The Chicago Blaze find themselves in familiar territory as they prepare to face the undefeated San Francisco Mechanics Monday night in Week 4 of the U.S. Chess League season. The Blaze are again clear underdogs, as they have been so many times before.
The redoubtable might of the Mechanics squad is clear in the board-by-board matchups below. The Blaze players are in bold.
IM Jan van de Mortel (2456) - GM Josh Friedel (2612)
FM Florin Felecan (2430) - GM Jesse Kraai (2552)
IM Angelo Young (2325) - IM Sam Shankland (2564)
IM Mehmed Pasalic (2346) - NM Yian Liou (2149)
Chicago Blaze average rating: 2389
San Francisco Mechanics average rating: 2469
Note:
- The Mechanics have grandmasters on the top two boards.
- Three of their four players are rated over 2500.
- The average rating of their lineup is 80 points above that of the Blaze.
- They enjoy an advantage of more than 120 points on each of the top three boards.
So what? For inspiration, we channel the greatest of Chicago epic heroes:
Tune in Monday night:
Week 4: Monday September 21st
Chicago Blaze vs San Francisco Mechanics
8:30 PM ET (7:30 Central)
Live broadcast on the Internet Chess Club; play-by-play coverage Chicago's Midway Chess Club; and with any luck some running commentary on Twitter.
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