09/29/2005

  Baltimore defeats their bitter rival 2.5-1.5
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by IM Greg Shahade                       
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Baltimore vs Dallas

1. IM Pascal Charbonneau (BAL) vs GM Alejandro Ramirez (DAL)  1-0
2. GM Magesh Panchanathan (DAL) vs FM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (BAL)  1/2-1/2
3. IM Larry Kaufman (BAL) vs FM Andrei Zaremba (DAL)  1/2-1/2
4. Andres Suarez (DAL) vs WGM Katerina Rohonyan (BAL)  1/2-1/2

 This was a match that both Baltimore and Dallas penciled in on their schedules before the season. These cities have been major rivals for years in the college chess arena, as the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the University of Texas, Dallas are by far the two strongest chessplaying schools in the nation. Every year it comes down to these two teams in the Pan American Collegiate Championship and both cities want to do everything they can to best the other.
 This week it wasn't exactly a college duel, as although Dallas fielded four players who attend UTD, only two of this week's Baltimore team members attend UMBC. Baltimore had been on an incredible hot streak coming into this match, with two consecutive wins and a combined score of 6.5-1.5 in those victories, culminating in a Week 4 thrashing of division rival, the Boston Blitz. Baltimore was not ready to end their streak, as they won this match in impressive fashion.
  Only one of the games was decisive and this was the one that led to Baltimore's victory. It was going to be interesting to see who would win in the battle between the Canadian National Champion, 21 year old IM Pascal Charbonneau, and the strongest player ever from Central America, 17 year old wonderkid, GM Alejandro Ramirez. Pascal played right into the main line of the highly topical Sveshnikov Sicilian and was able to grind down the young Ramirez in impressive fashion.



 This was the position with black (GM Ramirez) to move. White (IM Charbonneau) has complete control of the position, with powerful central outposts for his pieces. Meanwhile black has almost no active plan. Ramirez was so desperate for activity, that he felt compelled to play the move 27....Rb7. Pascal was happy to take the exchange with 28.Ba6, and the counterplay that Ramirez hoped for, never developed.

With this win Pascal achieved his third consecutive victory, with two of those wins coming against Grandmasters. Charbonneau is now ranked 4th in the USCL in the MVP rankings. Enkhbat has been playing well as of late, with 2.5 out of his last 3, including his  impressive draw against a GM with the black pieces from this match.

 Baltimore now holds 2nd place in the Eastern Division with 3.5/5, a half point behind the New York Knights. Dallas falls to 2/5, but remains tied for 2nd place in the Western Division with the San Francisco Mechanics. Dallas is going to have their hands full next week, as they go up against the league leading New York Knights. Baltimore is facing off against San Francisco next week, and hopes to continue their impressive run and eventually to overtake first place in the Eastern Division.


Baltimore Kingfishers

Dallas Destiny             
IM Pascal Charbonneau - 2506 1.0
 0.0
 GM Alejandro Ramirez - 2565
FM Tegshsuren Enkhbat - 2453 0.5
 0.5
 GM Magesh Panchanathan - 2487
IM Larry Kaufman - 2331 0.5
 0.5
 FM Andrei Zaremba - 2355
WGM Katerina Rohonyan - 2309 0.5
 0.5
 Andres Suarez - 2087
Avg Rating - 2400

Avg Rating - 2373
Baltimore Total -------
2.5
 1.5
 ------- Dallas Total


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