A wild game to start the season off with a bang had some rather varied opinions from the judges though generally the nice tactics moved it up in most judges’ rankings with the inability to convert the win in an easier manner pulling it down as well.
This is the fourth part in a series of articles which will count down to revealing what game was voted as the 2013 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 Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Pascal Charbonneau (NY) 1-0
After some back-and-forth manuevering, GM Benjamin broke through with 33. e5!, scoring a big win to start off the season
GM Alejandro Ramirez (8th Place, 13 Points): A tactical flourish didn’t finish off what was otherwise a boring game. 46. Qxg7+? which allowed the game to drag on puts it even lower on the scale for me.
GM Alex Yermolinsky (8th Place, 13 Points): At first sight it looks like a typical Benjamin win: an offbeat opening, followed by patient maneuvering, then there’s a brief tactical flare-up in time trouble, followed by flawless technical execution. And it certainly is a good game, despite some missed opportunities by Black.
IM Jake Kleiman (12th Place, 9 Points): I am a sucker for a long term positional exchange sacrifice. This one had to be seen in some foresight when Joel played 33. e5. The blunder on b6 definitely made things easier, or this game would have gotten a higher ranking.
FM Ron Young (17th Place, 4 Points): The position just before the 33. e5 clearance sac might be a natural place for a diagram, if two or three are used for the game, but is not worth making much more of before this smart crowd. But had White opted for 42. Bxg6, Tim Krabbe might have had to revise his list of the most surprising moves ever played. Granted, Benjamin’s move was probably stronger, though perhaps Black could have wangled a perp later on.
FM Ingvar Johannesson (18th Place, 3 Points): Benjamin with White held a small space advantage for a while until finally things opened up with 33. e5. White sacked the exchange and had enough compensation. Charbonneau then blundered rather badly with 39… Bb7 but Benjamin returned the favour getting a slightly better ending with 46. Qxg7+ instead of + a million with 46. Bg2. The ending was converted by Benjamin.
FM Alisa Melekhina (20th Place, 1 Point): I’m always rooting for Anti-Sicilians. Ranking one last is something I’d rather not do. Benjamin did everything right in playing against Pascal’s offbeat set-up to create a decisive advantage with 33. e5. The problem is that a top game requires help from both sides, and Pascal simply did not put in the effort expected of a GM.
If you use the Bd6-b8 maneuver against the KIA, then it is natural follow up with a challenge to White’s center with d5 at some point when the thematic e4-e5 is no longer possible. Pascal missed his chances on moves 12-14. Moves like 8… Ba6 did not help. Afterwards, he retreated both Bishops and started to play defensively.
I understand that GMs have a subtle way of retreating their pieces, waiting for their opponent to over-extend and make a mistake. However, Pascal seemed to take this strategy too literally. He could have still tried for …d5 by placing the Knight on a5 instead of d8, and not allowed White another point of entry with 29… a6. As a result, Benjamin was able to make straightforward moves until he was ready to deliver the final blow. Even so, he gave Black more chances than was necessary with 46. Qxg7+ rather than Bg2 which stops of all Black’s threats.
I’m sure this game was more intricate than it appears at first glance. However, I can’t help but compare Black’s play to the irrelevant back-and-forth moves one makes when analyzing with a computer just to reach a position he wants the computer to see. Pascal obviously feels more comfortable playing on the offensive in these types of positions, and he redeemed himself with a similar squeeze against Winer later on.
Total Score of Benjamin vs Charbonneau: (17th Place, 43 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 2013 Game of the Year!
Week 2: GM Pascal Charbonneau (NY) vs GM Robert Hungaski (MAN) 1-0 Article
Week 3: IM Andranik Matikozyan (LA) vs GM Julio Becerra (MIA) 0-1 Article
Week 4: GM Emil Anka (SEA) vs FM Tom Bartell (PHI) 0-1 Article
Week 5: IM Dmitry Schneider (MAN) vs GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) 0-1 Article
Week 6: IM Marc Esserman (BOS) vs GM Tamaz Gelashvili (NY) 0-1 Article
Week 7: FM Eric Rodriguez (MIA) vs IM Irina Krush (NY) 1-0 Article
Week 8: GM Conrad Holt (DAL) vs IM Jonathan Schroer (CAR) 1-0 Article
Week 9: GM Giorgi Margvelashvili (DAL) vs GM Ben Finegold (STL) 1/2-1/2 Article
Quarterfinals: GM Conrad Holt (DAL) vs GM Julio Becerra (MIA) 0-1 Article
Semifinals: GM Sam Shankland (NE) vs GM Tamaz Gelashvili (NY) 1-0 Article
Championship: GM Julio Becerra (MIA) vs GM Tamaz Gelashvili (NY) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #1: GM Pascal Charbonneau (NY) vs FM Steven Winer (NE) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #2: IM Vitaly Neimer (STL) vs FM Eric Rodriguez (MIA) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #3: IM Justin Sarkar (CON) vs IM Levon Altounian (ARZ) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #4: GM Zviad Izoria (MAN) vs GM Tamaz Gelashvili (NY) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #5: GM Alex Stripunsky (NJ) vs GM Melikset Khachiyan (LA) 1-0 Article
Eliminated:
17th Place (43 Points): GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Pascal Charbonneau (NY) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
18th Place (41 Points): John Michael Burke (NJ) vs NM Ryan Goldenberg (MAN) 0-1 Article Elimination Article
19th Place (40 Points): GM Niclas Huschenbeth (BAL) vs IM Steven Zierk (BOS) 0-1 Article Elimination Article
20th Place (40 Points): GM Tamaz Gelashvili (NY) vs GM Julio Becerra (MIA) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
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