In his first USCL game, GM Romanenko scored a nice victory netting him GOTW and a solid finish in GOTY.
This is the eighth part in a series of articles which will count down to revealing what game was voted as the 2012 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: GM Vladimir Romanenko (MAN) vs GM Tamaz Gelashvili (NY) 1-0
With the strong 20. Ne2!, despite the apparent trapping of his own Bishop, GM Romanenko cleverly repositioned his Knight, taking advantage of Black’s risky overextension
GM Alex Yermolinsky (8th Place, 13 Points): A big first week upset. The experienced Gelashvili took the game into the less charted waters of the Modern Defense, but it didn’t faze the young Romanenko. He calmly completed his development and was ready to meet Black’s impulsive 15… f5 with a classic strike in the center. Gelashvili had some safer options, but he chose the most challenging one. As it often happens, the outcome of a positional battle hinged on one particular tactical nuance that was impossible to foresee. When Romanenko found 23. Qe1 and followed it by the energetic 24. f4, Black had to concede defeat of his risky strategy. The position after 27. e5 was certainly not what Gelashvili hoped for when he started this whole thing.
GM Alejandro Ramirez (9th Place, 12 Points): This game was more ‘cute’ than anything. A series of pretty moves that seemingly lose material lead White into a better position that he converts nicely. A good game but with no flash.
IM David Pruess (9th Place, 12 Points): A really unusual game, and the method Romanenko uses to turn it to his advantage is quite surprising and cool. No exceptional calculations or wild sacrifices though.
FM Ron Young (11th Place, 10 Points): The “freeing” … d5 leads to less freedom for Black in the end. It’s the wrong lesson. White did make it look easy, but that’s the wrong lesson too.
FM Alisa Melekhina (14th Place, 7 Points): After both sides shuffled around for control, White came out on top and smothered Black. It is difficult to pinpoint where Black went wrong – White played dynamically by provoking Black to create weaknesses in his own position. This strategy is a clever way to cajole a GM into self-destructing, but is a bit too pedantic for the USCL and for my liking.
Overall, it was a tense struggle with no exchanges until move 17 that made the game seem uncomfortably pressurized throughout.
GM-elect Robert Hungaski (16th Place, 5 Points): It seems Black started to lose control after 20… c4, after which Black’s chronic weaknesses simply allowed White to play the waiting game whereby simple moves allowed him to improve his position and harvest the point.
Total Score of Romanenko vs Gelashvili: (13th Place, 59 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 2012 Game of the Year!
Week 3: SM Robert Perez (MIA) vs GM Julio Sadorra (DAL) 0-1 Article
Week 5: GM Vladimir Romanenko (MAN) vs GM Alex Stripunsky (NJ) 0-1 Article
Week 6: FM Eric Rodriguez (MIA) vs IM Justin Sarkar (CON) 1/2-1/2 Article
Week 8: GM Tamaz Gelashvili (NY) vs GM Sam Shankland (NE) 1-0 Article
Week 9: GM Tamaz Gelashvili (NY) vs SM William Fisher (PHI) 1/2-1/2 Article
Week 10: FM Kazim Gulamali (BOS) vs GM Larry Kaufman (BAL) 1-0 Article
Quarterfinals: SM Matt Herman (NY) vs IM Eli Vovsha (MAN) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #1: GM Mikheil Kekelidze (CON) vs FM Kassa Korley (CAR) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #2: GM Alex Stripunsky (NJ) vs GM Tamaz Gelashvili (NY) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #3: IM Mackenzie Molner (ARZ) vs IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #4: IM Priyadharshan Kannappan (STL) vs FM Kassa Korley (CAR) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #7: GM Alex Stripunsky (NJ) vs SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) 0-1 Article
Eliminated:
13th Place (59 Points): GM Vladimir Romanenko (MAN) vs GM Tamaz Gelashvili (NY) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
14th Place (58 Points): IM Georgi Orlov (SEA) vs GM Conrad Holt (DAL) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
15th Place (57 Points): NM Jared Defibaugh (BAL) vs NM Justus Williams (NY) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
16th Place (48 Points): GM Ben Finegold (STL) vs GM Niclas Huschenbeth (BAL) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
17th Place (37 Points): NM Joshua Sinanan (SEA) vs IM Shahin Mohandesi (ARZ) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
18th Place (33 Points): SM Denys Shmelov (BOS) vs GM Conrad Holt (DAL) 1/2-1/2 Article Elimination Article
19th Place (30 Points): FM Ralph Zimmer (BAL) vs NM Joshua Colas (CON) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
20th Place (17 Points): IM Georgi Orlov (SEA) vs SM William Fisher (PHI) 1/2-1/2 Article Elimination Article