02-03-2015, 06:57 PM
Germany defeating England probably wasn't a good result for Scotland A's hopes of bronze. The bookies would now pretty definitely predict a Slovakia, Germany, England top three finish ... but there remain upset prospects.
Slovakia must keep up their good form tomorrow against a Lasker Gesellschaft team that is capable of scoring a 2-2 result (or even a win on a very good day) against them. If Slovakia win (my bet), they will go into the final round at least a point ahead of the rest of the field. England A shouldn't really fail to win against their weaker German opponents, who have risen from mid-field rather than contended throughout at or near the top. But even if England A wins, they need Germany to lose against Scotland just to catch them.
Germany-Scotland, however, is the really interesting match. Scotland probably have to win to keep realistic hopes of 3rd place alive (though they can still hope for a top 5 finish even if they lose). Germany have to win to have any chance of catching and overtaking Slovakia (one point ahead), should the latter slip, AND also to keep England A at bay (one point behind) in the race for 2nd place.
This German team is more solid than brilliant and their top board, Uwe Boensch, has only played three games, so it's not clear whether he'll actually turn out. With or without Boensch, the Germans out-rate Scotland on every board by a margin that isn't all that great ... but then I've a healthy disregard for ratings and their quite large statistical margins of error that chess players who call folks by a 'number' never seem to recognise actually exists.
Germany, on home ground will be at least as nervous about this encounter. Scotland has less to lose and should certainly go for the win!
Certainly sad that only one match goes live at the Dresden web-site in this kind of situation!
Slovakia must keep up their good form tomorrow against a Lasker Gesellschaft team that is capable of scoring a 2-2 result (or even a win on a very good day) against them. If Slovakia win (my bet), they will go into the final round at least a point ahead of the rest of the field. England A shouldn't really fail to win against their weaker German opponents, who have risen from mid-field rather than contended throughout at or near the top. But even if England A wins, they need Germany to lose against Scotland just to catch them.
Germany-Scotland, however, is the really interesting match. Scotland probably have to win to keep realistic hopes of 3rd place alive (though they can still hope for a top 5 finish even if they lose). Germany have to win to have any chance of catching and overtaking Slovakia (one point ahead), should the latter slip, AND also to keep England A at bay (one point behind) in the race for 2nd place.
This German team is more solid than brilliant and their top board, Uwe Boensch, has only played three games, so it's not clear whether he'll actually turn out. With or without Boensch, the Germans out-rate Scotland on every board by a margin that isn't all that great ... but then I've a healthy disregard for ratings and their quite large statistical margins of error that chess players who call folks by a 'number' never seem to recognise actually exists.
Germany, on home ground will be at least as nervous about this encounter. Scotland has less to lose and should certainly go for the win!
Certainly sad that only one match goes live at the Dresden web-site in this kind of situation!