GM Holt (DAL) vs GM Becerra (MIA) 0-1 ends up in 15th Place in the GOTY Contest

In a must win situation, the gritty competitor GM Becerra ground out a win in a drawish looking ending, propelling his team into the Semifinals

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

This is the sixth 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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15th Place: GM Conrad Holt (DAL) vs GM Julio Becerra (MIA) 0-1

 

With the strong 38… Rxf5!, GM Becerra eventually compelled the game into a superior endgame which he skillfully converted

 
 

GM Alex Yermolinsky (6th Place, 15 Points): Holt’s somewhat indifferent play in his favorite h3 KID allowed the experienced Becerra to obtain some endgame advantage. The players reciprocated with nice exchange sacrifices, and the game went into an opposite color Bishop ending. White should have simply stood his ground, but Holt was looking for a study like draw. Well, turned out it wasn’t there!

 

FM Ingvar Johannesson (6th Place, 15 Points): Becerra seemed to get a comfortable position out of a KID. In an ending with slight pressure he sacked the exchange, but Holt decided to give it right back and the result was opposite colored Bishops. It looked drawish but somehow (maybe 48. d6 was unneccessary by White) Becerra cooked up some GM magic in the ending and won the game which he had to given the match situation. Higher ranking for the clutch win and also because I don’t understand GM endgame technique!

 

FM Alisa Melekhina (15th Place, 6 Points): On principle, exchanging Queens usually favors White in the KID. Black trades in an inferior structure and latent dark-squared Bishop and Knight for tactical chances with tremendous payoff potential, which usually depends on having the Queen at hand. It’s fascinating to see Black be successful in a KID endgame. Becerra knows his way around the plans so well, he kept the sacrifices alive all throughout the game (38… Rxf5). KID victories often hinge on obtaining access to key squares (think h4, g3, f4, or d4). Becerra proved that concept apparently holds true even in the ending.

The endgame should have been drawn, but Holt either panicked or felt too confident in the stability of his position and gave Black decisive chances with 48. d6. The game felt like it dragged on and most of the action took place in the last quarter of the game. Points to Becerra for making the most of Black’s dynamic resources in the endgame.

 

GM Alejandro Ramirez (17th Place, 4 Points): Besides Black’s obvious Bishop sacrifice there is no reason to say that this is a GOTY contender

 

IM Jake Kleiman (19th Place, 2 Points): Much like Huschenbeth vs Zierk, it seems that White collapsed unnecessarily. This one gets ranked slightly higher because only a half point was slipped rather than the whole point

 

FM Ron Young (19th Place, 2 Points): It seems to me that White should hold easily with the Bh3-c8-h3-c8-etc.-etc. plan. If I’m wrong, then White made it too easy with 48. d6. If I’m still wrong, at least I’m a brilliant artist.

 
 

Total Score of Holt vs Becerra: (15th Place, 44 Points)

 

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Stay tuned for fourteen 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

Semifinals: GM Sam Shankland (NE) 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:

 
 

15th Place (44 Points): GM Conrad Holt (DAL) vs GM Julio Becerra (MIA) 0-1   Article             Elimination Article

16th Place (43 Points): GM Julio Becerra (MIA) vs GM Tamaz Gelashvili (NY) 1-0   Article       Elimination Article

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