Thinking Man's Win - Bos vs STL (2.5 - 1.5)
Ilya (thinking man) Krasik ==>
(Beat Reporter: Mark LaRocca)
It's a thinking man's game... Yes? No, I'm not talking about Chess... if I were, I would definitely include women... there are so many good women players out there these days. No, I'm talking about making out the lineup for the Blitz... and, specifically, I'm talking about our manager, NM Ilya Krasik, who's job it is to get the right people on the right boards at the right time... despite all the scheduling issues... and, in my mind, he has done a great job of that.
Yes, I know the Blitz record, to date, is not exactly... well... good. But then, there is a second element... that of luck... and we haven't had much of that this season. In any case, this is my tribute to Ilya... who we kid a lot... and he takes it like a trooper... So, I would just like to say... Thanks, Ilya... and, Oh... You better win this one... or, I can't/won't be responsible for the venom that will flow through this blog. That said, let's get on with it...
All Time Series Record: (This is their first meeting)
Starts at 7:45 PM EST, Tues. Oct 7, Harvard SOCH Building, 59 Shepard st., Cambridge, MA.
Time Control: Game in 75 with 30 second increment
| St. Louis Arch Bishops | Boston Blitz | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| GM Wesley So: 2751 (White) | 1 | 0 | IM Steven Zierk: 2543 (Black) |
| GM Le Quang Liem: 2785 (B) | 0.5 | 0.5 | IM Samuel Sevian: 2571 (W) |
| NM Matthew Larson: 2251 (W) | 0 | 1 | NM Vadim Martirosov: 2381 (B) |
| NM Spencer Finegold: 2187 (B) | 0 | 1 | NM Ilya Krasik: 2264 (W) |
| Average Rating: 2494 | Average Rating: 2440 | ||
| St. Louis Total | 1.5 | 2.5 | Boston Total |
You may have noticed that I am predicting my first Blitz player loss of the season. Yes, I am... and it comes at the expense of possibly the best Blitz player this season, IM Steven Zierk. Sorry Steven... but, in all honesty, GM So is one heckuva player... and, well, you just shouldn't have fooled me with the backwards board last week. Boston (0 - 1)
On Board 2, I am hoping that Sam is a bit underrated... and can hold his own against another heckuva player GM Liem... we must pull out at least one draw on our top two boards to win this match... and, Sorry Sam, you're my pick. Boston (0.5 - 1.5)
Then it's guaranteed Lock of the match... Vadim will win... yes, you will...
Sorry Vadim. Boston (1.5 - 1.5)
And last, but not least, Ilya will win this match with a fine game... and prove my "Thinking man" theory... that even team managers can find an acorn once in a while.
Oops!... I've already reverted to my real self... Sorry, Ilya. Boston (2.5 - 1.5)
And for those of you who are too lazy to come down to the match... Please follow the games on the Internet Chess Club (ICC).
Photo courtesy of Tony Cortizas Jr.
