566	Marc Esserman	Boston
Silver	2360	Craig Jones	Carolina
Bronze	2341	Eric Rodriguez	Miami

Note that next week, players will have to have played at least two games this season to be eligible for Top Board Honors.

Week 4 USCL Rating List, CORRECTED

-- CORRECTED: Accounts for last minute Dallas substitution --

Rating list after week 4 of the 2008 United States Chess League..

Three interesting things to note...

(1) Marc Esserman, board 4 player, is number 11 with a 2566 rating -- he played board 1 in his first match and was given a temporary rating of 2550 (as are all board 1s initially). He hasn't lost a game since, and his rating keeps increasing!

(2) San Francisco has three of the top six players (Wolff, Bhat, Friedel).

(3) Alex Lenderman has risen from a temporary rating of 2350 (since he started on board 3) to a current rating of 2488 -- 138 points in 4 games (and 4 wins)!

Top Board Performance will come probably on Friday.

1	2609	Sergey Erenburg
2	2606	Hikaru Nakamura
3	2598	Jaan Ehlvest
4	2595	Patrick Wolff
5	2593	Vinay Bhat
6	2593	Josh Friedel
7	2583	Julio Becerra
8	2580	Jorge Sammour-Hasbun
9	2571	Davorin Kuljasevic
10	2568	Drasko Boskovic
11	2566	Marc Esserman
12	2564	Joel Benjamin
13	2550	Larry Christiansen
14	2547	Gregory Serper
15	2538	Dean Ippolito
16	2536	Eli Vovsha
17	2536	Pawel Blehm
18	2529	Sergey Kudrin
19	2510	Pascal Charbonneau
20	2504	Jan van de Mortel
21	2500	Alex Stripunsky
22	2498	Lev Milman
23	2488	Alex Lenderman
24	2485	John Bartholomew
25	2483	Osmany Perea
26	2478	John Donaldson
27	2476	Dmitry Schneider
28	2463	Sam Shankland
29	2460	Gregory Braylovsky
30	2442	Bruci Lopez
31	2436	Denis Shmelov
32	2432	Tegshsuren Enkhbat
33	2430	Irina Krush
34	2428	Oleg Zaikov
35	2427	Parker Zhao
36	2423	Ron Burnett
37	2420	Marcel Martinez
38	2419	Jonathan Schroer
39	2403	Robby Adamson
40	2402	Mackenzie Molner
41	2400	Bryan Smith
42	2399	Charles Riordan
43	2392	Igor Schneider
44	2392	Jay Bonin
45	2390	Blas Lugo
46	2384	Mark Ginsburg
47	2380	Daniel Yeager
48	2367	Ron Simpson
49	2367	Eric Tangborn
50	2361	Slava Mikhailuk
51	2360	Craig Jones
52	2355	Richard Costigan
53	2349	John Readey
54	2341	Eric Rodriguez
55	2336	Daniel Naroditsky
56	2333	Ralph Zimmer
57	2332	Irina Zenyuk
58	2327	Peter Bereolos
59	2324	Larry Kaufman
60	2320	Michael Thaler
61	2319	Bayaraa Zorigt
62	2317	Elvin Wilson
63	2310	Benjamin Katz
64	2300	Todd Andrews
65	2296	Victor Shen
66	2280	Michael Lee
67	2280	Matthew Herman
68	2276	Evan Ju
69	2271	Ilya Krasik
70	2266	Udayan Bapat
71	2260	Jayson Lian
72	2259	John Bick
73	2251	Evan Rosenberg
74	2249	Josh Sinanan
75	2238	Ray Kaufman
76	2205	Jennifer Shahade
77	2203	Jerry Wheeler

Week 4 Power Rankings

Week 4 BLUPRs (Bionic Lime USCL Power Rankings). Raw results now. Commentary tomorrow!

1 -	Queens (same)
2 -	San Francisco (same)
3 -	Dallas (up 1)
4 -	New Jersey (up 3)
5 -	Miami (down 2)
6 -	Boston (down 1)
7 -	Arizona (up 1)
8 -	Carolina (up 4)
9 -	Chicago (down 3)
10 -	Seattle (up 3)
11 -	Baltimore (same)
12 -	Philadelphia (down 3)
13 -	New York (down 3)
14 -	Tennessee (same)

An Easy Puzzle

From a recent game I played... I found that its rare to get to play combinations that you practice in tactics books, but in this case...

White to move...

USCL 2008 Week 4 Predictions

Some have asked about how the Bionic Lime predictions are calculated each week. Through gut instinct or intuition? Through a thorough study of each player's opening choices and records versus a particular opponent?

Absolutely not.

The truth is that all predictions are made via a simple rule set that is relatively easy to explain.

1. Take the player's USCL ratings.
2. Add 72 to the player playing White.
3. If the difference is greater than 80, predict a win for the player with the higher rating, otherwise predict a draw.
4. Sum the total of the four boards to get a team prediction.

Note that there are a bunch of exceptions and (some further addition and division) if a player does not have a rating in the USCL, but that's the basic procedure.

Therefore, if a player, team, or fan is upset by a prediction, they can blame the rule set, the rating model, or basic mathematics. Personally, I always blame mathematics -- especially when I look at my checking account balance at the end of the month.


BALTIMORE vs QUEENS

Without top-rated Erenburg sweeping up on first board, the Kingfishers can't commit regicide on Queens.

Prediction: Baltimore 1.0 - 3.0 Queens


SEATTLE vs CHICAGO

With Strunk (as White) Chicago has the elements of a stylish victory, despite the double GM lineup from the Sluggerinos.

Prediction: Seattle 1.5 - 2.5 Chicago


NEW JERSEY vs BOSTON

Marc Esserman's USCL rating (based on 2 games, so it is not officially published) is 2565, which in USCL rating terms, is only a point below Larry Christensen. And he's on board 4. Yikes.

Prediction: New Jersey 1.5 - 2.5 Boston


CAROLINA vs NEW YORK

The other Iryna is back. Knight All-Star Iryna Zenyuk charms the Cobras on board 4.

Prediction: Carolina 1.0 - 3.0 New York


DALLAS vs MIAMI

Destiny and the Sharks. Sounds like a romance novel. But in any case, thematch will end up a "Big D".

Prediction: Dallas 2.0 - 2.0 Miami


PHILADELPHIA vs SAN FRANCISCO

Usually, Mechanics end up fixing things created by Inventors. But in this case, the Inventors are just going to be fixed. Ouch.

Prediction: Philadelphia 1.5 - 2.5 San Francisco


TENNESSEE vs ARIZONA

Last week, the metronome broke, and the Tempo were shut out. This week, the Tempo bring in a new conductor, GM Jaan Ehlvest.

Prediction: Tennessee 2.5 - 1.5 Arizona

2008 USCL Power Rankings Week 3

How the mighty have fallen. Only Queens remains undefeated in the USCL, and they have moved up to the top of the BLUPRs (Bionic Lime USCL Power Rankings). San Francisco, with their win over current USCL Champions, Dallas, moves up to number 2.

The biggest rise this week was the expansion Chicago Blaze with their blanking of Tennessee, as they move up four spots to number six. The biggest drop this week was Carolina, which dropped six spots to number twelve, due to their loss to the previously point-less Baltimore Kingfishers.

1 -	Queens
2 -	San Francisco
3 -	Miami
4 -	Dallas
5 -	Boston
6 -	Chicago
7 -	New Jersey
8 -	Arizona
9 -	Philadelphia
10 -	New York
11 -	Baltimore
12 -	Carolina
13 -	Seattle
14 -	Tennessee

Until next week, when the Dallas-Miami matchup should shake up the standings... Unless they draw...

USCL 2008 Rating List Week 3

Following a week that proved the United States Chess League is rather balanced, here is my USCL rating list for players post-week 3.

Once again players must be active in 2008 to be included and must have played three or more games lifetime in the USCL.

1	2609	Sergey Erenburg
2	2603	Julio Becerra
3	2597	Hikaru Nakamura
4	2593	Vinay Bhat
5	2592	Josh Friedel
6	2580	Jorge Sammour-Hasbun
7	2575	Patrick Wolff
8	2568	Drasko Boskovic
9	2566	Larry Christiansen
10	2557	Eli Vovsha
11	2551	Joel Benjamin
12	2548	Davorin Kuljasevic
13	2540	Sergey Kudrin
14	2525	Gregory Serper
15	2510	Pascal Charbonneau
16	2500	Alex Stripunsky
17	2492	Dean Ippolito
18	2489	Lev Milman
19	2478	Alex Lenderman
20	2478	John Donaldson
21	2476	Dmitry Schneider
22	2466	John Bartholomew
23	2464	Denis Shmelov
24	2460	Gregory Braylovsky
25	2442	Tegshsuren Enkhbat
26	2442	Bruci Lopez
27	2438	Marcel Martinez
28	2430	Charles Riordan
29	2430	Irina Krush
30	2429	Sam Shankland
31	2428	Ron Burnett
32	2423	Jay Bonin
33	2419	Jonathan Schroer
34	2401	Bryan Smith
35	2392	Oleg Zaikov
36	2390	Blas Lugo
37	2386	Richard Costigan
38	2384	Mackenzie Molner
39	2383	Parker Zhao
40	2380	Daniel Yeager
41	2371	Ralph Zimmer
42	2367	Eric Tangborn
43	2365	Igor Schneider
44	2361	Slava Mikhailuk
45	2349	John Readey
46	2341	Eric Rodriguez
47	2332	Elvin Wilson
48	2327	Peter Bereolos
49	2326	Todd Andrews
50	2324	Larry Kaufman
51	2319	Daniel Naroditsky
52	2319	Bayaraa Zorigt
53	2310	Benjamin Katz
54	2307	Craig Jones
55	2296	Victor Shen
56	2295	Michael Lee
57	2280	John Bick
58	2280	Matthew Herman
59	2276	Evan Ju
60	2271	Ilya Krasik
61	2266	Udayan Bapat
62	2261	Jayson Lian
63	2251	Evan Rosenberg
64	2249	Josh Sinanan
65	2238	Ray Kaufman
66	2205	Jennifer Shahade
67	2203	Jerry Wheeler

Here are the top three players on each board -- players must have played at least one game this season in the USCL (three lifetime). If a player played on more than one board in a season, the board on which the player played more frequently is chosen, or if that is equal, the most recent of those that are equal.

BOARD 1

2609	Sergey Erenburg (BAL)
2603	Julio Becerra (MIA)
2597	Hikaru Nakamura (SEA)

BOARD 2

2593	Vinay Bhat (SFM)
2592	Josh Friedel (SFM)
2557	Eli Vovsha (QUE)

BOARD 3

2478	Alex Lenderman (QUE)
2464	Denis Shmelov (BOS)
2460	Gregory Braylovsky (NYK)

BOARD 4

2371	Ralph Zimmer (BAL)
2341	Eric Rodriguez (MIA)
2332	Elvin Wilson (PHI)

Gates Seinfeld Shoe Circus

Boy, with all the negative reaction to the Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates "Shoe Circus" commercial, you would think that it was some sort of monstrosity.

In reality, it is absurd and wry. Personally, I think it is brilliant.

Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz6amk3P-hY

Am I the only one who feels this way?

USCL 2008 Week 3 Predictions

Well, everyone had a lousy week, prediction-wise, but your humble mechanical citrus (YHMC) has still managed to rise to second place!

Onto this week's predictions...

BOSTON vs DALLAS

A rematch of last year's title match, won in dramatic fashion by Dallas. Do you know if you switch the initial consonants of the team's nicknames, and then combine them, you would get Blestiny Ditz? Sounds like quite an intriguing person to me. Oh yeah, everybody with White wins.

Prediction: Boston 2.0 - 2.0 Dallas

UPDATE: Three draws and a loss, and Dallas wins 2.5 - 1.5. Ehh, I was close...


SAN FRANCISCO vs MIAMI

The City by the Bay takes on South Beach. Some people actually prefer the weather in Miami to San Francisco, but those people must enjoy going to steam rooms fully clothed. The top two boards will all be drawn, but the bottom two boards will be split decisions.

Prediction: San Francisco 2.0 - 2.0 Miami

UPDATE: San Francisco wins 2.5 - 1.5, even if GM Wolff had to drop out at the last minute. Yikes.


NEW YORK vs PHILADELPHIA

Pascal Charbonneau has payed more games in the USCL than any other player. He was a USCL MVP. He just got back from an international tournament in Montreal. He'll still draw his game, however. Look for Jay "Million Game March" Bonin to pick up a point for the Knights.

Prediction: New York 2.5 - 1.5 Philadelphia

CAROLINA vs BALTIMORE

GM Sergey Erenburg is the king, but the rest of the team needs to stop acting like fish. As Erenburg goes, so goes the team. The bottom three boards will split 1.5-1.5. Erenburg has black, but Milman has done well in the USCL.

Prediction: Carolina 2.0 - 2.0 Baltimore

CHICAGO vs TENNESSEE

If you only knew the teams playing, you would think that Chicago ought to be able to pick up their first USCL match win over the usually overmatched Tempo, based on reputation only. However, ask Seattle about the value of the Tempo's reputation. Unfortunately for Tennessee, they won't have much of a chance to erase any more of their reputation, as Chicago will sweep the top boards.

Prediction: Chicago 2.5 - 1.5 Tennessee

QUEENS vs ARIZONA

The undefeated and untied Pioneers are westward ho, as they try to step on and smush the Scorpions. But can the Scorpions blow the wind of change, ruin Queens' big city nights, and rock them like a hurricane? Yes! Expect Arizona to pull off the upset, and the Pioneers to really have a blackout.

Prediction: Queens 1.5 - 2.5 Arizona

SEATTLE vs NEW JERSEY

The pugilists prepare to parlay premium punching power, as well as an ample amount of alliteration, when one will wind up winning. Boris Gulko debuts for the Knockouts, on board 2, of all places. The battle of the 20 year separated prodigies is on board one, as Hikaru Nakamura drives in from Vancouver to play for Seattle to take on Joel Benjamin. Seattle may Slug, but New Jersey will deliver the Knockout.

Prediction: Seattle 1.5 - 2.5 New Jersey

USCL 2008 Week 2 Power Rankings

The Bionic Lime USCL Power Rankings (BLUPRs) are here!

1 -	Miami
2 -	Queens
3 -	Boston
4 -	San Francisco
5 -	Dallas
6 -	Carolina
7 -	Philadelphia
8 -	New Jersey
9 -	Arizona
10 -	Chicago
11 -	Seattle
12 -	Tennessee
13 -	New York
14 -	Baltimore

No change at the top, as Miami's crush of New York, assures their top spot. Queens, with a decisive blow over the NJ Knockouts, moves up a few spots to second. Boston, who also crushed the Cobras, lies in third.

The Knockouts had the biggest drop, from third last week to eighth this week. The point-less Kingfishers and Knights bring up the rear. I thought if your name started with a K in chess, you were supposed to be really good?

Until next week!!

USCL 2008 Week 2 Rating List

It is very late here on the East Coast of the USA, so I'm not planning to do any sort of formal introduction here of the rating list.

This is the unofficial USCL rating list, after week 2 of play. Only players active in 2008 are listed, and each player must have played at least 3 total USCL games (in any combination of seasons).

1	2619	Jorge Sammour-Hasbun
2	2593	Vinay Bhat
3	2579	Sergey Erenburg
4	2578	Josh Friedel
5	2575	Patrick Wolff
6	2572	Julio Becerra
7	2568	Drasko Boskovic
8	2566	Larry Christiansen
9	2565	Sergey Kudrin
10	2561	Joel Benjamin
11	2557	Eli Vovsha
12	2525	Gregory Serper
13	2517	Lev Milman
14	2509	Davorin Kuljasevic
15	2497	Denis Shmelov
16	2492	Dean Ippolito
17	2478	Pascal Charbonneau
18	2476	Dmitry Schneider
19	2474	John Bartholomew
20	2460	Gregory Braylovsky
21	2442	Bruci Lopez
22	2441	Oleg Zaikov
23	2438	Marcel Martinez
24	2436	Jay Bonin
25	2431	Ron Burnett
26	2430	Charles Riordan
27	2430	Bryan Smith
28	2430	Irina Krush
29	2417	Sam Shankland
30	2399	Eric Rodriguez
31	2390	Blas Lugo
32	2386	Richard Costigan
33	2373	Eric Tangborn
34	2372	Mackenzie Molner
35	2361	Daniel Yeager
36	2361	Slava Mikhailuk
37	2360	John Readey
38	2347	John Bick
39	2346	Peter Bereolos
40	2332	Todd Andrews
41	2332	Elvin Wilson
42	2324	Larry Kaufman
43	2310	Igor Schneider
44	2308	Bayaraa Zorigt
45	2307	Craig Jones
46	2305	Ralph Zimmer
47	2296	Victor Shen
48	2295	Michael Lee
49	2283	Ilya Krasik
50	2276	Evan Ju
51	2260	Matthew Herman
52	2254	Daniel Naroditsky
53	2251	Evan Rosenberg
54	2238	Ray Kaufman
55	2226	Josh Sinanan
56	2203	Jerry Wheeler

Here are the TOP 3 of each board. If a player has played on different boards, the board on which they played the majority of their games is counted. If this number is equal, then the most recent board is used.

BOARD 1

2619	Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS)
2579	Sergey Erenburg (BAL)
2578	Josh Friedel (SFM)

BOARD 2

2593	Vinay Bhat (SFM)
2557	Eli Vovsha (QUE)
2509	Davorin Kuljasevic (DAL)

BOARD 3

2460	Gregory Braylovsky (NYK)
2436	Jay Bonin (NYK)
2430	Charles Riordan (BOS)

BOARD 4

2399	Eric Rodriguez (MIA)
2332	Elvin Wilson (PHI)
2308	Bayaraa Zorigt (DAL)