What can I say? The Blitz lost to the New York Knights in the quarterfinals… a bitter pill to swallow. However, I have always believed that what it takes to be a good chess player is the ability to take one on the chin and get back up… to quickly forget… and concentrate on the next game. Some rationalization, Huh? Well, to some extent it is true, and especially so for the Blitz fans… just forget… take a Valium… or any of the benzodiazepines will do… there’s always next year.
I was worried going into this match as our top boards had not rounded into form at all this season. Let’s go to the stats… after 10 season matches and 1 quarterfinal…
(wins – draws – Losses) = total pts/11 games
First Board…….. (5 – 0 – 6) …. 5.0 pts.
Second Board…. (3 – 3 – 5) …. 4.5 pts.
Third Board……. (5 – 3 – 3) …. 6.5 pts.
Fourth Board….. (7 – 2 – 2) …. 8.0 pts.
Boston’s negative score on it’s top boards was it’s Achilles heal this season. But, enough recrimination… I’m not bitter… and I’m not one to point fingers… Or, am I? Let’s take one last painful look at the season’s end.
On a night when the bottom boards astonished… the top boards disappointed… and the Blitz will watch the rest of the playoffs through the bottom of an empty beer bottle… or at least Ilya will… but, he watches every match that way.
The evening started well on 3rd board with Vadim on his game in what seemed a hard fought draw… which he won!
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November 17th, 2009
Mark La Rocca
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