There always has to be one game with the dubious distinction of finishing just outside the Top Five, and unfortunately for GM Sadorra, his fine tactical effort ended up with this distinction.
This is the fifteenth 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
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
6th Place: SM Robert Perez (MIA) vs GM Julio Sadorra (DAL) 0-1
GM Sadorra got the best of the tactics with the strong 34… Nxd5!, eventually gaining a decisive material advantage
FM Alisa Melekhina (2nd Place, 19 Points): It’s always refreshing to see a KID successful on the Black side, particularly in a high-level game. The KID has the familiar reputation of being an opening where each side engages in a race – White has a head start with an expansive Queenside, but Black has the more valuable King in sight. However, the 7… exd4 line represents the more modern plan of directly challenging White’s inflated Pawn center. Sadorra employed the alternative 14… Nd7 and stationed the Knight on e5 where it had access to both the Kingside and facilitating the exploitation of the important d4 square.
Meanwhile, White continued to overextend himself, and it was as if Black was playing “above” White’s pawns in finding space for his pieces. Sadorra’s confidence in his structure, enough to disregard White’s threats directed at the e5 Knight and e8 Rook, translated into very active OTB play. Either due to disbelief that White didn’t have an advantage against such a seemingly dubious set-up, time-trouble, or both, White tried 27. f5 to create some complications. Sadorra quickly brushed aside the attempt, and his army sprang to life.
Once the façade of White’s structural soundness dissipated along with his Pawns, his weak position was conspicuously exposed. Black finished off with the acute Ne4 to f6 to d5 to e3 maneuver. Such geometrical motifs are a staple of positional KIDs.
This was a sophisticated game that has major theoretical import for the 7… exd4 line. I’m happy to see the USCL is a platform for theoretical contributions and high-level play.
GM Alejandro Ramirez (3rd Place, 18 Points): A fantastically entertaining game. Sadorra plays at the edge of the knife as his position is constantly in danger of positionally crumbling. His vulnerable g4 Pawn and awkward and attacked Knight on e5 seem to be the doom of him, but a consistent find of saving tactics and powerful play allow him to not only retain balance, but eventually to out maneuver his opponent!
GM Robert Hungaski (10th Place, 11 Points): A good example of one of the main advantages of having a sound Pawn structure. When great complications arise the player with the better structure nearly always has the upper hand since any variation that transitions in a calm position will be to his advantage. It is no wonder why this old line was so popular back in the day when players always turned to rock-solid variations with Black. Black’s setup here is ideal when it comes to withstanding White’s attack since often Black can even endure a material deficit which in turn is usually compensated by White’s Kingside weaknesses or control over the dark squares on the Queenside.
IM David Pruess (10th Place, 11 Points): A good game by Sadorra, with apparently very original moves. On the other hand, the tension in the position does not leave all that many options and I feel like his moves are not actually that hard to come by. I also did not feel as excited watching this live as I did about the games I have ranked above it.
GM Alex Yermolinsky (12th Place, 9 Points): I fancy myself of being a sort of an expert on this line. At least I played it against quality opposition when no one else did. Black surrenders the center early in search for tactical chances. A strategy worthy of the King’s Indian Defense. Sadorra’s move 10… Nh5 is a provocative gesture. Black invites the White pawns to come forward and waits for his chance. Apparently Perez was not familiar with this line, as he burned a lot of time and came up with nothing. 16. Rg1 is a better idea or even 17. Rg1 as White has to take some steps to control the g4-square if he plans to push his f-pawn forward. Perez did play f3-f4, but without the necessary preparation. White’s position became very loose, and Sadorra’s exchange sacrifice on move 25 was logical and strong. Perez’s attempts at tactics were doomed by his hopeless time trouble.
FM Ron Young (12th Place, 9 Points): Boris Kreiman once explained his chess philosophy thus: “I play against the pieces—and the pieces beat me”. Minus the latter detail, this was the title chosen by the late great gentleman and champion of the King’s Indian defense, Svetozar Gligoric for his games collection. So it seems only fitting this year that the one KID game among the nominees should conclude with a defensive combination culminating in Black’s capturing five consecutive pieces, at least in the notes (32… Rd5, 33… Nf6, 34… Nd5, 35… Ne3, and 36… Nf5)
Total Score of Perez vs Sadorra: (6th Place, 77 Points)
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Stay tuned for five 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 5: GM Vladimir Romanenko (MAN) vs GM Alex Stripunsky (NJ) 0-1 Article
Week 8: GM Tamaz Gelashvili (NY) vs GM Sam Shankland (NE) 1-0 Article
Quarterfinals: SM Matt Herman (NY) vs IM Eli Vovsha (MAN) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #2: GM Alex Stripunsky (NJ) vs GM Tamaz Gelashvili (NY) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #7: GM Alex Stripunsky (NJ) vs SM Jorge Sammour-Hasbun (BOS) 0-1 Article
Eliminated:
6th Place (77 Points): SM Robert Perez (MIA) vs GM Julio Sadorra (DAL) 0-1 Article Elimination Article
7th Place (77 Points): GM Mikheil Kekelidze (CON) vs FM Kassa Korley (CAR) 0-1 Article Elimination Article
8th Place (75 Points): IM Priyadharshan Kannappan (STL) vs FM Kassa Korley (CAR) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
9th Place (72 Points): GM Tamaz Gelashvili (NY) vs SM William Fisher (PHI) 1/2-1/2 Article Elimination Article
10th Place (71 Points): FM Kazim Gulamali (BOS) vs GM Larry Kaufman (BAL) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
11th Place (66 Points): FM Eric Rodriguez (MIA) vs IM Justin Sarkar (CON) 1/2-1/2 Article Elimination Article
12th Place (59 Points): IM Mackenzie Molner (ARZ) vs IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
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