Who made the All Star Team for the toughest board this season? It wasn’t easy but read on to see about the three who eclipsed the competition!
We have again determined the All Star Teams for each of the four boards.
The bonus awarded to each All Star Team Member is $300 for each member of the first team the second team $200, and third team $100.
The criteria used to determine these All Stars are a combination (in no particular order) of the below factors (recall also that these decisions do include Playoff Performances unlike the League MVP Award):
1. Win Percentage
2. Total Number of Games (with a four game minimum to be eligible)
3. Performance Rating
4. Rating; if a player is lower rated and does well, this leaves extra rating points for the team to use on the other boards and could be very important to a team’s success.
5. Clutch Factor: Did this player come through in crucial situations?
6. Replaceable Factor; do we think that the player’s team would have greatly suffered if that player wasn’t on the team?
7. Did the candidate take a draw for the team when they were likely to win? Did they lose a game they could have easily drawn because the team situation dictated it?
8. Head to Head results versus other candidates
9. Total Number of Blacks
10. Luck factor; did you win because you generally played well or because your opponent made some colossal blunders/oversights?
11. Postseason; did the player’s team make the playoffs, making the player’s performance more important?
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1st Team: GM Sergey Erenburg (PHI)
This was a very easy decision as GM Erenburg played far more games than any of his close All Star competitors, and scored an impressive +4 against very tough opposition, with his only loss occurring under somewhat unusual circumstances, starting way down on the clock due to technical problems.
Philadelphia had garnered only one postseason appearance in their first six seasons, but have now managed to take two straight regular season division titles, along with making a Championship appearance. And there can be no question how instrumental Erenburg has been toward turning their results completely around as he has definitely made their team so much stronger and consistent with his great play.
Now being one of the most accomplished players in USCL history, one of the few honors he has yet to receive is that of being on the USCL Championship Team. And while he helped bring his team closer than they had ever been this year, not quite making the final goal still must be disappointing. But should he return next year, the Inventors have shown how strong and dangerous a team they are with him at the top, and it will likely then be only a matter of time before they hoist the Championship Trophy.
Record: 8.5 / 13 (65%)
Performance Rating: 2716
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2nd Team: GM Varuzhan Akobian (SEA)
Another fairly easy decision as GM Akobian also had a great record, with many pivotal results along the way in helping Seattle capture their first Championship.
With the Sluggers making it into the postseason as the fourth and final seed in the West, the importance Akobian held for the team’s Championship run is readily apparent as Seattle sported an impressive 5 - 1 record in matches in which he played, with only an even record in matches without him.
After such an impressive overall result, it seems more than likely that the Sluggers will recruit him again for the 2013 campaign and beyond, and if this year is an indication of anything, it’s of how dangerous and strong a team Seattle really is when their top gun plays.
Record: 4.5 / 6 (75%)
Performance Rating: 2748
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3rd Team: GM Julio Sadorra (DAL)
This was a tougher choice as GM Sadorra, while having a very impressive record, had one of his wins occur under very strange circumstances (a forfeit), making it difficult to properly assess his All Star credentials.
We did not feel he should be placed above either of the two above due largely to their deeper postseason runs which magnified their performances. But however one were to count his forfeit win, he still had a very strong record, including a huge playoff win (which turned out to be for naught for his team unfortunately) over the super strong All Star GM Akobian.
As a now two-time All Star, it’s clear how dangerous the Dallas team really is, sporting both him and last year top All Star, GM Holt, both being a big reason why the Destiny managed to capture the regular season division title.
Although, just like last year, his team did not manage to make it out of the Quaterfinals despite a big win by him, like many teams, if his squad can continue to get such strong performances from him, eventually the stars will align to make them Champions once again.
Record: 4.5 / 5 (90%)
Performance Rating: 2869
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Other Candidates:
Two who were close to cracking the top three were GM Tamaz Gelashvili (NY) (4.5 / 7, 2666 Performance) and GM Robert Hess (CON) (5.0 / 8, 2697 Performance). Both were very solid, scoring +2, with Gelashvili having numerous GOTW nominations, and Hess facing a very strong set of opponents. While both were close and likely would have made it with a half point more, we felt, as is, the others, mostly due to playoff performances, were slightly stronger candidates. Another player who scored a solid +2 and who might have received consideration with more games or some postseason play was GM Giorgi Margvelashvili (BAL) (3.5 / 5, 2747 Performance).
Stay tuned as we will announce the All Stars for the other boards in the upcoming days!