With the music pumping from Bar Louie to the sound of clocks being punched in the fundraiser, the Chicago Blaze began its third season in the United States Chess League in great fashion. I watched the virtual action from my perch in the front of the room with my shrimp-chipotle sandwich in one hand and my Guinness in the other.
This year the teams makeup has changed dramatically with an infusion of new blood such as GM’s Dmitry Gurevich and Mesgen Amanov, while still maintaining some of our veterans like home-grown IM Florin Felecan, and ‘Mr. Undefeated’ IM Angelo Young. A new formula for the Blaze, which some have called a 180 degree turn from our first two seasons. The formula proved quite successful in the season opener versus the Seattle Sluggers.
The Blaze fielded a strong line up with GM Gurevich, IM’s Felecan and Young, and NM Rosen. It wasn’t the strongest lineup that Seattle could have put forward and we were wondering why neither of their GM’s were fielded for the season opener but would’ve, could’ve and should’ve doesn’t really matter. IM Young continued his undefeated pace with the first result of the night - a draw. Not what we were hoping for given Angelo’s stellar performance in the past, but Caissa (the chess goddess, not my new Persian cat) had other plans for him this evening.
The first knockout of the knight, came from the game of IM Felecan - FM Lee, and Seattle was on the receiving end of the knockout. I’ve known Florin for a few years now, having seeing him capture all 3 norms from the NA Masters series. One thing I’ve learned, you never know which Florin shows up. The psychotic chess player Florin who shows no respect for his opponent by playing 1. b4 or playing and winning in a Budapest Gambit against a strong fellow norm seeker like IM Marc Arnold (who also captured all 3 IM norms at the NA masters) or the cool and methodical Florin. FM Michael Lee has played in a previous edition of the NA Masters as well. He’s not to be underestimated but it just wasn’t his night. Try as he did with attempted counter punches the heat of the Blaze was too much for Michael to endure and he went down in flames.
Seattle was able to counter-punch and deliver a knockout on Board 4 in the game of Guo-Rosen. Both junior players, Guo is severely underrated as his monstrous performance at the Denker proves, but Rosen is no lightweight himself after having proved his mettle in the US Junior Closed. A very ugly game progressed to an uglier one as the night went on and soon the Blaze were temporarily contained and the match score tied up 1.5-1.5.
Just as the fury of the Great Chicago Fire could not be denied or contained, neither would the Chicago Blaze.
New Chicago Blaze team member GM Dmitry Gurevich played his inaugural game with all burners firing. The game went on into the wee hours for us in Chicago but the every growing Blaze lit up the dark Chicago sky (ok fine we were technically in Skokie but nonetheless you get the idea!). The light momentarily grew dimmer and our hearts sank after 41. Rd1 and an expletive uttered by Dmitry (which he didn’t realize he said), but in true form he intensified his inner-Blaze and soon reduced his opponent to ashes. We do realize that the final 20 moves in the game were played nearly solely on the increment and that does affect performance, but nonetheless the fast and furious action is what a Blaze is about! With the win the match was won 2.5-1.5 in Chicago’s favor. The first time the Chicago Blaze have won an opening game.
Ashes to Ashes. Dust to Dust. The Chicago Blaze Scorched Seattle’s Butz!
Good Chess to All,
Sevan A. Muradian, Founder
North American Chess Association
International Arbiter and International Organizer
