This is the ninth part in a series of articles which will count down to revealing what game was voted as the 2010 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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12th Place: GM Josh Friedel (SF) vs GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) 1-0
With 50. Rh3!, and White's two Pawns trumping Black's Rook, GM Friedel nicely won the wild game in a well played ending.
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.
GM Robert Hess (3rd Place, 18 points): This game was really exciting, despite coming from a French Tarrasch (yawn). Josh mounted a huge spatial attack, while Akobian tried to counterattack on the Queenside. Josh missed a nice shot with 17. Nxh7! netting a Pawn. However, both sides continued to play best moves, with Var even making a cute King run to the Queenside. Just when it seemed like the dust had settled, and Josh was on his way to a win in typical "nice Knight against light squared Bishop" fashion, Var missed his chance to hold a draw with a fantastic save, faltering with 41... Rf8 (41... Qb2+ seems to hold: 41... Qb2+ 42. Qe2 Qxc3 43. Nxh8 Qg3+ 44. Kf1 c3! – followed by Bb5 and perpetual check). Considering the last thirty or so moves were made in severe time pressure, the end of the game is actually quite impressive. 50. Rh3 is a cute touch, and after that it's over. Nicely done by Josh.
FM Ron Young (6th Place, 15 points): All right, this is kind of "meat and potatoes" too but it's Kobe beef and La Bonnotte potatoes. The Pawn storm that exposed White's own King was neat and 53. Rxd2 was a nice touch to finish.
GM Jan Gustafsson (12th Place, 9 points): Another goofy French. I never liked Black's position at any point, the fact that I have trouble pointing out Akobian's mistake might mean that Friedel played a great game, or that this particular line just is not overly advisable for Black. Probably Qb2+ a move earlier to force the K to g1 was a better bet. Solid technique in the Rook ending, but it looked like White was always well ahead.
FM Ingvar Johannesson (18th Place, 3 points): This was a very nice fighting game between two very strong players. For long stretches I had no idea what was going on. First I thought White was controlling the board, then I thought Black was doing ok and then again I thought White has this in the bag. In the end White came out on top and the simplification via the d3 square was perhaps the only truly aesthetic thing about this game, lifting it slightly from the bottom.
WIM Alisa Melekhina (20th Place, 1 point): The game was uncertain for the longest time, with the possibility of it going either way. Throughout the game, Friedel ignored Black's burgeoning plans for the Queenside and endured with his own plan, which eventually concluded with a Pawn gain. The game was a bit lackluster compared to the others, but that is not to detract from a concerted victory by Friedel.
Total Score of Friedel vs Akobian: (12th Place, 46 Points)
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Stay tuned for eleven more such articles as the field shrinks by one game almost every day to see which of the following games will be the 2010 Game of the Year!
Week 1: GM Yury Shulman (STL) vs GM Melikset Khachiyan (LA) 1-0 Article
Week 2: GM Yury Shulman (STL) vs IM Florin Felecan (CHC) 0-1 Article
Week 3: IM Daniel Rensch (ARZ) vs WFM Tatev Abrahamyan (LA) 1-0 Article
Week 6: GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) vs GM Jesse Kraai (SF) 1-0 Article
Week 8: IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) vs GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) 0-1 Article
Week 10: SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 1-0 Article
Championship: IM Sam Shankland (NE) vs GM Julio Becerra (MIA) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #1: NM Eric Rosen (CHC) vs Alex Guo (SEA) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #2: GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) vs GM Yury Shulman (STL) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #3: GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) vs IM Sam Shankland (NE) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #4: GM Alex Stripunsky (MAN) vs GM Sergey Erenburg (BAL) 0-1 Article
Eliminated:
12th Place (46 Points): GM Josh Friedel (SF) vs GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
13th Place (42 Points): IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
14th Place (41 Points): IM Robert Hungaski (NE) vs IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
15th Place (40 Points): NM Ilya Krasik (BOS) vs NM Adithya Balasubramanian (BAL) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
16th Place (40 Points): Nicholas Rosenthal (MIA) vs NM Nick Thompson (ARZ) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
17th Place (35 Points): GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) vs GM Josh Friedel (SF) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
18th Place (31 Points): GM Dmitry Gurevich (CHC) vs IM Rogelio Barcenilla (ARZ) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
19th Place (27 Points): FM Charles Galofre (MIA) vs FM Marcel Milat (SEA) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
20th Place (23 Points): SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) vs IM Sasha Kaplan (BAL) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
This is the eighth part in a series of articles which will count down to revealing what game was voted as the 2010 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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13th Place: IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 1-0
IM Schroer struck with the nice shot 15. Bxe6! With the tactics working out in White's favor, this soon ballooned into a comfortable two Pawn edge that Schroer converted quickly.
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.
WIM Alisa Melekhina (4th Place, 17 points): Perhaps every player's worst nightmare is to make a careless mistake in the opening that results in a quick and merciless finish. Such was the case in this impressive miniature-like game with Schroer's fierce tactical melee beginning with 14. Ne4 and ending in a decisive two Pawn advantage that Kacheishvili was never given the chance to recuperate from.
GM Jan Gustafsson (4th Place, 17 points): Good stuff! That 11... Rd8, 12... Bf8 plan seems a bit slow, to put it mildly. 11... Bd7 intending Nc6 looks normalish. 13... Nd7 already looks like the decisive mistake, the punishment 14. Ne4! and 15. Bxe6+! ain't obvious though. Schroer finishes efficiently, never allowing a comeback.
FM Ingvar Johannesson (16th Place, 5 points): A nice win for Schroer and a slight upset. The moves Bxe6 and Nd6 on move 15 and 16 make a great aesthetic impression. After that the game was simply over and was taken smoothly to home base by Schroer. An off day for Kacheishvili but still well done by Schroer. I lowered the ranking of this game when I saw that in Vasilevich-Matveeva that 15. Bxe6 was still played and worked after 14... Qe7 instead of 14... Qh4 chosen by Giorgi. Therefore this is just a bad variation and slightly kills the creative effort!
FM Ron Young (19th Place, 2 points): As I sit at the bar in my local place during its Christmas party, looking over this game once more as I type up these notes, the radio is playing "we need a little Christmas right this very minute". This seems a good example of what the psychologist Carl Jung (no relation) called "synchronicity".
GM Robert Hess (20th Place, 1 point): Nobody can argue that Schroer had better preparation for this game than Kacheishvili. However, this game was too simplistic. White achieved a nice advantage, and Black made a huge blunder with 13... Nd7. The rest was easy.
Total Score of Schroer vs Kacheishvili: (13th Place, 42 Points)
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Stay tuned for twelve more such articles as the field shrinks by one game almost every day to see which of the following games will be the 2010 Game of the Year!
Week 1: GM Yury Shulman (STL) vs GM Melikset Khachiyan (LA) 1-0 Article
Week 2: GM Yury Shulman (STL) vs IM Florin Felecan (CHC) 0-1 Article
Week 3: IM Daniel Rensch (ARZ) vs WFM Tatev Abrahamyan (LA) 1-0 Article
Week 4: GM Josh Friedel (SF) vs GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) 1-0 Article
Week 6: GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) vs GM Jesse Kraai (SF) 1-0 Article
Week 8: IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) vs GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) 0-1 Article
Week 10: SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 1-0 Article
Championship: IM Sam Shankland (NE) vs GM Julio Becerra (MIA) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #1: NM Eric Rosen (CHC) vs Alex Guo (SEA) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #2: GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) vs GM Yury Shulman (STL) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #3: GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) vs IM Sam Shankland (NE) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #4: GM Alex Stripunsky (MAN) vs GM Sergey Erenburg (BAL) 0-1 Article
Eliminated:
13th Place (42 Points): IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
14th Place (41 Points): IM Robert Hungaski (NE) vs IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
15th Place (40 Points): NM Ilya Krasik (BOS) vs NM Adithya Balasubramanian (BAL) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
16th Place (40 Points): Nicholas Rosenthal (MIA) vs NM Nick Thompson (ARZ) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
17th Place (35 Points): GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) vs GM Josh Friedel (SF) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
18th Place (31 Points): GM Dmitry Gurevich (CHC) vs IM Rogelio Barcenilla (ARZ) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
19th Place (27 Points): FM Charles Galofre (MIA) vs FM Marcel Milat (SEA) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
20th Place (23 Points): SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) vs IM Sasha Kaplan (BAL) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
This is the seventh part in a series of articles which will count down to revealing what game was voted as the 2010 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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14th Place: IM Robert Hungaski (NE) vs IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) 1-0
A long string of captures began with 13. Nxd5!?, but eventually IM Hungaski got the best of the complications scoring an interesting victory.
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 Ingvar Johannesson (7th Place, 14 points): A really enjoyable game. Very exciting sequence of captures and discovered attacks and maddening chaos. Surprisingly it seems White is more or less was doing well after ... Ne4 and had the game under great control. Also White must get credit for moves like f3 and putting the King on h4 towards the end of the game. Great tactical effort by White and looks almost mistake free by Hungaski!
FM Ron Young (9th Place, 12 points): Peter Brady with his "Three Desperadoes" had nothing on this game. I can even see why the guy hung up on him. I checked my chess encyclopedia and found that though there is an "Immortal Zugzwang Game" there was as of publishing no "Immortal Desperado Game" so until demonstrated otherwise, I consider this to be it.
GM Jan Gustafsson (14th Place, 7 points): I always enjoy sequences like the one started with 13. Nxd5, where both sides take something on every half-move. Should have lead to rough equality here, after 19… Re8 Black has enough compensation for the Pawn he lost in the Pacman action. 19... Qf5? and 20.. Rc8 wasn't the way though, and after 21. f3 it's all over.
WIM Alisa Melekhina (15th Place, 6 points): The calculation-ridden sequence beginning with 13. Nxd5 saw the White Knight take a unique trajectory from d5-c7-e8-g7! Schroer ended up slightly worse after the situation calmed down and seemed to have lost his nerve a bit by playing the precarious 21... Nxd4. Hungaski persevered through the slightly inaccurate but understandable 25. Kg1 instead of Kg3, and still managed to overpower Black with strong play by two minor pieces vs. Black's Rook.
GM Robert Hess (19th Place, 2 points): Schroer won the opening battle in this QGD Ragozin Defence. Black looked to be holding his own if he just played 12... Ne7 or something like that. Instead, Hungaski took immediate control of the calculations and converted with subpar follow-up by Schroer.
Total Score of Hungaski vs Schroer: (14th Place, 41 Points)
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Stay tuned for thirteen more such articles as the field shrinks by one game almost every day to see which of the following games will be the 2010 Game of the Year!
Week 1: GM Yury Shulman (STL) vs GM Melikset Khachiyan (LA) 1-0 Article
Week 2: GM Yury Shulman (STL) vs IM Florin Felecan (CHC) 0-1 Article
Week 3: IM Daniel Rensch (ARZ) vs WFM Tatev Abrahamyan (LA) 1-0 Article
Week 4: GM Josh Friedel (SF) vs GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) 1-0 Article
Week 6: GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) vs GM Jesse Kraai (SF) 1-0 Article
Week 7: IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 1-0 Article
Week 8: IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) vs GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) 0-1 Article
Week 10: SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 1-0 Article
Championship: IM Sam Shankland (NE) vs GM Julio Becerra (MIA) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #1: NM Eric Rosen (CHC) vs Alex Guo (SEA) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #2: GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) vs GM Yury Shulman (STL) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #3: GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) vs IM Sam Shankland (NE) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #4: GM Alex Stripunsky (MAN) vs GM Sergey Erenburg (BAL) 0-1 Article
Eliminated:
14th Place (41 Points): IM Robert Hungaski (NE) vs IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
15th Place (40 Points): NM Ilya Krasik (BOS) vs NM Adithya Balasubramanian (BAL) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
16th Place (40 Points): Nicholas Rosenthal (MIA) vs NM Nick Thompson (ARZ) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
17th Place (35 Points): GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) vs GM Josh Friedel (SF) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
18th Place (31 Points): GM Dmitry Gurevich (CHC) vs IM Rogelio Barcenilla (ARZ) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
19th Place (27 Points): FM Charles Galofre (MIA) vs FM Marcel Milat (SEA) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
20th Place (23 Points): SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) vs IM Sasha Kaplan (BAL) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
This is the sixth part in a series of articles which will count down to revealing what game was voted as the 2010 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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15th Place: NM Ilya Krasik (BOS) vs NM Adithya Balasubramanian (BAL) 1-0
The unusual looking, but well calculated 14. Bf2! resulted in a fairly long term piece sacrifice which once regained, eventually proved decisive for NM Krasik.
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.
GM Robert Hess (7th Place, 14 points): I wanted to rank this game a bit higher, but I felt that I couldn't. Black played so strangely, but Krasik avoided all threats and came out on top. Krasik played against this random Pirc setup like a true e4 player, despite starting the game with 1. d4. I thought Black could have attempted 10... Ng4, where the complications probably need to be sorted out with an engine. Krasik may be renowned for his controversial commentary, but after this game he should gain plenty of respect for his over the board accomplishments. Really a well played game by White, but Black made too many errors for it to go higher.
WIM Alisa Melekhina (11th Place, 10 points): White was quickly placed into an uncomfortable Pirc with menacing open files on his King that he could not have been too pleased about defending, given the first move was 1. d4. However Krasik resourcefully passed through the opening unscathed, and converted his extra Pawn advantage into an eventual victorious passer while cleverly defending h2 from any of Black's only chances for counterplay. An interesting and dynamic game between probably the most evenly-matched opponents on the list.
FM Ingvar Johannesson (13th Place, 8 points): I found this game really interesting. Opening was interesting although my feeling is it must be slightly dubious for Black. But what really catches the eye is the fact that White is down a piece for nine moves before regaining it! So obviously White had to find some nice tactical moves in that sequence before cashing in on the easy endgame win with three connected passers. On the other hand Black's play drags the game down a little bit, especially it struck me that Rxh2+ was never played which must have been possible at some point. Also, I suggest 1... e6 against 1. e4 :)
GM Jan Gustafsson (17th Place, 4 points): I read the winner's notes on this game, heavily thanking Erenburg for his notes on the line in question. I'll reveal the secret on how to produce such analysis here, you don't need to be an Erenburg: Start engine of your choice, press space bar every 60 sec. If it says it's good for White like here from the get-go, it tends to be right ... Anyway, good game!
FM Ron Young (17th Place, 4 points): Interesting play in the opening and early middlegame, but, as Krasik himself told me, all theory up to the point that Black made a significant mistake after which White, as Krasik just whispered in my ear, had a big edge in the Pawn race. With White's h2 pawn surviving, it was even like a sprinter racing against a hurdler.
Total Score of Krasik vs Balasubramanian: (15th Place, 40 Points)
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Stay tuned for fourteen more such articles as the field shrinks by one game almost every day to see which of the following games will be the 2010 Game of the Year!
Week 1: GM Yury Shulman (STL) vs GM Melikset Khachiyan (LA) 1-0 Article
Week 2: GM Yury Shulman (STL) vs IM Florin Felecan (CHC) 0-1 Article
Week 3: IM Daniel Rensch (ARZ) vs WFM Tatev Abrahamyan (LA) 1-0 Article
Week 4: GM Josh Friedel (SF) vs GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) 1-0 Article
Week 6: GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) vs GM Jesse Kraai (SF) 1-0 Article
Week 7: IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 1-0 Article
Week 8: IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) vs GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) 0-1 Article
Week 10: SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 1-0 Article
Championship: IM Sam Shankland (NE) vs GM Julio Becerra (MIA) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #1: NM Eric Rosen (CHC) vs Alex Guo (SEA) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #2: GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) vs GM Yury Shulman (STL) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #3: GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) vs IM Sam Shankland (NE) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #4: GM Alex Stripunsky (MAN) vs GM Sergey Erenburg (BAL) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #7: IM Robert Hungaski (NE) vs IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) 1-0 Article
Eliminated:
15th Place (40 Points): NM Ilya Krasik (BOS) vs NM Adithya Balasubramanian (BAL) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
16th Place (40 Points): Nicholas Rosenthal (MIA) vs NM Nick Thompson (ARZ) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
17th Place (35 Points): GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) vs GM Josh Friedel (SF) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
18th Place (31 Points): GM Dmitry Gurevich (CHC) vs IM Rogelio Barcenilla (ARZ) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
19th Place (27 Points): FM Charles Galofre (MIA) vs FM Marcel Milat (SEA) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
20th Place (23 Points): SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) vs IM Sasha Kaplan (BAL) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
This is the fifth part in a series of articles which will count down to revealing what game was voted as the 2010 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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16th Place: Nicholas Rosenthal (MIA) vs NM Nick Thompson (ARZ) 1-0
With 24. Qd1!, Rosenthal nicely eyed the weakness on h5 and took advantage of it in short order.
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.
WIM Alisa Melekhina (9th Place, 12 points): While GM vs. GM games may be instructive and can exemplify precise technique, oftentimes the intense and overpowering brawl that renders a game dynamic and enthralling is lacking. However, games between strong players that are not quite at the GM level often produce such a vibrant battle, and this game did not disappoint. Rosenthal opened with the alternative King's Indian Attack and immaculately played in keeping with the main ideas of defending the e5 pawn and exploiting Black’s weaknesses, while using Fischer's 14. a3 idea to neutralize Black's counterplay. Taking advantage of Thompson's hesitation to play h5, Rosenthal broke through with 17. Ng4 and concluded the game with a violent mating net, reminding us of what drew us to chess in the first place. It's always refreshing to see an anti-Sicilian fare so well and end with an upset.
GM Robert Hess (10th Place, 11 points): I have to admit it: Nick Rosenthal played a sexy game. As an offbeat Sicilian player myself, I was happy not seeing forced variation after forced variation. I guess Thompson regretted bringing his Bishop to g7 instead of e7, but the mistake isn't so obvious until reviewing the game. It looks like it pressures e5, but that square was always protected by half the pieces on the board. The Nb1-d2-f1-g4-h6 maneuver was typical, but I think Thompson missed 22... f6. Not positive this actually works, but OK, kind of scary to play regardless. Another game played shockingly well by the Board Fours in this League.
FM Ingvar Johannesson (14th Place, 7 points): Seemed like a fairly normal KIA going right. Black didn't get enough counterplay and simply had too many pieces on the Queenside and was unable to defend against the mass of White pieces mounting against the Kingside. Black made it a little too easy, but White found some nice attacking moves, for instance 24. Qd1 and also the end sequence was nice even though more or less anything won. Nice looking game, and I think the average chess player will prefer such a game vs a technical game between stronger players.
FM Ron Young (16th Place, 5 points): White made it look easy, but so did Black. Still, a good advertisement for the KIA. I nominate it for a Clio.
GM Jan Gustafsson (16th Place, 5 points): The beautiful King's Indian Attack plan at its purest. O-O, Re1, Bf4, Nbd2, Nf1, N1h2, Ng4, then mate somehow. Works perfectly here, Black doesn’t find counter measures, probably 20... Nd4 was no good, Qa5 looks more resilient. Nice finish and all that.
Total Score of Rosenthal vs Thompson: (16th Place, 40 Points)
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Stay tuned for fifteen more such articles as the field shrinks by one game almost every day to see which of the following games will be the 2010 Game of the Year!
Week 1: GM Yury Shulman (STL) vs GM Melikset Khachiyan (LA) 1-0 Article
Week 2: GM Yury Shulman (STL) vs IM Florin Felecan (CHC) 0-1 Article
Week 3: IM Daniel Rensch (ARZ) vs WFM Tatev Abrahamyan (LA) 1-0 Article
Week 4: GM Josh Friedel (SF) vs GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) 1-0 Article
Week 6: GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) vs GM Jesse Kraai (SF) 1-0 Article
Week 7: IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 1-0 Article
Week 8: IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) vs GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) 0-1 Article
Week 10: SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 1-0 Article
Quarterfinals: NM Ilya Krasik (BOS) vs NM Adithya Balasubramanian (BAL) 1-0 Article
Championship: IM Sam Shankland (NE) vs GM Julio Becerra (MIA) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #1: NM Eric Rosen (CHC) vs Alex Guo (SEA) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #2: GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) vs GM Yury Shulman (STL) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #3: GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) vs IM Sam Shankland (NE) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #4: GM Alex Stripunsky (MAN) vs GM Sergey Erenburg (BAL) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #7: IM Robert Hungaski (NE) vs IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) 1-0 Article
Eliminated:
16th Place (40 Points): Nicholas Rosenthal (MIA) vs NM Nick Thompson (ARZ) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
17th Place (35 Points): GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) vs GM Josh Friedel (SF) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
18th Place (31 Points): GM Dmitry Gurevich (CHC) vs IM Rogelio Barcenilla (ARZ) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
19th Place (27 Points): FM Charles Galofre (MIA) vs FM Marcel Milat (SEA) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
20th Place (23 Points): SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) vs IM Sasha Kaplan (BAL) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
This is the fourth part in a series of articles which will count down to revealing what game was voted as the 2010 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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17th Place: GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) vs GM Josh Friedel (SF) 1-0
GM Akobian found the nice shot, 25. e4!, temporarily sacrificing a Pawn to reactivate his Knight, after which Black's numerous weaknesses proved fatal.
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.
GM Jan Gustafsson (10th Place, 11 points): Good move, that 25. e4! That's all I got.
GM Robert Hess (13th Place, 8 points): Var got revenge for his earlier loss to Friedel, this time winning in convincing style. Josh played originally and somewhat wildly, moving his g-pawn all the way up to g4. 24… Qf5 was the huge mistake, as Var continued with a move that gets him an advantage, finding the very powerful 25. e4! If not for this mistake, Black had rather level chances, but credit Var for finding a brilliant move to break open the position.
FM Ron Young (14th Place, 7 points): I try not to be led too much by other comments, but lest I be thought a philistine, let me join in the chorus of praise for 25. e4. Nice move. Sometimes I like to play it even earlier. Anyway, nice game but it was too much of the "meat and potatoes" variety (as described above or maybe below) to shine too brightly amid this collection of gems.
FM Ingvar Johannesson (15th Place, 6 points): This seemed like a really well played game by White. In the opening he defended well against Black's early aggressive play and in a fighting game he found some nice resources like the 25. e4 move. Despite being a Pawn down, White stood much better, and Black had no way to defend with his numerous Pawn weaknesses caused by his early aggression. A nice game but one probably more appreciated by higher level of players.
WIM Alisa Melekhina (18th Place, 3 points): Akobian easily defused Friedel's risky try with h6 and g5, and managed to reactivate the Knight relegated to h2 with no harm suffered. Eventually Black's ambitious Pawn pushes created too many weaknesses that White was able to exploit. After the first Pawn fell, Akobian easily converted his advantage to a winning Rook ending. Friedel's adventurous play was not rewarded in this game, and Akobian punished him accordingly for the defeat he suffered in their previous encounter.
Total Score of Akobian vs Friedel: (17th Place, 35 Points)
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Stay tuned for sixteen more such articles as the field shrinks by one game almost every day to see which of the following games will be the 2010 Game of the Year!
Week 1: GM Yury Shulman (STL) vs GM Melikset Khachiyan (LA) 1-0 Article
Week 2: GM Yury Shulman (STL) vs IM Florin Felecan (CHC) 0-1 Article
Week 3: IM Daniel Rensch (ARZ) vs WFM Tatev Abrahamyan (LA) 1-0 Article
Week 4: GM Josh Friedel (SF) vs GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) 1-0 Article
Week 6: GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) vs GM Jesse Kraai (SF) 1-0 Article
Week 7: IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 1-0 Article
Week 8: IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) vs GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) 0-1 Article
Week 10: SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 1-0 Article
Quarterfinals: NM Ilya Krasik (BOS) vs NM Adithya Balasubramanian (BAL) 1-0 Article
Semifinals: Nicholas Rosenthal (MIA) vs NM Nick Thompson (ARZ) 1-0 Article
Championship: IM Sam Shankland (NE) vs GM Julio Becerra (MIA) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #1: NM Eric Rosen (CHC) vs Alex Guo (SEA) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #2: GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) vs GM Yury Shulman (STL) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #3: GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) vs IM Sam Shankland (NE) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #4: GM Alex Stripunsky (MAN) vs GM Sergey Erenburg (BAL) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #7: IM Robert Hungaski (NE) vs IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) 1-0 Article
Eliminated:
17th Place (35 Points): GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) vs GM Josh Friedel (SF) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
18th Place (31 Points): GM Dmitry Gurevich (CHC) vs IM Rogelio Barcenilla (ARZ) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
19th Place (27 Points): FM Charles Galofre (MIA) vs FM Marcel Milat (SEA) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
20th Place (23 Points): SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) vs IM Sasha Kaplan (BAL) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
This is the third part in a series of articles which will count down to revealing what game was voted as the 2010 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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18th Place: GM Dmitry Gurevich (CHC) vs IM Rogelio Barcenilla (ARZ) 1-0
GM Gurevich finished the tense struggle with 36. Rxh7+!, forcing the Black King into mate.
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 (11th Place, 10 points): When Jimmy Carter re-instituted mandatory registration for the draft for all men aged between 18 and 26 years, the old controversy about drafting women resurfaced. Bill Murray argued on Saturday Night Live that not only should women be eligible for the draft, but we (the USA) should draft women exclusively. That way, should it come to a war with Russia, either we would win it, which would be alright, or we would lose, but the Russians would look like jerks. That's how I feel about playing the King's Indian Defense. So Barcenilla lost the game, but he made the Russians look like jerks. As Bill Murray asked rhetorically, isn't that what it's all about?
GM Robert Hess (11th Place, 10 points): Both Gurevich and Barcenilla played a fantastic game. The decisive mistake was on move 30 (30... c5 was pretty terrible, much better was 30... Qf7 with a fantastic struggle still ahead) with clocks ticking low and players getting tired. As you can tell by the ratings in the parentheses here, Dmitry is greatly underrated. His positional prowess is admirable, and he showed that he's even willing to open his King up a bit as his g-pawn got removed from the game. It's funny that taking on e6 before playing ... Bf6 also looks to be a good plan, as then Black no longer has to fear ideas with Nf8+ forking on d7 (for example, this looks like a funny line: 26... Bxe6 27. Nxe6 Bf6 28. Rh3 Rxg2+ 29. Kh1 R2g4 looks winning; but if 29... R2g4 as happened in the game variation, then White has 30. Rxh7+ Kxh7 31. Qxg4 Rxg4 32. Nf8+ winning back the Queen). Although various moves could be considered suboptimal, the level of the game was high. Well played by both sides.
WIM Alisa Melekhina (14th Place, 7 points): The initial sequence of moves in the King's Indian seems to have been reduced to a platitude in top-level chess, with the Classical Main Line rarely followed through by either side, losing it's popularity to the current, trendy Slav. Since the KID is usually witnessed in games quickly culminating with one side overwhelmingly capitalizing on an unwitting mistake by the opponent, it's uplifting to see new theory that leads to an equal struggle for both sides. It seems as if Black was successful in breaking through to White's King, but he underestimated the safety of his own King with the devastating 30... c5. This game had tremendous potential but ended too quickly due to an oversight by Black.
FM Ingvar Johannesson (19th Place, 2 points): This seems like a typical King's Indian struggle. Play is very complicated for long stretches in the middlegame and almost impossible to judge who is going to grab the game. What slightly kills it for me is that it seems 30... c5 is close to being the decisive mistake instead of for instance 30... Qf7 with a still very complicated struggle. Black follows with another bad move, and White finishes up pretty easily. So perhaps more a case of Black losing his footing in a complicated position than White outplaying him. I'll note that strong play usually helps the other player to lose his footing :).
GM Jan Gustafsson (19th Place, 2 points): An interesting King's Indian battle, where Black seemed to be doing more than alright, but then inexplicably blunders the game away with 30... c5? I don’t get what he missed, after 31. dxc6 White is just winning thanks to the passer and the now activated pieces. Meh, dunno.
Total Score of Gurevich vs Barcenilla: (18th Place, 31 Points)
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Stay tuned for sixteen more such articles as the field shrinks by one game almost every day to see which of the following games will be the 2010 Game of the Year!
Week 1: GM Yury Shulman (STL) vs GM Melikset Khachiyan (LA) 1-0 Article
Week 2: GM Yury Shulman (STL) vs IM Florin Felecan (CHC) 0-1 Article
Week 3: IM Daniel Rensch (ARZ) vs WFM Tatev Abrahamyan (LA) 1-0 Article
Week 4: GM Josh Friedel (SF) vs GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) 1-0 Article
Week 6: GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) vs GM Jesse Kraai (SF) 1-0 Article
Week 7: IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 1-0 Article
Week 8: IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) vs GM Larry Christiansen (BOS) 0-1 Article
Week 9: GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) vs GM Josh Friedel (SF) 1-0 Article
Week 10: SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) vs GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) 1-0 Article
Quarterfinals: NM Ilya Krasik (BOS) vs NM Adithya Balasubramanian (BAL) 1-0 Article
Semifinals: Nicholas Rosenthal (MIA) vs NM Nick Thompson (ARZ) 1-0 Article
Championship: IM Sam Shankland (NE) vs GM Julio Becerra (MIA) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #1: NM Eric Rosen (CHC) vs Alex Guo (SEA) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #2: GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA) vs GM Yury Shulman (STL) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #3: GM Giorgi Kacheishvili (NY) vs IM Sam Shankland (NE) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #4: GM Alex Stripunsky (MAN) vs GM Sergey Erenburg (BAL) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #7: IM Robert Hungaski (NE) vs IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) 1-0 Article
Eliminated:
18th Place (31 Points): GM Dmitry Gurevich (CHC) vs IM Rogelio Barcenilla (ARZ) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
19th Place (27 Points): FM Charles Galofre (MIA) vs FM Marcel Milat (SEA) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
20th Place (23 Points): SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) vs IM Sasha Kaplan (BAL) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
