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.
At its peak, the USCL comprised twenty teams, whose members included some of the highest-rated chess players in the United States. 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. In later seasons the league was run by Arun Sharma, who was the Vice President of the USCL.
2005 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.
Team origins The following teams were selected to play in the inaugural season. TeamsDate JoinedSan Francisco MechanicsJanuary 30New York KnightsFebruary 3Philadelphia MastermindsFebruary 3Baltimore KingfishersMarch 24Dallas DestinyMarch 30Miami SharksApril 23Boston BlitzApril 25Carolina CobrasApril 30
Standings Eastern Division W L Game Points 8 2 25.5 6.5 3.5 24 4 6 18 3.5 6.5 16Western Division W L Game Points 6 4 22 5.5 4.5 19.5 3.5 6.5 18.5 3 7 16.5
Playoffs The top two teams from each division qualified for the playoffs.
All Stars Spurce: 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 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 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.
Expansion teams 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. In addition, the Carolina Cobras moved to the Eastern Division in order to make space for the expansion teams.
Standings Eastern Division W L Game Points 8 2 25.5 4.5 5.5 18.5 4 6 19.5 4 6 19 4 6 18.5Western Division W L Game Points 8.5 1.5 26 7 3 25.5 4.5 5.5 21 4 6 18 1.5 8.5 8.5
Playoffs The top three teams from each division qualified for the playoffs.
*Advanced due to draw odds **Won blitz tiebreaker
All Stars Source:
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 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 The 2007 season began on August 27 and ended on November 28 with the Dallas Destiny defeated the Boston Blitz in the blitz tiebreaker.
Expansion teams Two further expansion teams, the New Jersey Knockouts and the Queens Pioneers, joined the USCL. Moreover, the Philadelphia Masterminds changed their name to the Philadelphia Inventors while the Carolina Cobras moved back to the Western Division in order to make room for the expansion teams.
Standings Eastern Division W L Game Points 7 3 23.5 6 4 20.5 5 5 19.5 4.5 5.5 19.5 4.5 5.5 19 4 6 18.5Western Division W L Game Points 7 3 23.5 6 4 23.5 5 5 19 4.5 5.5 20.5 4.5 5.5 19 2 8 14
Playoffs The top three teams from each division qualified for the playoffs.
*Won blitz tiebreaker
All Stars Source:
Player (Team) Board 1 Julio Becerra (MIA) Board 2 Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) Board 3 Jacek Stopa (DAL) Board 4 Iryna Zenyuk (NY) Player (Team) Board 1 Joel Benjamin (NJ) Board 2 Davorin Kuljasevic (DAL) Board 3 Denys Shmelov (BOS) Board 4 Chris Williams (BOS) Player (Team) Board 1 Larry Christiansen (BOS) Board 2 Vinay Bhat (SF) Board 3 Jay Bonin (NY) Board 4 Bayaraa Zorigt (DAL)
2008 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.
Expansion teams At the end of 2007, the league announced two additional teams for the 2007 season which were the Chicago Blaze and the Arizona Scorpions. Once again, the Carolina Cobras moved back to East to balance the Divisions.
Standings Eastern Division W L Game Points 7 3 24 7 3 23.5 6 4 23 5 5 18 4.5 5.5 20 2 8 15 1.5 8.5 14Western Division W L Game Points 7 3 26.5 6.5 3.5 23.5 6.5 3.5 21 4.5 5.5 18 4.5 5.5 17.5 4 6 19.5 4 6 16.5
Playoffs The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs.
*Won blitz tiebreaker
All Stars Source:
Player (Team) Board 1 Julio Becerra (MIA) Board 2 Davorin Kuljasevic (DAL) Board 3 Alex Lenderman (QNS) Board 4 Bayaraa Zorigt (DAL) Player (Team) Board 1 Sergey Erenburg (BAL) Board 2 Slava Mikhailuk (SEA) Board 3 Marc Esserman (BOS) Board 4 Eric Rodriguez (MIA) Player (Team) Board 1 Jaan Ehlvest (TEN) Board 2 Tom Bartell (PHI) Board 3 Sam Shankland (SF) Board 4 Ilya Krasik (BOS)
2009 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.
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 Eastern Division W L Game Points 8 2 26 7.5 2.5 23.5 5 5 22 4.5 5.5 18.5 4 6 17.5 3.5 6.5 17 2 8 13.5Western Division W L Game Points 7.5 2.5 23.5 6.5 3.5 22.5 6 4 22.5 6 4 22 4 6 18.5 3.5 6.5 18.5 2 8 16
Playoffs The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs.
Won blitz tiebreaker
All Stars Source:
Player (Team) Board 1 Hikaru Nakamura (SEA) Board 2 Boris Gulko (NJ) Board 3 Angelo Young (CHC) Board 4 Eric Rodriguez (MIA) Player (Team) Board 1 Julio Becerra (MIA) Board 2 Dean Ippolito (NJ) Board 3 Andrei Zaremba (QNS) Board 4 Yaacov Norowitz (NY) Player (Team) Board 1 Alex Stripunsky (QNS) Board 2 Pascal Charbonneau (NY) Board 3 Marc Esserman (BOS) Board 4 Yian Liou (SF)
2010 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.
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 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. Additionally, the Queens Pioneers moved to Manhattan and became known as the Manhattan Applesauce.
Standings Eastern Division W L Game Points 9.5 0.5 28 7 3 21.5 5.5 4.5 22 5 5 23.5 3.5 6.5 18 3.5 6.5 16.5 3.5 6.5 15.5 2 8 14Western Division W L Game Points 6.5 3.5 22.5 6 4 20.5 5.5 4.5 21 5 5 22 5 5 18.5 4.5 5.5 18.5 4 6 19 4 6 19
Playoffs The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs.
*Advanced due to draw odds
All Stars Source:
Player (Team) Board 1 Sergey Erenburg (BAL) Board 2 Robert Hungaski (NE) Board 3 Marcel Martinez (MIA) Board 4 Alex Cherniack (NE) Player (Team) Board 1 Julio Becerra (MIA) Board 2 Pascal Charbonneau (NY) Board 3 Michael Lee (SEA) (2432) Board 4 Alex Guo (SEA) Player (Team) Board 1 Hikaru Nakamura (STL) Board 2 Marc Esserman (BOS) Board 3 Ben Finegold (STL) Board 4 Aleksandr Ostrovskiy (NY) Player (Team) Board 1 Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) Board 2 Julio Sadorra (DAL) Board 3 Daniel Rensch (ARZ) Board 4 Nicholas Rosenthal (MIA)
2011 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.
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 Eastern Division W L Game Points 8 2 25.5 6 4 22 6 4 22 5.5 4.5 22.5 5.5 4.5 20.5 3 7 16.5 3 7 16.5 2.5 7.5 16.5Western Division W L Game Points 8.5 1.5 28 6.5 3.5 22.5 5.5 4.5 21 5.5 4.5 20.5 4.5 5.5 19.5 4.5 5.5 19 3.5 6.5 16 2 8 14.5
Playoffs The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs.
*Advanced due to draw odds
All Stars Source:
Player (Team) Board 1 Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) Board 2 Conrad Holt (DAL) Board 3 Jay Bonin (PHI) Board 4 William Fisher (PHI) Player (Team) Board 1 Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) Board 2 Levon Altounian (ARZ) Board 3 Tatev Abrahamyan (LA) Board 4 Sam Schmakel (CHC) Player (Team) Board 1 Ben Finegold (STL) Board 2 Jesse Kraai (SF) Board 3 Angelo Young (CHC) Board 4 Roland Feng (SEA)
2012
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 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. This change resulted in a slight re-shuffling of the divisions, with the Carolina Cobras team moving back to the Western Division.
Standings Eastern Division W L Game Points 7.5 2.5 23.5 6.5 3.5 23 5.5 4.5 21 5.5 4.5 19 5 5 19 4.5 5.5 19 4 6 20 3 7 17.5Western Division W L Game Points 7 3 24 6.5 3.5 24.5 5.5 4.5 22 5.5 4.5 19.5 4 6 19 3.5 6.5 16.5 3.5 6.5 15 3 7 17.5
Playoffs The top four teams from each division qualified for the playoffs.
*Advanced due to draw odds
All Stars Source:
Player (Team) Board 1 Sergey Erenburg (PHI) Board 2 Priyadharshan Kannappan (STL) Board 3 Dov Gorman (PHI) Board 4 Shaun Smith (MAN) Player (Team) Board 1 Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) Board 2 Georgi Orlov (SEA) Board 3 Joshua Sinanan (SEA) Board 4 Alex King (MIA) Player (Team) Board 1 Julio Sadorra (DAL) Board 2 Levon Altounian (ARZ) Board 3 Levan Bregadze (STL) Board 4 Alexander Katz (NY)
2013
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.
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.
Standings