Category Archives: Mesgen Amanov
Schmak-down!
Week 7 brought us a match against the always dangerous San Francisco Mechanics in what may be a preview of the first round of the Western Division playoffs. The 2.5-1.5 win brought the Blaze to a perfect 5-2 7-0 record.
The formidable Mechanics threw an entire gauntlet of obstacles in our path including (2) strong GMs, a world youth champion, another top junior player, and an assistant commissioner. Like so many matches in the US Chess League, trying to guess the final match score is a futile endeavor as tightly contested games swing the score predictions one way or the other every few minutes.
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Blaze Beat Mechanics Tonight
Tonight the Chicago Blaze deafeated the San Francisco Mechanics 2.5-1.5 to go 7-0 on the season! A victory on Board 4 by NM Sam Schmakel and draws on Boards 1-3 by GMs Shulman and Amanov and IM Young did it for the Blaze. Here are the games. Stay tuned for more. Continue reading
As Kingfishers Catch Fire
Is that really IM Angelo Young sporting a tie? Indeed it is, and with him is the rest of the lineup that brought victory to the Blaze in Week 6: (L to R) NM Gopal Menon, GM Mesgen…
Beware the Kingfishers
This is a Kingfisher. It looks harmless enough, but caution is advised.
It's the regular season's halfway point and Interdivision Week for the USCL, as the undefeated 5-0 Chicago Blaze from the west face off…
Hat Tip: Gray Lady
Congratulations to GM Mesgen Amanov of the Chicago Blaze, whose victory over IM Zhanibek Amanov (no relation), in one of the most interesting games in the USCL this year, was reviewed today in the New York Times by chess columnist Dylan Loeb McClain. McClain also mentioned the Blaze, our 5-0 start this season, and gave us some link love by pointing to the Blaze blog twice.
Thanks, Mr. McClain, and please stay tuned; there’s plenty more to come this season.
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Benoni Sono Buoni
said Bill Brock sagely during the Blaze match against the Los Angeles Vibe Wednesday night. Had GM Mesgen Amanov’s opponent—IM Zhanibek Amanov, no relation—had a word with Bill earlier, perhaps he would have chosen a different defense against the Chicago-area grandmaster who is playing superb chess for the Blaze this year. As it happened Zhanibek found himself in the midst of a game that his opponent and namesake understood in a deep theoretical way. The result is one of the most interesting games we’ve seen this year. Below, Mesgen, the victor, analyzes the game. Get ready for chessical treat of the first rank. Continue reading
Blaze Force LA to Bite the Bullet
National Master Gopal Menon made his USCL debut in spectacular fashion Wednesday night as he extracted a win, from what many in the crowd thought was a drawn position, to clinch the Blaze win and extend the team’s perfect record to 4-0. Menon, known for his one minute bullet chess prowess (he was #1 on the ICC one minute list earlier in the year), came out of a the opening in typical fashion, with an advantage and up the exchange against 10-year old whiz kid Albert Lu. Continue reading
Dean, Menon to Make Blaze Debuts in L.A. Match Tonight
When the Blaze take on the Los Angeles Vibe tonight, two members of the lineup will be making their Blaze debuts: FM Jim Dean and NM Gopal Menon. Though they’re new to the Blaze, both are veterans of the Midwestern chess scene. Please welcome them and wish them well as they attempt to help the Chicago Blaze maintain their undefeated record, which now stands at 3-0. Continue reading
“And Here Comes Lightning!” A Blaze Game of the Week
GM Mesgen Amanov of the Blaze looks back on his victory last Monday over NM David Adelberg. Continue reading
