Monday, September 29, 2008

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









Sunday, September 28, 2008

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

Thursday, September 25, 2008

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

Sunday, September 21, 2008

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

Friday, September 19, 2008

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.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

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.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

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)

Monday, September 15, 2008

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...

Sunday, September 14, 2008

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

Thursday, September 11, 2008

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)

Monday, September 08, 2008

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?

Sunday, September 07, 2008

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

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

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)