Blue Glove Open: The Race to Championship Weekend
No one is safe when it comes to Group D. Six players potentially could reach the final, with only Yasmin Farahi holding onto enough cushion to breathe somewhat easily heading into the last weekend of the regular season.
Caroline Peterson, Razi Dinan, John Ozenci, Deniz Ozenci, and Elina Ipakchi all stand a chance at claiming that second finalist's spot. While Ipakchi marched three points closer by defeating Julia Ross, she narrowly missed making herself the favorite with an 8-6 loss to Lily Venzke.
The summer's Group D winner, Steven Herrle, emerges now as a serious but longshot contender for the Group C Final after spending much of the season looking on. He beat Yasmin Farahi in a tightly contested 7-4 set. Unbeaten in four matches, he'll need a big final weekend to surpass Renata Cavallo, who took care of business with two wins to provide the much-needed distance that just might stay Herrle's charge.
Cavallo defeated Tomas Mulita, who leads the group, 6-5. Then she dispatched Venzke 8-1. It is true you cannot win the title in these weeks before the finals, but you can certainly lose it, and she did not trip up.
For that resolve Cavallo earns joint Player of the Week honors with JT Mathura, who played four matches over the weekend, going 2-2. But the story goes deeper. Despite losing 8-3 twice to Rex Bondi, who may likely advance to the top BGO final, Mathura clinched two important, close victories over Jeremy Chud and Ray Zhang that will resonate in the title race.
It should not be lost: Bondi has overtaken Daniel Goldblatt as the top Power Rankings player with a rating of 1225.
Finals Scenarios
Group A: Bora Barclay leads, Rex Bondi has cushion. Wade, Green, Chud all have a chance.
Group B: Likely a brotherly bash. Mack Fisher is a shoo-in. Gus Fisher holds the reins for second. Piraino and Parrella have good chances with big wins this weekend.
Group C: Tomas Mulita can't be touched. Renata Cavallo seems safe. Herrle has a great chance if he wins big this weekend. Gong is on the bubble.
Group D: Farahi leads. Peterson, Ozenci, Ozenci, Dinan, and Ipakchi all could make it.
It's all a race to CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND, November 12-14, when the Group Finals will be played.
Continue the journey through the winter with our outdoor BGO matches, Bethesda CC indoor training and matches, and our BGO-fueled Travel Teams!
BGO Power Rankings - November 2, 2021
Currently registered players among the overall top 50 only.
BGO Group Standings - November 2, 2021
Top two from each group automatically qualify for group final.
Players are ranked by points (three for win, one for draw), then wins, percentage of games won, and games won.
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