There are a couple of reasons why a team in a match might have an average rating above 2400.75. They are:

1. Each team is allowed to use any rating list from September of the previous year through August of the current year. The ratings shown on this page will all be from August though - sometimes resulting in a seemingly higher rating average than would legally be allowed.

2. When a team uses a player rated above 2590, that player only counts as 2600 when determining a lineup's legality. However what is shown on this page will be the actual average which of course might be higher.

There are a couple of reasons why a team in a match might have an average rating above 2400.75. They are:

1. Each team is allowed to use any rating list from January through August of the current year. The ratings shown on this page will all be from August though - sometimes resulting in a seemingly higher rating average than would legally be allowed.

2. When a team uses a player rated above 2600, that player only counts as 2600 when determining a lineup's legality. However what is shown on this page will be the actual average which of course might be higher.

If there is a tie during the regular season as to the finishing order for playoff positioning, the following rules will be used (for instance if two teams are tied for second place with seven match points each). Tiebreak #1 is of course the first tiebreak with the lower ones being used only if all the above tiebreak procedures also result in a tie.

1. Total Team Game Points. Thus winning a match 4 - 0 will give you more tiebreak points than winning a match 3 - 1.

2. Average rating of opponents throughout the season, using the August rating list of that season.

3. Head to Head Results. If you have beaten the opposing team 1.5 - 0.5 during the regular season, you will get the higher seeding.

4. Total Match Points versus Divisional Teams. Thus if Team A went 4.0 - 2.0 in Divisional Matches while Team B went 3.5 - 2.5 then Team A would have the better tiebreaks.

5. Total Game Points versus Divisional Teams

6. Total Game Points from Board 1

7. Total Game Points from Board 2

8. Total Game Points from Board 3

9. Total number of team wins. Thus if one team has a total of twenty five points, with twenty of these points being from wins, whereas another team has a total of twenty five points with only nineteen being from wins, the team with twenty wins has the better tiebreaks.

10. An Armageddon blitz game between chosen members of the teams

If there is a tie between three teams in both match points and game points, we will use the above rules to decide the order amongst the teams. The last resort will be an online blitz game between chosen members of the teams.

If there is a tie during the regular season as to the finishing order for playoff positioning, the following rules will be used (for instance if two teams are tied for second place with seven match points each). Tiebreak #1 is of course the first tiebreak with the lower ones being used only if all the above tiebreak procedures also result in a tie.

1. Total Team Game Points. Thus winning a match 4 - 0 will give you more tiebreak points than winning a match 3 - 1.

2. Strength of Schedule; the team whose opponents have the highest combined record wins the tiebreak.

3. Average rating of opponents throughout the season, using the August rating list of that season.

4. Head to Head Results. If you have beaten the opposing team 1.5 - 0.5 during the regular season, you will get the higher seeding.

5. Total Match Points versus Divisional Teams. Thus if Team A went 5.0 - 3.0 in Divisional Matches while Team B went 4.5 - 3.5 then Team A would have the better tiebreaks.

6. Total Game Points versus Divisional Teams

7. Total Game Points from Board 1

8. Total Game Points from Board 2

9. Total Game Points from Board 3

10. Total number of team wins. Thus if one team has a total of twenty five points, with twenty of these points being from wins, whereas another team has a total of twenty five points with only nineteen being from wins, the team with twenty wins has the better tiebreaks.

11. An Armageddon blitz game between chosen members of the teams

If there is a tie between three teams in both match points and game points, we will use the above rules to decide the order amongst the teams. The last resort will be an online blitz game between chosen members of the teams.

If the regulation match is tied 2 - 2, the following tiebreak procedures will be take place after a ten minute break:

1. The fourth boards from each team will play each other. The team that won on the highest board during the original match will choose their color for the first game. If all regulation games were drawn, the lower rated team gets to choose colors for the first tiebreak game. The time control will be three minutes with a three second increment. The loser of this game will be eliminated, and the winner then faces Board Three of the opposing team.

2. This process continues with the next higher board on each team continually replacing any player of their team who gets eliminated.

3. If a game ends in a draw, both players are eliminated, except if at least one team is using its Board One in which case there is no elimination on a draw, instead colors reverse, and the game is replayed until there is a decisive result.

4. Colors will switch every game for the teams in all circumstances.

5. This process repeats itself until all four players from one team have been eliminated. Thus in order for your opponents to win the match, every one of your team members must be eliminated.

New Jersey Knockouts /

GM Joel Benjamin


Joel Benjamin's Games

2015 Games: (6.5/8)

  1. Week 1: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Zviad Izoria (MAN) 0-1
  2. Week 2: GM Alexander Ivanov (NE) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 0-1
  3. Week 4: NM Richard Francisco (ATL) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 0-1
  4. Week 6: IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 0-1
  5. Week 7: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Pascal Charbonneau (NY) 1-0
  6. Week 9: NM Jeffrey Haskel (MIA) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 0-1
  7. Wildcard Round: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) 1-0
  8. Quarterfinals: GM Pascal Charbonneau (NY) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1/2-1/2 (Game of the Week!)     article

2015 MVP Points: 18.5
2015 Performance Rating: 2746



2014 Games: (9.0/12)

  1. Week 1: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs IM Aleksandr Ostrovskiy (MAN) 1/2-1/2
  2. Week 2: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs NM Peter Minear (PHI) 1-0
  3. Week 3: NM Damir Studen (ATL) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 0-1
  4. Week 4: IM David Vigorito (NE) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1-0
  5. Week 5: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs FM Andrey Chumachenko (CAR) 1-0
  6. Week 6: NM Peter Minear (PHI) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 0-1
  7. Week 7: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Holden Hernandez (RIO) 1-0 (Game of the Week!)     article
  8. Week 8: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs SM Matt Herman (NY) 1-0
  9. Week 9: FM Marcel Milat (SEA) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1/2-1/2
  10. Week 10: FM Denys Shmelov (BOS) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1/2-1/2
  11. Wildcard Round: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs FM Curt Collyer (SEA) 1-0
  12. Quarterfinals: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Le Quang Liem (STL) 1/2-1/2

2014 MVP Points: 21.5
2014 Performance Rating: 2657



2013 Games: (3.5/6)

  1. Week 1: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Pascal Charbonneau (NY) 1-0 (Game of the Week!)     article
  2. Week 2: FM Dov Gorman (PHI) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1/2-1/2
  3. Week 4: IM Andranik Matikozyan (LA) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1/2-1/2
  4. Week 5: IM Dmitry Schneider (MAN) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 0-1 (Game of the Week!)     article
  5. Week 7: IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1/2-1/2
  6. Week 9: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs SM Matt Herman (NY) 0-1

2013 MVP Points: 8
2013 Performance Rating: 2544



2012 Games: (4.5/7)

  1. Week 2: FM Costin Cozianu (SEA) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1/2-1/2
  2. Week 3: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs SM William Fisher (PHI) 1/2-1/2
  3. Week 4: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) 1/2-1/2
  4. Week 5: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs IM Eli Vovsha (MAN) 1-0
  5. Week 6: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs IM Priyadharshan Kannappan (STL) 0-1
  6. Week 7: FM Kazim Gulamali (BOS) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 0-1
  7. Week 9: GM Mikheil Kekelidze (CON) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 0-1

2012 MVP Points: 10
2012 Performance Rating: 2598



2011 Games: (4.5/8)

  1. Week 3: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Sergey Erenburg (PHI) 1/2-1/2
  2. Week 4: GM Alex Stripunsky (MAN) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1/2-1/2
  3. Week 5: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) 1-0
  4. Week 6: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Melikset Khachiyan (LA) 1-0
  5. Week 7: GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1-0
  6. Week 8: IM Robert Hungaski (NE) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1/2-1/2
  7. Week 9: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 0-1
  8. Week 10: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Eugene Perelshteyn (BOS) 1-0

2011 MVP Points: 6
2011 Performance Rating: 2661



2010 Games: (5.0/8)

  1. Week 1: IM Bryan Smith (PHI) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 0-1
  2. Week 3: IM Sam Shankland (NE) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 0-1
  3. Week 4: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) 1-0
  4. Week 5: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) 1/2-1/2
  5. Week 6: FM Costin Cozianu (SEA) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1-0
  6. Week 7: GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1/2-1/2
  7. Week 8: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs IM Lev Milman (MAN) 1-0
  8. Week 10: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Sergey Erenburg (BAL) 0-1

2010 MVP Points: 11
2010 Performance Rating: 2676



2009 Games: (6.5/11)

  1. Week 1: GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1/2-1/2
  2. Week 2: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Sergey Kudrin (PHI) 1-0
  3. Week 3: IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 0-1
  4. Week 4: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 1/2-1/2
  5. Week 5: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs IM Jan van de Mortel (CHC) 1-0
  6. Week 6: GM Alejandro Ramirez (ARZ) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1-0 (Game of the Week!)     article
  7. Week 7: IM Tegshsuren Enkhbat (BAL) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1/2-1/2
  8. Week 9: GM Sergey Kudrin (PHI) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1/2-1/2
  9. Week 10: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Alex Stripunsky (MAN) 0-1
  10. Quarterfinals: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Sergey Erenburg (BAL) 1-0
  11. Semifinals: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 1/2-1/2

2009 MVP Points: 8
2009 Performance Rating: 2651



2008 Games: (4.0/10)

  1. Week 1: GM Sergey Erenburg (BAL) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1-0
  2. Week 2: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs IM Dmitry Schneider (MAN) 1-0
  3. Week 3: GM Hikaru Nakamura (SEA) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1-0
  4. Week 4: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) 1-0
  5. Week 5: GM Sergey Kudrin (PHI) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1/2-1/2
  6. Week 6: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Sergey Erenburg (BAL) 0-1
  7. Week 7: GM Alex Stripunsky (MAN) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1/2-1/2
  8. Week 8: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs IM Lev Milman (CAR) 1-0
  9. Week 9: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Julio Becerra (MIA) 0-1
  10. Week 10: GM Pascal Charbonneau (NY) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1-0

2008 MVP Points: (-6)
2008 Performance Rating: 2516



2007 Games: (6.0/9)

  1. Week 1: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Alex Stripunsky (MAN) 1-0
  2. Week 3: GM Pawel Blehm (BAL) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1/2-1/2
  3. Week 4: GM Alex Stripunsky (MAN) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1-0
  4. Week 5: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Pascal Charbonneau (NY) 1-0
  5. Week 6: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs IM Lev Milman (CAR) 1/2-1/2
  6. Week 7: GM Sergey Kudrin (PHI) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1/2-1/2
  7. Week 8: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) 1/2-1/2
  8. Week 9: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Pawel Blehm (BAL) 1-0
  9. Week 10: GM Pascal Charbonneau (NY) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 0-1

2007 MVP Points: 15
2007 Performance Rating: 2734



portrait

Stats as of August 2015

Rating2629
MVP Pts92
Lifetime Score49.5/79 (63%)
Performance Rating2645
Date of Birth1964