Blue Glove Open: Week 15
Group B takes the spotlight with just one week until March 25-27’s Decision Day left to sort out finals places next week. Yael Lan and Miguel Zein share the Player of the Week honors with quality wins over top-ranked and top-level opponents.
Lan tapped into vast reserves to stave off Group A’s Jack Mearns, 8-6. With the win Lan climbs within just percentage points of a spot in the Group B final, with the same number of wins (7) and points (21) as Solomon Ravitz. Lan has a fine chance to reach the finals considering she is scheduled for a few matches this week. Mearns drops to 2-7 on the season and enters into the relegation battle.
Meanwhile, Zein toppled a finals-favorite, Tomas Mulita, 8-5, to reach a respectable 10th spot in midtable in the vast Group B. His three wins could be augmented against Renata Cavallo on Decision Day.
Cavallo, twice a winner this weekend with a valedictory defeat of Group B rival Cole Piraino, 8-2, has the stranglehold on Group B’s finalplatz with just Decision Day (March 25-27) to go. Yes, sadly Decision Day is a bit of a misnomer, but the marketing department frowns on the plural.
Group A action included a number of seemingly one-sided affairs. Alvaro Orlove drew even with JT Mathura for a finals place with wins over Jack Mearns and Siena Propst. But Jeremy Chud reminded him there is still another gear to kick into when it comes to Group A play. The 11-1 leader won 8-1 in what could be a finals preview.
Valentine Parrella also took care of business 8-3 against Bora Barclay. Already slated for promotion to Group A next season given his illustrious list of Group A victories, Parrella’s in for a fighting chance at the final—just one game back, but well ahead on percentage and a winnable match next week to put him in position.
Decision Day scenarios:
Group A: Chud is a shoo-in. Mathura and Orlove will battle it out for more wins on Decision Day.
Group B: Anyone’s race. Cavallo reigns, but Ravitz, Lan, Mulita are tied for second, with Ravitz’s better percentage giving him the edge. But Parrella and Kali Mathura have chances with a win or two in the next two weeks.
Group C: Ipakchi leads. Gong and Hoffman trail and are tied with 4 wins, but Gong’s draw places him just ahead. Hoffman would need a draw or win to overtake.
Group D: Elina Ipakchi leads and seems safe. Julia Ross and John Ozenci are in prime position, but Razi, Deniz, Peterson, Asher could all catch a spot. They just need matches to play—all have only won once.
Join us for our race to Decision Day (March 25-27) and WINTER CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND (April 1-3) 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 Team Plus!
BGO Power Rankings - March 17, 2022
The overall top 25.
BGO Winter Group Standings - March 17, 2022
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.
Game scores are not included for wins by higher group players against lower group players.