The Blitz meet the Arizona Scorpians in what could prove to be a pivotal match… that is, as far as the Blitz season goes. With an Eastern division record of (2.5 – 2.5) the Blitz need to make a run in the right direction… Up! On the other hand, the Scorpians will have stingers poised… at (2.0 – 3.0) in the Western division, they can’t afford to be squashed like the bugs they are and hope to make the playoffs.

       White			   Black
-------------------------------------------------
1.  GM Christiansen (BOS)	IM Molner (ARZ)
2.  IM Altounian (ARZ)		FM Griego (BOS)
3.  NM Krasik (BOS)		FM Adamson (ARZ)
4.  FM Atoufi (ARZ)		Mosiyenko (BOS)

GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) vs IM Mackenzie Molner (ARZ) – Board 1

Larry makes his first start of the season for the Blitz in a matchup straight out of the
X-files… Oh, sorry, that’s “Mulder”… Well, anyway, it will be 1.e4 c5 and an X-traordinary Najdorf worthy of the top X-traterrestrials. Boston (1 – 0)

IM Levon Altonian (ARZ) vs FM David Griego (BOS) – Board 2

David is looking for his first win of the season and is certainly facing tough opposition here. I will guess 1.e4 c5 with some sort of e6 sicilian… maybe Schev… shvesh… ingenkov. I was never very good at pronunciation. Boston (1.5 – 0.5)

NM Ilya Krasik (BOS) vs FM Robby Adamson (ARZ) – Board 3

Ilya has surprised us all season in that I have picked him to win in three appearances and he has lost. Now, he faces perhaps his toughest opponent and I will help him out by predicting a draw in a tough 1.d4 d5 slav. Boston (2 – 1)

FM Pedram Atoufi (ARZ) vs Daniil Mosiyenko (BOS) – Board 4

Daniil also faces his toughest opponent. I really don’t know what to expect here… but, if the Benoni is the choice, I don’t see good things. I apologize and will light candles for Daniil, but I must issue my first negative Blitz prediction here.
Boston (2 – 2)

That’s it, I’ve gone against my conscience and predicted a Blitz draw… On the bright side, that means that they will probably reverse my idiotic and groundless thoughts and brilliantly win. Yes, I am taking one for the team here… and it hurts… Go Blitz!