Ringside seats available as NJ-BOS clash
(Beat Reporter: Mark LaRocca)
You thought week 1 and 2 were difficult?... Well, as they say… there is no rest for the weary… as the Blitz face another strong opponent in the New Jersey Knockouts. Now, everyone knows that I like to make up things in these articles… and stir up rivalries… and, of course, pick the Blitz to win. But, NJ must be tired of boxing analogies, so, I’ll just say that something tells me this is a bit of a… let your guard down and this team will flatten you… kind of match. There… that’s it…
New Jersey did lose last week to underdog Philly… and with a (0.5 – 1.5) league record, find themselves in last place in the Atlantic division. To me, that means they are angry and eager to post their first win… Watch out Boston, that left hook can be dangerous... Oops! And now, the tale of the tape… Oh God…. Sorry.
GM Boris Gulko (NJ) vs IM Marc Esserman (BOS)
Put me strongly in the “I don’t know what to expect” category here. 1.d4… or 1.c4… with a Semi-slav… maybe. But, GM Gulko is a tough test for Marc’s return to the Blitz… I expect him to turn it into a brawl… with all due respect… Boston (0.5 – 0.5)
IM Samuel Sevian (BOS) vs IM Albert Kapengut (NJ)
Young gun Samuel Sevian makes his league debut with the Blitz… and we welcome him whole-heartedly. IM Kapengut will, no doubt, face a psychological disadvantage here… after all, facing a prodigy is intimidating. But, I expect a strong fight… A sharp Sicilian Najdorf?... could be… I can’t wait to see. Let’s give this one to the “Kid” Sevian on points. Boston (1.5 – 0.5)
NM Alexander Katz (NJ) vs SM Denys Shmelov (BOS)
In my humble opinion, this is the key game. Boston has the rating points… but, with black. Denys is certainly due… yet, I can’t help thinking that there is something unknown going on here… Yet, my money is on Denys… with 1.e4,c5 2.Nf3, e6… and a grit it out win. Boston (2.5 – 0.5)
Michael Mahoney (BOS) vs NM Christopher Wu (NJ)
Ok, I know, you say the match is over… but, it never works like that. I don’t know much about Michael’s game. But, giving away 250+ pts. The odds say loss. We need a draw to assure the match… or an unexpected result in the above game could hurt. Against my cardinal rule of not picking losses… we will hope for the best… but, give the Knockouts this one. Boston (2.5 – 1.5)
There you have it… I picked my first Blitz loss… and they say I’m a homer. But, they do win the match. Now, if Ilya could fill us in on the location… I’m hoping for SOCH hall again... very nice place... 59 Shepard Street, Cambridge, MA. The time is 7:30pm. Wednesday.
Signing off from ringside… Please, stop me. GO Blitz!!
