PRO Chess League Preview Week 10: All-Decisive Battles Royale
The 10th regular week of the PRO Chess League is also the third and final week of Battles Royale. The Atlantic and Pacific Divisions play on Tuesday beginning at 1:30 p.m. PDT (4:30 p.m. EDT, 8:30 p.m. GMT) and the Eastern and Central Divisions will play on Thursday beginning at 7 a.m. PDT (10 a.m. EDT, 2 p.m. GMT).
Preview by IM Greg Shahade.
The teams that qualify for the PRO Chess League Playoffs will be decided by an all-play-all Battle Royale. Let's look at the biggest matchups of the week.
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ATLANTIC DIVISION STANDINGS
The Montreal Chessbrahs hold a small lead on the Montclair Sopranos going into the final week, but a strong performance from the Sopranos could see them overtake the Chessbrahs and make it into the postseason.
The Webster Windmills are not that far ahead of both teams, and could be on the outside looking in if they struggle. Ivan Saric and Eric Hansen lead the Chessbrahs, Ray Robson heads the Windmills lineup, and Gadir Guseinov is atop the Sopranos.
PACIFIC DIVISION STANDINGS
The Australia Kangaroos have a 10-point lead over the San Jose Hackers, but the Hackers have been much stronger than the Kangaroos in the Battles Royale. If this trend continues you could see the Hackers and GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov catch up in the final week.
EASTERN DIVISION STANDINGS
The Volga Stormbringers are the only team with a realistic chance to sneak into the playoffs, as they are 12 points behind the Mumbai Movers. They will definitely need a big performance in the final event.
Meanwhile the Tbilisi Gentlemen and Armenia Eagles fight to finish first place in the division, and earn draw odds for the first two playoff rounds.
CENTRAL DIVISION STANDINGS
It was a tough start in 2019 for Maxime Vachier Lagrave and the Marseille Migraines, but they have been on the comeback trail and require just one final strong performance to move into the top four.
Standing in their way is their French rival, the Cannes Blitzstreams, who hold just a three-point lead. It looks like there is just room in the playoffs for one of these two teams, but which one will it be?
Watch all the PRO Chess League action on Twitch.tv/chess, Twitch.tv/prochessleague, and Chess.com/tv on Tuesday and Thursday.
The Atlantic and Pacific Divisions play on Tuesday beginning at 1:30 p.m. PDT (4:30 p.m. EDT, 8:30 p.m. GMT) and the Eastern and Central Divisions will play on Thursday beginning at 7 a.m. PDT (10 a.m. EDT, 2 p.m. GMT).
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