Week 3 Predictions
By FM Robby Adamson
After a good first week, I returned to my 2009 form of ineptness of picking matches. After finishing 5-3 in week 1, I fell to 3-5 in week 2, so I guess that makes me even, with 8-8 record after 2 weeks. I will predict Tuesday matches now, and Wednesday matches tomorrow.
New York Knights vs Philadelphia Inventors -
A tall order for Philadelphia facing a staked NY line-up with up and comer Justus Williams.
Key Game for NY: GM Fed – Bartell – if Fed holds down giant-killer Tom Bartell, NY wins
Key Game for Philly: IM Costigan- Williams. Costigan has to win – otherwise Philly has no chance.
Prediction: NY wins 3-1.
Baltimore Kingfishers vs Carolina Cobras
Baltimore employs the rarely-used balanced lineup, while Carolina has to use that lineup.
Key Game(s) for Baltimore: FM Simpson – Enkbhat. Simpson needs to make use of the white pieces here.
Key Game(s) for Carolina: WGM Fosior – NM Agner. A decent rating advantage and white could be critical.
Prediction: Baltimore wins 2.5-1.5.
Seattle Sluggers vs Miami Sharks
Maybe the toughest match to pick. GM Varuzhan Akobian takes on USCL giant Julio Becerra. They have played each other in numerous swisses I am guessing. Both teams are facing potential 0-3 starts -
Key Game(s) for Seattle: GM Akobian – Becerra. Akobian has to make use of the white pieces here – this will decide the match.
Key Game(s) for Miami: Martinez – Cozianu and Perez – Guo are critical for Miami because they have white and because both match-ups are even.
Prediction: Seattle wins 2.5-1.5.
Arizona Scorpions vs Los Angeles Vibe
A great match between two very evenly matched teams. This match will probably swing a few times. The match is highlighted by the board 1 encounter between two real fighters IM Rogelio Barcenilla and GM Melik Khachiyan; however the other boards are very intriguing as well.
Key Game(s) for Arizona: FM Banawa – IM Aldama and IM Rensch vs. WFM Tatev Abrahamyan. Aldama has a lifetime 2.5/3 score in the USCL while Banawa has the white pieces. Danny has white and will surely come after Tatev, who is very crafty and dangerous – I should know, I lost with white to her in the last round of the U.S. Championship in 2004 – a game I think is still very theoretically important in the Winnawer French.
Key Game(s) for LA: Tanaka vs. Mateer. Christian makes his USCL debut as a 100 point favorite as well as the white pieces. Amanda is greatly improved from last year and has stepped up her game to a new level.
Prediction: This match can go either way, but AZ wins 2.5-1.5.
