The United States Chess League (USCL) was the only nationwide chess league in the United States for eleven years. In 2016 the League announced it would be opened to cities from around the world, moved to the website chess.com, and renamed the Professional Rapid Online Chess League.[1]
United States Chess League
(USCL)| Sport | Chess |
|---|
| Founded | 2005 |
|---|
| Ceased | 2016 |
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| Replaced by | Professional Online Rapid Chess League |
|---|
| President | Greg Shahade |
|---|
| No. of teams | 20 |
|---|
| Country | United States |
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Last
champion(s) | Manhattan Applesauce(1 title) |
|---|
| Most titles | Dallas Destiny
New York Knights (2 titles) |
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| Official website | http://uschessleague.com/ |
|---|
At its peak, the USCL comprised twenty teams, whose members included some of the highest-rated chess players in the United States.[2] Participants in the last season included Wesley So, Alexander Onischuk, Alex Lenderman, Anton Kovalyov, Varuzhan Akobian, Daniel Naroditsky, Julio Becerra, Joel Benjamin, and many other grandmasters. The League was founded in 2005 by International Master Greg Shahade.[3] In later seasons the league was run by Arun Sharma, who was the Vice President of the USCL.
2005 edit
The 2005 season began on August 30 and ended on November 23 with the Baltimore Kingfishers crushing the Miami Sharks to win the inaugural USCL title.[4]
Team origins edit
The following teams were selected to play in the inaugural season.
| Teams | Date Joined |
| San Francisco Mechanics | January 30[5] |
| New York Knights | February 3[6] |
| Philadelphia Masterminds | February 3[7] |
| Baltimore Kingfishers | March 24[8] |
| Dallas Destiny | March 30[9] |
| Miami Sharks | April 23[10] |
| Boston Blitz | April 25[11] |
| Carolina Cobras | April 30[12] |
Standings edit
| Eastern Division | | W | L | Game Points | New York Knights | 8 | 2 | 25.5 | Baltimore Kingfishers | 6.5 | 3.5 | 24 | Boston Blitz | 4 | 6 | 18 | Philadelphia Inventors | 3.5 | 6.5 | 16 | | | Western Division | | W | L | Game Points | San Francisco Mechanics | 6 | 4 | 22 | Miami Sharks | 5.5 | 4.5 | 19.5 | Dallas Destiny | 3.5 | 6.5 | 18.5 | Carolina Cobras | 3 | 7 | 16.5 | |
Playoffs edit
The top two teams from each division qualified for the playoffs.
| Semifinals | | | USCL Championship | |
| | | | | | | | | |
| E1 | New York Knights | 1.5 | | |
|
| E2 | Baltimore Kingfishers | 2.5 | |
| | E2 | Baltimore Kingfishers | 3.5 | |
| | |
| | | W2 | Miami Sharks | 0.5 | |
| W1 | San Francisco Mechanics | 1.5 | |
| |
| W2 | Miami Sharks | 2.5 | |
All Stars [13] edit
Team 1 | | Player | Team | | Board 1 | Pascal Charbonneau | Baltimore Kingfishers | | Board 2 | Lev Milman | Carolina Cobras | | Board 3 | Gregory Braylovsky | New York Knights | | Board 4 | Elvin Wilson | Philadelphia Inventors | | Team 2 | | Player | Team | | Board 1 | Julio Becerra | Miami Sharks | | Board 2 | Tegshsuren Enkhba | Baltimore Kingfishers | | Board 3 | David Pruess | San Francisco Mechanics | | Board 4 | Katerina Rohonyan | Baltimore Kingfishers | |
2006 edit
The 2006 season began on August 30 and ended on November 29 as the San Francisco Mechanics defeated the New York Knights in the blitz tiebreaker to win the championship.[14]
Expansion teams edit
On March 4, Shahade announced that two expansion teams, the Seattle Sluggers and the Tennessee Tempo, would join the league for the 2006 season making it then 10 teams.[15] In addition, the Carolina Cobras moved to the Eastern Division in order to make space for the expansion teams.[16]
Standings edit
| Eastern Division | | W | L | Game Points | Boston Blitz | 8 | 2 | 25.5 | New York Knights | 4.5 | 5.5 | 18.5 | Carolina Cobras | 4 | 6 | 19.5 | Philadelphia Inventors | 4 | 6 | 19 | Baltimore Kingfishers | 4 | 6 | 18.5 | | | Western Division | | W | L | Game Points | San Francisco Mechanics | 8.5 | 1.5 | 26 | Seattle Sluggers | 7 | 3 | 25.5 | Dallas Destiny | 4.5 | 5.5 | 21 | Miami Sharks | 4 | 6 | 18 | Tennessee Tempo | 1.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | |
Playoffs edit
The top three teams from each division qualified for the playoffs.
| Wildcard | | | Semifinals | | | USCL Championship | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | E1 | Boston Blitz | 1 | | |
| E2 | New York Knights | 2* | | | E2 | New York Knights | 3 | |
| E3 | Carolina Cobras | 2 | | | | | | E2 | New York Knights | 2 | |
| | | | | | W1 | San Francisco Mechanics | 2** | |
| | | | W1 | San Francisco Mechanics | 3 | | | | |
| W2 | Seattle Sluggers | 2* | | | W2 | Seattle Sluggers | 1 | |
| W3 | Dallas Destiny | 2 | | |
*Advanced due to draw odds
**Won blitz tiebreaker
All Stars [17] edit
Team 1 | | Player | Team | | Board 1 | Julio Becerra | Miami Sharks | | Board 2 | Jacek Stopa | Dallas Destiny | | Board 3 | Oleg Zaikov | Carolina Cobras | | Board 4 | Sam Shankland | San Francisco Mechanics | | Team 2 | | Player | Team | | Board 1 | Josh Friedel | San Francisco Mechanics | | Board 2 | Vinay Bhat | San Francisco Mechanics | | Board 3 | Richard Costigan | Philadelphia Inventors | | Board 4 | Craig Jones | Carolina Cobras | |
2007 edit
The 2007 season began on August 27 and ended on November 28 with the Dallas Destiny defeated the Boston Blitz in the blitz tiebreaker.[18]
Expansion teams edit
Two further expansion teams, the New Jersey Knockouts and the Queens Pioneers, joined the USCL.[19] Moreover, the Philadelphia Masterminds changed their name to the Philadelphia Inventors[20] while the Carolina Cobras moved back to the Western Division in order to make room for the expansion teams.
Standings edit
| Eastern Division | | W | L | Game Points | Boston Blitz | 7 | 3 | 23.5 | Philadelphia Masterminds | 6 | 4 | 20.5 | New York Knights | 5 | 5 | 19.5 | New Jersey Knockouts | 4.5 | 5.5 | 19.5 | Queens Pioneers | 4.5 | 5.5 | 19 | Baltimore Kingfishers | 4 | 6 | 18.5 | | | Western Division | | W | L | Game Points | Dallas Destiny | 7 | 3 | 23.5 | San Francisco Mechanics | 6 | 4 | 23.5 | Miami Sharks | 5 | 5 | 19 | Seattle Sluggers | 4.5 | 5.5 | 20.5 | Carolina Cobras | 4.5 | 5.5 | 19 | Tennessee Tempo | 2 | 8 | 14 | |
Playoffs edit
The top three teams from each division qualified for the playoffs.
| Wildcard | | | Semifinals | | | USCL Championship | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | E1 | Boston Blitz | 2.5 | | |
| E2 | Philadelphia Inventors | 0.5 | | | E3 | New York Knights | 1.5 | |
| E3 | New York Knights | 3.5 | | | | | | E1 | Boston Blitz | 2 | |
| | | | | | W1 | Dallas Destiny | 2* | |
| | | | W1 | Dallas Destiny | 3.5 | | | | |
| W2 | San Francisco Mechanics | 1.5 | | | W3 | Miami Sharks | 0.5 | |
| W3 | Miami Sharks | 2.5 | | |
*Won blitz tiebreaker
All Stars [21] edit
1st Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Julio Becerra (MIA) | | Board 2 | Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) | | Board 3 | Jacek Stopa (DAL) | | Board 4 | Iryna Zenyuk (NY) | | 2nd Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Joel Benjamin (NJ) | | Board 2 | Davorin Kuljasevic (DAL) | | Board 3 | Denys Shmelov (BOS) | | Board 4 | Chris Williams (BOS) | | 3rd Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Larry Christiansen (BOS) | | Board 2 | Vinay Bhat (SF) | | Board 3 | Jay Bonin (NY) | | Board 4 | Bayaraa Zorigt (DAL) | |
2008 edit
The 2008 season began on August 25 and ended on December 6 with a rematch of last years USCL Championship game. The Dallas Destiny successfully defended their title as they took down the Boston Blitz in another blitz tiebreaker.[22]
Expansion teams edit
At the end of 2007, the league announced two additional teams for the 2088 season which were the Chicago Blaze and the Arizona Scorpions.[23][24] Once again, the Carolina Cobras moved back to East to balance the Divisions.
Standings edit
| Eastern Division | | W | L | Game Points | Carolina Cobras | 7 | 3 | 24 | Queens Pioneers | 7 | 3 | 23.5 | Boston Blitz | 6 | 4 | 23 | New York Knights | 5 | 5 | 18 | New Jersey Knockouts | 4.5 | 5.5 | 20 | Philadelphia Masterminds | 2 | 8 | 15 | Baltimore Kingfishers | 1.5 | 8.5 | 14 | | | Western Division | | W | L | Game Points | Miami Sharks | 7 | 3 | 26.5 | San Francisco Mechanics | 6.5 | 3.5 | 23.5 | Dallas Destiny | 6.5 | 3.5 | 21 | Seattle Sluggers | 4.5 | 5.5 | 18 | Arizona Scorpions | 4.5 | 5.5 | 17.5 | Chicago Blaze | 4 | 6 | 19.5 | Tennessee Tempo | 4 | 6 | 16.5 | |
Playoffs edit
The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs.
| Quarterfinals | | | Semifinals | | | USCL Championship | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| E1 | Carolina Cobras | 3.5 | | | |
|
| E4 | New York Knights | 0.5 | |
| | E1 | Carolina Cobras | 1.5 | |
| Eastern | |
| | | E3 | Boston Blitz | 2.5 | |
| E2 | Queens Pioneers | 1.5 | |
| |
| E3 | Boston Blitz | 2.5 | |
| | E3 | Boston Blitz | 2 | |
| | |
| | | W3 | Dallas Destiny | 2* | |
| W1 | Miami Sharks | 2.5 | | |
| |
| W4 | Seattle Sluggers | 1.5 | |
| | W1 | Miami Sharks | 1 | |
| Western | |
| | | W3 | Dallas Destiny | 3 | |
| W2 | San Francisco Mechanics | 1.5 | |
| |
| W3 | Dallas Destiny | 2.5 | |
*Won blitz tiebreaker
All Stars [25] edit
1st Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Julio Becerra (MIA) | | Board 2 | Davorin Kuljasevic (DAL) | | Board 3 | Alex Lenderman (QNS) | | Board 4 | Bayaraa Zorigt (DAL) | | 2nd Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Sergey Erenburg (BAL) | | Board 2 | Slava Mikhailuk (SEA) | | Board 3 | Marc Esserman (BOS) | | Board 4 | Eric Rodriguez (MIA) | | 3rd Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Jaan Ehlvest (TEN) | | Board 2 | Tom Bartell (PHI) | | Board 3 | Sam Shankland (SF) | | Board 4 | Ilya Krasik (BOS) | |
2009 edit
The 2009 season began on August 31 and ended on December 7 with the New York Knights defeating the Miami Sharks in a blitz tiebreaker for the fourth straight season.[26]
For the first time, the participating teams and divisions remained the same in the 2009 season with no expansion teams. One key rule change was the elimination of bonus rating points for female players, instead establishing a bonus roster spot for the team if at least one woman was on the roster.
This season would be the last season for the Tennessee Tempo as they were replaced by two expansion teams in the next season.
Standings edit
| Eastern Division | | W | L | Game Points | New Jersey Knockouts | 8 | 2 | 26 | Boston Blitz | 7.5 | 2.5 | 23.5 | New York Knights | 5 | 5 | 22 | Baltimore Kingfishers | 4.5 | 5.5 | 18.5 | Philadelphia Masterminds | 4 | 6 | 17.5 | Queens Pioneers | 3.5 | 6.5 | 17 | Carolina Cobras | 2 | 8 | 13.5 | | | Western Division | | W | L | Game Points | Seattle Sluggers | 7.5 | 2.5 | 23.5 | San Francisco Mechanics | 6.5 | 3.5 | 22.5 | Arizona Scorpions | 6 | 4 | 22.5 | Miami Sharks | 6 | 4 | 22 | Chicago Blaze | 4 | 6 | 18.5 | Dallas Destiny | 3.5 | 6.5 | 18.5 | Tennessee Tempo | 2 | 8 | 16 | |
Playoffs edit
The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs.
| Quarterfinals | | | Semifinals | | | USCL Championship | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| E1 | New Jersey Knockouts | 3 | | | |
|
| E4 | Baltimore Kingfishers | 1 | |
| | E1 | New Jersey Knockouts | 1.5 | |
| Eastern | |
| | | E3 | New York Knights | 2.5 | |
| E2 | Boston Blitz | 1.5 | |
| |
| E3 | New York Knights | 2.5 | |
| | E3 | New York Knights | 2* | |
| | |
| | | W4 | Miami Sharks | 2 | |
| W1 | Seattle Sluggers | 0.5 | | |
| |
| W4 | Miami Champions | 3.5 | |
| | W4 | Miami Sharks | 2.5 | |
| Western | |
| | | W3 | San Francisco Mechanics | 1.5 | |
| W2 | San Francisco Mechanics | 3.5 | |
| |
| W3 | Arizona Scorpions | 0.5 | |
All Stars [27] edit
1st Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Hikaru Nakamura (SEA) | | Board 2 | Boris Gulko (NJ) | | Board 3 | Angelo Young (CHC) | | Board 4 | Eric Rodriguez (MIA) | | 2nd Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Julio Becerra (MIA) | | Board 2 | Dean Ippolito (NJ) | | Board 3 | Andrei Zaremba (QNS) | | Board 4 | Yaacov Norowitz (NY) | | |
2010 edit
The 2010 season began on August 23 and ended on November 20 with the New England Nor'easters nearly capping off a perfect season as they crushed the Miami Sharks.[28]
This season featured the expansion team from New England which shattered many records such as becoming the first expansion team to have a winning record and make the playoffs since the Sluggers did back in 2006, the best regular season record in 2010, and having the best record in USCL history (9.5-0.5), drawing only with their local competitors, the Boston Blitz.
The rules were also changed to eliminate alternates, favoring instead another permanent roster spot, increasing the size to nine, or ten if at least one woman is on the team.
Expansion teams edit
The league expanded from fourteen to sixteen teams this year, with the addition of three new teams which were the St. Louis Arch Bishops, the Los Angeles Vibe, and the New England Nor'easters and the folding of the Tennessee Tempo.[29] Additionally, the Queens Pioneers moved to Manhattan and became known as the Manhattan Applesauce.
Standings edit
| Eastern Division | | W | L | Game Points | New England Nor'easters | 9.5 | 0.5 | 28 | Boston Blitz | 7 | 3 | 21.5 | Baltimore Kingfishers | 5.5 | 4.5 | 22 | New York Knights | 5 | 5 | 23.5 | Philadelphia Masterminds | 3.5 | 6.5 | 18 | New Jersey Knockouts | 3.5 | 6.5 | 16.5 | Manhattan Applesause | 3.5 | 6.5 | 15.5 | Carolina Cobras | 2 | 8 | 14 | | | Western Division | | W | L | Game Points | Arizona Scorpions | 6.5 | 3.5 | 22.5 | Chicago Blaze | 6 | 4 | 20.5 | Miami Sharks | 5.5 | 4.5 | 21 | Seattle Sluggers | 5 | 5 | 22 | St. Louis Arch Bishops | 5 | 5 | 18.5 | Los Angeles Vibe | 4.5 | 5.5 | 18.5 | San Francisco Mechanics | 4 | 6 | 19 | Dallas Destiny | 4 | 6 | 19 | |
Playoffs edit
The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs.
| Quarterfinals | | | Semifinals | | | USCL Championship | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| E1 | New England Nor'easters | 2.5 | | | |
|
| E4 | New York Knights | 1.5 | |
| | E1 | New England Nor'easters | 2* | |
| Eastern | |
| | | E2 | Boston Blitz | 2 | |
| E2 | Boston Blitz | 2.5 | |
| |
| E3 | Baltimore Kingfishers | 1.5 | |
| | E1 | New England Nor'easters | 3 | |
| | |
| | | W3 | Miami Sharks | 1 | |
| W1 | Arizona Scorpions | 2* | | |
| |
| W4 | Seattle Sluggers | 2 | |
| | W1 | Arizona Scorpions | 1 | |
| Western | |
| | | W3 | Miami Sharks | 3 | |
| W2 | Chicago Blaze | 1 | |
| |
| W3 | Miami Sharks | 3 | |
*Advanced due to draw odds
All Stars [30] edit
1st Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Sergey Erenburg (BAL) | | Board 2 | Robert Hungaski (NE) | | Board 3 | Marcel Martinez (MIA) | | Board 4 | Alex Cherniack (NE) | | 2nd Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Julio Becerra (MIA) | | Board 2 | Pascal Charbonneau (NY) | | Board 3 | Michael Lee (SEA) (2432) | | Board 4 | Alex Guo (SEA) | | 3rd Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Hikaru Nakamura (STL) | | Board 2 | Marc Esserman (BOS) | | Board 3 | Ben Finegold (STL) | | Board 4 | Aleksandr Ostrovskiy (NY) | | 4th Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) | | Board 2 | Julio Sadorra (DAL) | | Board 3 | Daniel Rensch (ARZ) | | Board 4 | Nicholas Rosenthal (MIA) | |
2011 edit
The 2011 season began on August 29 and ended on November 20 with the New York Knights claiming their second title in three years title over the Chicago Blaze.[31]
As in the 2009 season, the participating teams and divisions remained the same as in the previous season. The only major rule change was the increasing of roster size from nine spots to ten along with the elimination of the bonus roster spot that had previously been given if there was at least one woman on the team.
Standings edit
| Eastern Division | | W | L | Game Points | Philadelphia Inventors | 8 | 2 | 25.5 | New York Knights | 6 | 4 | 22 | Boston Blitz | 6 | 4 | 22 | Manhattan Applesause | 5.5 | 4.5 | 22.5 | New England Nor'easters | 5.5 | 4.5 | 20.5 | Baltimore Kingfishers | 3 | 7 | 16.5 | Carolina Cobras | 3 | 7 | 16.5 | New Jersey Knockouts | 2.5 | 7.5 | 16.5 | | | Western Division | | W | L | Game Points | Chicago Blaze | 8.5 | 1.5 | 28 | Los Angeles Vibe | 6.5 | 3.5 | 22.5 | San Francisco Mechanics | 5.5 | 4.5 | 21 | Dallas Destiny | 5.5 | 4.5 | 20.5 | Arizona Scorpions | 4.5 | 5.5 | 19.5 | Miami Sharks | 4.5 | 5.5 | 19 | Seattle Sluggers | 3.5 | 6.5 | 16 | St. Louis Arch Bishops | 2 | 8 | 14.5 | |
Playoffs edit
The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs.
| Quarterfinals | | | Semifinals | | | USCL Championship | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| E1 | Philadelphia Inventors | 1 | | | |
|
| E4 | Manhattan Applesause | 3 | |
| | E4 | Manhattan Applesause | 1.5 | |
| Eastern | |
| | | E2 | New York Knights | 2.5 | |
| E2 | New York Knights | 2* | |
| |
| E3 | Boston Blitz | 2 | |
| | E2 | New York Knights | 2.5 | |
| | |
| | | W1 | Chicago Blaze | 1.5 | |
| W1 | Chicago Blaze | 2* | | |
| |
| W4 | Dallas Desitny | 2 | |
| | W1 | Chicago Blaze | 2.5 | |
| Western | |
| | | W2 | Los Angeles Vibe | 1.5 | |
| W2 | Los Angeles Vibe | 2.5 | |
| |
| W3 | San Francisco Mechanics | 1.5 | |
*Advanced due to draw odds
All Stars [32] edit
1st Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) | | Board 2 | Conrad Holt (DAL) | | Board 3 | Jay Bonin (PHI) | | Board 4 | William Fisher (PHI) | | 2nd Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) | | Board 2 | Levon Altounian (ARZ) | | Board 3 | Tatev Abrahamyan (LA) | | Board 4 | Sam Schmakel (CHC) | | 3rd Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Ben Finegold (STL) | | Board 2 | Jesse Kraai (SF) | | Board 3 | Angelo Young (CHC) | | Board 4 | Roland Feng (SEA) | |
2012 edit
The 2012 season began on September 4 and ended on December 1 which featured the Philadelphia Inventors against the Seattle Sluggers; both making their first appearance in the title match. The Sluggers crushed the Inventors as they claimed their first title.
Expansion team edit
Despite making back-to-back playoff appearance and reaching the championship game the previous season, the Chicago Blaze did not play in 2012. Chicago's slot was filled by a new team, the Connecticut Dreadnoughts, featuring grandmaster Robert Hess as its top-rated player.[33] This change resulted in a slight re-shuffling of the divisions, with the Carolina Cobras team moving back to the Western Division.
Standings edit
| Eastern Division | | W | L | Game Points | Philadelphia Inventors | 7.5 | 2.5 | 23.5 | Manhattan Applesause | 6.5 | 3.5 | 23 | New York Knights | 5.5 | 4.5 | 21 | Baltimore Kingfishers | 5.5 | 4.5 | 19 | New Jersey Knockouts | 5 | 5 | 19 | Connecticut Dreadnoughts | 4.5 | 5.5 | 19 | Boston Blitz | 4 | 6 | 20 | New England Nor'easters] | 3 | 7 | 17.5 | | | Western Division | | W | L | Game Points | Dallas Destiny | 7 | 3 | 24 | St. Louis Arch Bishops | 6.5 | 3.5 | 24.5 | Arizona Scorpions | 5.5 | 4.5 | 22 | Seattle Sluggers | 5.5 | 4.5 | 19.5 | San Francisco Mechanics | 4 | 6 | 19 | Los Angeles Vibe | 3.5 | 6.5 | 16.5 | Miami Sharks | 3.5 | 6.5 | 15 | Carolina Cobras | 3 | 7 | 17.5 | |
Playoffs edit
The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs.
| Quarterfinals | | | Semifinals | | | USCL Championship | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| E1 | Philadelphia Inventors | 3.5 | | | |
|
| E4 | Baltimore Kingfishers | 0.5 | |
| | E1 | Philadelphia Inventors | 3 | |
| Eastern | |
| | | E2 | Manhattan Applesause | 1 | |
| E2 | Manhattan Applesause | 2.5 | |
| |
| E3 | New York Knights | 1.5 | |
| | E1 | Philadelphia Inventors | 1 | |
| | |
| | | W4 | Seattle Sluggers | 3 | |
| W1 | Dallas Destiny | 1.5 | | |
| |
| W4 | Seattle Sluggers | 2.5 | |
| | W4 | Seattle Sluggers | 2.5 | |
| Western | |
| | | W3 | Arizona Scorpions | 1.5 | |
| W2 | St. Louis Arch Bishops | 1.5 | |
| |
| W3 | Arizona Scorpions | 2.5 | |
*Advanced due to draw odds
All Stars [34] edit
1st Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Sergey Erenburg (PHI) | | Board 2 | Priyadharshan Kannappan (STL) | | Board 3 | Dov Gorman (PHI) | | Board 4 | Shaun Smith (MAN) | | 2nd Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) | | Board 2 | Georgi Orlov (SEA) | | Board 3 | Joshua Sinanan (SEA) | | Board 4 | Alex King (MIA) | | 3rd Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Julio Sadorra (DAL) | | Board 2 | Levon Altounian (ARZ) | | Board 3 | Levan Bregadze (STL) | | Board 4 | Alexander Katz (NY) | |
2013 edit
The 2013 season began on August 27 and ended on November 20 with the Miami Sharks getting their first title over the New York Knights in a rematch from 2009 championship game.
This season was the first time chess.com hosted the USCL as the Internet Chess Club parted ways with the USCL.[35]
Due to the fact ten out of sixteen teams use eastern time and two eastern time teams are situated in the western division, the USCL decided to have four divisions instead of two to deal with the issue.[36]
Standings edit
| Eastern Conference | | Atlantic Division | W | L | Game Points | Manhattan Applesause | 6.5 | 3.5 | 25 | New York Knights | 5.5 | 4.5 | 21 | New Jersey Knockouts | 4 | 6 | 18.5 | Philadelphia Inventors | 3 | 7 | 15.5 | | Northeast Division | W | L | Game Points | New England Nor'easters | 7 | 3 | 24 | Connecticut Dreadnoughts | 6.5 | 3.5 | 23.5 | Boston Blitz | 4.5 | 5.5 | 19 | Baltimore Kingfishers | 3.5 | 6.5 | 16 | | | Western Conference | | Southern Division | W | L | Game Points | Miami Sharks | 7.5 | 2.5 | 25 | Dallas Destiny | 7 | 3 | 22.5 | St. Louis Arch Bishops | 6 | 4 | 20.5 | Carolina Cobras | 1 | 9 | 13 | | Pacific Division | W | L | Game Points | San Francisco Mechanics | 6.5 | 3.5 | 24.5 | Los Angeles Vibe | 4.5 | 5.5 | 19.5 | Arizona Scorpions | 4 | 6 | 16.5 | Seattle Sluggers | 3 | 7 | 16 | |
Playoffs edit
The top two teams from each division qualified for the playoffs.
| Quarterfinals | | | Semifinals | | | USCL Championship | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| A1 | Manhattan Applesauce | 1.5 | | | |
|
| A2 | New York Knights | 2.5 | |
| | A2 | New York Knights | 2.5 | |
| | |
| | | N1 | New England Nor'easters | 1.5 | |
| N1 | New England Nor'easters | 2* | |
| |
| N2 | Connecticut Dreadnoughts | 2 | |
| | A2 | New York Knights | 0.5 | |
| | |
| | | S1 | Miami Sharks | 3.5 | |
| S1 | Miami Sharks | 2.5 | | |
| |
| S2 | Dallas Destiny | 1.5 | |
| | S1 | Miami Sharks | 2.5 | |
| | |
| | | P1 | San Francisco Mechanics | 1.5 | |
| P1 | San Francisco Mechanics | 3 | |
| |
| W2 | Los Angeles Vibe | 1 | |
*Advanced due to draw odds
All Stars [37] edit
1st Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Zviad Izoria (MAN) | | Board 2 | Jeffery Xiong (DAL) | | Board 3 | Akshat Chandra (NY) | | Board 4 | Ryan Goldenberg (MAN) | | 2nd Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Julio Becerra (MIA) | | Board 2 | Renier Gonzalez (MIA) | | Board 3 | Eric Rodriguez (MIA) | | Board 4 | Siddharth Banik (SF) | | 3rd Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Vinay Bhat (SF) | | Board 2 | Daniel Naroditsky (SF) | | Board 3 | Vadim Martirosov (BOS) | | Board 4 | Lawyer Times (NE) | |
2014 edit
The 2014 season began on August 26 and ended on December 3 with the St. Louis Arch Bishops defeating the Dallas Destiny in a blitz tiebreaker.
Expansion team edit
With the addition of two new teams, the Rio Grande Ospreys and the Atlanta Kings, the league divided its eighteen teams into three divisions: Eastern, Southern, and Western.[38][39]
Standings edit
Eastern Division | | W | L | Game Points | Manhattan Applesause | 7.5 | 2.5 | 22.5 | New York Knights | 7 | 3 | 22 | New Jersey Knockouts | 6.5 | 3.5 | 21.5 | Philadelphia Inventors | 5 | 5 | 19.5 | Boston Blitz | 3 | 7 | 17 | New England Nor'easters | 0.5 | 9.5 | 13.5 | | Southern Division | | W | L | Game Points | St. Louis Arch Bishops | 7.5 | 2.5 | 25 | Miami Sharks | 5 | 5 | 18.5 | Connecticut Dreadnoughts | 4.5 | 5.5 | 20.5 | Baltimore Kingfishers | 4.5 | 5.5 | 19.5 | Atlanta Kings | 4 | 6 | 20 | Carolina Cobras | 3.5 | 6.5 | 17 | | Western Division | | W | L | Game Points | Dallas Destiny | 8 | 2 | 26.5 | Rio Grande Ospreys | 6.5 | 3.5 | 20.5 | San Francisco Mechanics | 6 | 4 | 22.5 | Seattle Sluggers | 4.5 | 5.5 | 22 | Arizona Scorpions | 4 | 6 | 17.5 | Los Angeles Vibe | 2.5 | 7.5 | 14.5 | |
Playoffs edit
Ten total teams qualified for the playoffs. Division winners were seeded 1-3, second place teams were 4-6, third place teams were 7-9, while the wildcard team whose division scored the highest in interleague play qualified as the tenth seed.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | 1 | Dallas Desinty | 3 | | | |
| 8 | San Francisco Mechanics | 2.5 | | | 8 | San Francisco Mechanics | 1 | |
| 9 | Connecticut Dreadnoughts | 1.5 | | | | | | 1 | Dallas Destiny | 2.5 | |
| | | | | | 4 | New York Knights | 1.5 | |
| | | | 4 | New York Knights | 2.5 | | | | |
| | | | 5 | Rio Grande Ospreys | 1.5 | |
| | | | | 1 | Dallas Destiny | 2 | |
| | | | | | | 2 | St. Louis Arch Bishops | 2* | |
| | | | 3 | Manhattan Applesause | 1 | | | | |
| 7 | New Jersey Knockouts | 2.5 | | | 6 | Miami Sharks | 3 | |
| 10 | Seattle Sluggers | 1.5 | | | | | | 2 | St. Louis Arch Bishops | 2* | |
| | | | | | 6 | Miami Sharks | 2 | |
| | | | 2 | St. Louis Arch Bishops | 2.5 | | |
| | | | 7 | New Jersey Knockouts | 1.5 | |
*Won blitz tiebreaker
All Stars[40] edit
1st Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Wesley So (STL) | | Board 2 | Le Quang Liem (STL) | | Board 3 | Francisco Guadalupe II (DAL) | | Board 4 | David Golub (SEA) | | 2nd Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Gata Kamsky (NY) | | Board 2 | Joel Benjamin (NJ) | | Board 3 | Richard Francisco (ATL) | | Board 4 | Karthik Ramachandran (DAL) | | 3rd Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Georgi Orlov (SEA) | | Board 2 | Andrey Stukopin (RIO) | | Board 3 | Cameron Wheeler (SF) | | Board 4 | Levy Rozman (MAN) | |
2015 edit
The 2015 season began on August 25 and ended on December 1 with the Manhattan Applesauce defeating the St. Louis Arch Bishops to claim their first title.
Expansion teams edit
With the addition of four new teams, the Las Vegas Desert Rats, Lubbock Tornadoes, Minnesota Blizzard, and San Diego Surfers, along with the departure of the Baltimore Kingfishers and the Los Angeles Vibe, the total number of teams reached 20, causing a reversion back to the two division system.
Standings edit
| Eastern Division | | W | L | Game Points | New England Nor'easters | 7.5 | 2.5 | 24 | New York Knights | 7.5 | 2.5 | 24 | New Jersey Knockouts | 7 | 3 | 25 | Manhattan Applesause | 6.5 | 3.5 | 22.5 | Connecticut Dreadnoughts | 5.5 | 4.5 | 21 | Carolina Cobras | 4 | 6 | 17 | Boston Blitz | 3.5 | 6.5 | 18 | Atlanta Kings | 3.5 | 6.5 | 15.5 | Philadelphia Inventors | 3 | 7 | 20 | Miami Sharks | 2 | 8 | 13 | | | Western Division | | W | L | Game Points | Dallas Destiny | 6.5 | 3.5 | 24 | St.Louis Arch Bishops | 6.5 | 3.5 | 23 | Las Vegas Desert Rats | 6 | 4 | 21.5 | San Francisco Mechanics | 6 | 4 | 19.5 | Seattle Sluggers | 5.5 | 4.5 | 22 | Arizona Scorpions | 4.5 | 5.5 | 19.5 | Minnesota Blizzard | 4.5 | 5.5 | 17 | Lubbock Tornadoes | 4 | 6 | 19.5 | Rio Grande Ospreys | 4 | 6 | 18 | San Diego Surfers | 2.5 | 7.5 | 16 | |
Playoffs edit
The top six teams from each division qualified for the playoffs.[41]
Eastern Division edit
| Wildcard | | | Quarterfinals | | | Semifinals | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | E1 | New England Nor'easters | 1.5 | | |
| E4 | New Jersey Knockouts | 2* | | | E4 | Manhattan Applesauce | 2.5 | |
| E5 | Connecticut Dreadnoughts | 2 | | | | | | E4 | Manhattan Applesauce | 3 | |
| | | | | | E2 | New York Knights | 1 | |
| | | | E2 | New York Knights | 2* | | | | |
| E3 | New Jersey Knockouts | 2* | | | E3 | New Jersey Knockouts | 2 | |
| E6 | Carolina Cobras | 2 | | |
*Advanced due to draw odds
Western Division edit
| Wildcard | | | Quarterfinals | | | Semifinals | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | W1 | Dallas Destiny | 2.5 | | |
| W4 | San Francisco Mechanics | 3 | | | W4 | San Francisco Mechanics | 1.5 | |
| W5 | Seattle Sluggers | 1 | | | | | | W1 | Dallas Destiny | 1.5 | |
| | | | | | W2 | St. Louis Arch Bishops | 2.5 | |
| | | | W2 | St. Louis Arch Bishops | 3 | | | | |
| W3 | Las Vegas Desert Rats | 4 | | | W3 | Las Vegas Desert Rats | 1 | |
| W6 | Arizona Scorpions | 0 | | |
| USCL Championship | |
| | | | |
| E4 | Manhattan Applesauce | 2.5 | |
|
| E2 | St. Louis Arch Bishops | 1.5 | |
All Stars [42] edit
1st Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Zviad Izoria (MAN) | | Board 2 | Varuzhan Akobian (STL) | | Board 3 | Elliott Liu (LV) | | Board 4 | Nicholas Rosenthal (STL) | | 2nd Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Jeffery Xiong (DAL) | | Board 2 | Joel Benjamin (NJ) | | Board 3 | Levy Rozman (MAN) | | Board 4 | Bryce Tiglon (SEA) | | 3rd Team All Stars | | Player (Team) | | Board 1 | Andrey Stukopin (RIO) | | Board 2 | Andrey Gorovets (LUB) | | Board 3 | Atulya Vaidya (DAL) | | Board 4 | Jason Shi (CON) | |
Titles by team edit
| Team | Titles Won | Last Won |
Dallas Destiny | 2 | 2008 |
New York Knight | 2 | 2011 |
Baltimore Kingfishers | 1 | 2005 |
Manhattan Applesauce | 1 | 2015 |
Miami Sharks | 1 | 2013 |
New England Nor'easters | 1 | 2010 |
San Francisco Mechanics | 1 | 2006 |
Seattle Sluggers | 1 | 2012 |
St. Louis Arch Bishops | 1 | 2014 |
Format edit
Teams consist of rosters of ten players, and each week the manager selects a lineup of four, depending on rating, form, and availability. The average rating for each match is capped at less than 2401, with certain exceptions for highly rated players.
The season starts the last week of August or first week of September and ends in late November or early December. Each team plays one match per week, and matches are almost always scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday nights. All matches are played online at the Internet Chess Club. Team members gather at a common public location where a league-approved tournament director is present.
If either team in a given match scores two and a half points or more from the four games, that team wins the match. If the score is split at two points apiece, the match is drawn. At the end of the regular season, the four teams in each division with the highest match point totals qualify for the playoffs, which are conducted in a knockout format. In the Championship match, a drawn match proceeds to a series of blitz games to determine the ultimate winner.[43]
References edit
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- ^ McClain, Dylan Loeb (14 December 2008). "College Star Helps Steer Dallas to Team's Second League Title". The New York Times.
- ^ Shahade, Greg (December 26, 2007). "US Chess League News: Arizona Scorpions and Chicago Blaze join the USCL".
- ^ Shahade, Greg (2007-12-26). "US Chess League News: Arizona Scorpions and Chicago Blaze join the USCL". US Chess League News. Retrieved 2018-07-22.
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