Momma don't believe in ESP!

(Beat Reporter:  Mark LaRocca)

My mother once told me… “I wouldn’t mind pain if it didn’t hurt so much”.  Somehow, I was reminded of this faint memory on Tuesday as the San Fran Mechanics dismantled the Blitz, leaving only bits and pieces of a once fine-tuned chess machine behind.  Yes, I admit, it was painful as our Boston Blitz went down (1.5 – 2.5) to SF… falling far short of my E.S.P inspired prediction of a (3 – 1) win.  

I only have two things to say about this match… 1.) My mother was right… and 2.) So was my prediction!  Yeah, the trouble with being Psychic is… you just never know where your impressions are coming from… and, in this case, the Boston Red Sox (3 – 1) win over the Rays must have overwhelmed my aura… darn, I was so sure that impression was from the match.

Oh well, ESP is an unreliable pseudo-science, and, as a Psychic, I rank about as pseudo as they get.  Yet, things could have gone our way… really...  Michael seemed to have a good chance at a draw on board 4… Sam was a pawn up, but his technique is strong and we all expected a win there…   Marc had sacked an exchange for what looked like decent compensation… and Eugene was, as usual, in no danger of losing in a positional game that seemed no worse than a draw. 

But… in stepped the Fates… as Michael got a little too ambitious…  Can you say 13…b5? 

NM Vignesh Panchanatham (SF) vs Michael Mahoney (BOS)

Boston (0 - 1)

Ughh!  That is a letdown…  I had counted on Michael as a draw…  A quick consult with the ethers… using eye of newt and some leftover chicken soup… showed that we had to win all three games to match my prediction.  How was Eugene doing?   Surely, he would win…

GM Eugene Perelshteyn (BOS) vs GM Viney Bhat (SF)

Boston (0.5 - 1.5)

Oh my, a draw… back to the Ouigi.  “Who will win for the Blitz?”… S… slowly sliding to… A…  just then the pointy thing flew into the air and smashed itself against the wall… a bad omen…  Sam was having a tough time…

IM Samuel Sevian vs FM Andy Lee (SF)

Boston (1.5 - 1.5)

Well, at least we were back to even… and maybe a win could be had.  Marc’s game was dynamic, to say the least… and I still had vibes.  But, maybe they were from the Red Sox game… Papi was up… see pictures on the Blitz Facebook page. .. Where was I… Oh…  Marc was defending… but, had some chances to win…

IM Daniel Naroditsky (SF) vs IM Marc Esserman (BOS)

Boston (1.5 - 2.5)

Oh, the pain!…  Momma told me there would be days like this.   She also told me that the moon landing was faked for TV… no… sorry, that was Grandpa.   Well, anyway, the point is… never… no… always carry a litter bag… no…  never mind…  just don’t count on ESP being accurate.  As my Mom used to say…”If you can’t touch it, it probably can’t be touched.”… Yes, she was the Yogi Berra of Moms.    

However,  having been taught by the best, I would pass along this advice to the Blitz.  “Losing bad… Winning good.”   The Blitz are now behind the Magic (Week) 8 Ball… and I have shaken it well… asked it “the” question… and turned it upside down…  “Reply hazy try again”… Mom?... Mom?... Are you in there?

Join us next week (8),  for the critical match of the year…  Boston vs Connecticut… a must win for the Blitz.  Come on down… the Blitz need you! – Go Blitz!

Tuesday 7:20pm, Harvard SOCH building, 59 Shepard st, Cambridge MA.