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Press Chess Team Beats Belgrade in Trans-Atlantic Rematch
Press Chess Team Beats Belgrade in Trans-Atlantic Rematch | Chess Team Beats Belgrade in Trans-Atlantic Rematch |
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| November 3, 2008 | |
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Media Contact: Jenni Huffenberger, UT Dallas, (972) 883-4431, [email protected] or the Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, [email protected] On paper, this year’s match with the Belgrade team looked very promising. Why one might ask? First, the UT Dallas team’s average rating was higher than it had ever been. From 2305 rating of the last two years, it had soared to 2360. That is quite a statistical improvement. Secondly, the Belgrade team’s rating had gone down from that 2300 platitude. Nevertheless, that was all on paper, and each individual game still had to be played. As was the case in 2006 and 2007 matches, UTD built up an early lead and rattled off four consecutive wins followed by two draws. The score stood at 5-1. Did we feel confident? Not really since the same thing happened in 2006, and we went on to lose a squeaker. And yet, the wins kept coming in. The last game to report was on Board 1 where our team captain GM Alejandro Ramirez won with the black pieces. When all the mouse clicks had stopped, Rameriz held the Transatlantic Cup high in the air as the UT Dallas chess team was proclaimed the winner by the almost unbelievable score of 12.5 - 3.5! There had been 11 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses. Who played 1. d4 for Belgrade on Board 1? It was none other than living legend GM Svetzovar Gligoric! We all felt very honored to have him as part of the match. The games are on ICC at liblist UTDUB |
