In an exciting nail-biter, IM Orlov’s big win over GM Holt helped Seattle topple the top seed Dallas, one of many big roadblocks the Sluggers overcame on the way to their first Championship.
Wildcard #5: IM Georgi Orlov (SEA) vs GM Conrad Holt (DAL) 1-0
Greg Shahade: I chose this game because of its massive importance for the Sluggers. If Orlov doesn’t win this game, which was very complex and up in the air for most of the game, they would have gone out in the Quarterfinals. Instead this win was parlayed into the League Championship for the Sluggers. One would have a hard time finding a game that had this big of an impact on the 2012 season, especially one involving a win over someone as strong as GM Holt.