Game of the Year -- 19th Place

This is the second part in a series of articles which will count down to revealing what game was voted as the 2009 USCL Game of the Year. For more information on exactly how this process works and the prize information, please refer to: Game of the Year Contest.


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19th Place: SM Marc Esserman (BOS) vs FM Tom Bartell (PHI) 1-0






















SM Esserman topped off his nice tactical display with one more clever shot, 26. Qxf8+!, forcing FM Bartell's instant resignation.



Below are the comments from the judges on why they ranked the game where they did and in parentheses is the ranking given by that judge and the number of points awarded for that ranking.



FM Ron Young (6th Place, 15 points): The S+M thing is more than an opening; it's a lifestyle. It isn't for everyone (including me), but I do like to watch. The New York Times liked it too.



GM Gregory Kaidanov (15th Place, 6 points): Poor play by Black. White's tactics are very nice but less impressive because of that.



GM Alex Yermolinsky (17th Place, 4 points): Yermolinsky only provides commentary for his top ten games.



GM Robert Hess (18th Place, 3 points): Two words: Smith Morra. Although I feel as if White does not get sufficient compensation most of the time with accurate play by Black, this game proved to be an example of why it's tough to defend against quick development.



WFM Tatev Abrahamyan (19th Place, 2 points): I am extremely puzzled by Black's choice to sacrifice his Queen. I am not sure what the match situation was at that point, but my guess is Black completely overlooked 22. g4!. Pretty and very accurate play during the critical moments of the game but completely unnecessary for Black to go for such complications.



Total Score of Esserman vs Bartell: (19th Place, 30 Points)


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Stay tuned for seventeen more such articles as the field shrinks by one game every day to see which of the following games will be the 2009 Game of the Year!


Week 1: IM Dean Ippolito (NJ) vs GM Pascal Charbonneau (NY) 1-0 Article

Week 3: GM Boris Gulko (NJ) vs FM Oleg Zaikov (CAR) 1-0 Article

Week 5: GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) vs GM Josh Friedel (SF) 1-0 Article

Week 6: GM Alejandro Ramirez (ARZ) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 1-0 Article

Week 7: IM Daniel Fernandez (DAL) vs FM Oleg Zaikov (CAR) 0-1 Article

Week 8: IM John Bartholomew (DAL) vs GM Julio Becerra (MIA) 1-0 Article

Week 9: IM John Bartholomew (DAL) vs IM Jan van de Mortel (CHC) 0-1 Article

Week 10: GM Gregory Serper (SEA) vs IM Jan van de Mortel (CHC) 1-0 Article

Quarterfinals: GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) vs GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) 1-0 Article

Semifinals: GM Pascal Charbonneau (NY) vs IM Dean Ippolito (NJ) 1/2-1/2 Article

Championship: GM Julio Becerra (MIA) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 0-1 Article

Wildcard #1: FM Victor Shen (NJ) vs IM Marc Esserman (BOS) 1-0 Article

Wildcard #2: FM Andrei Zaremba (QNS) vs SM Marc Esserman (BOS) 1-0 Article

Wildcard #3: IM Jan van de Mortel (CHC) vs GM Jaan Ehlvest (TEN) 1-0 Article

Wildcard #4: NM Matt Herman (NY) vs FM Daniel Naroditsky (SF) 1-0 Article

Wildcard #5: SM Marc Esserman (BOS) vs FM Ron Simpson (CAR) 1-0 Article

Wildcard #6: GM Jaan Ehlvest (TEN) vs GM Alejandro Ramirez (ARZ) 1-0 Article

Wildcard #7: GM Julio Becerra (MIA) vs GM Josh Friedel (SF) 1-0 Article



Eliminated:


19th Place (30 Points): SM Marc Esserman (BOS) vs FM Tom Bartell (PHI) 1-0 Article Elimination Article


20th Place (24 Points): GM Josh Friedel (SF) vs IM Marko Zivanic (DAL) 1-0 Article Elimination Article