A playoff win by the dangerous IM Orlov had some rather interesting play, but Black seeming to have a bad day didn’t sit well with the judges, leaving this game at the bottom.
This is the second part in a series of articles which will count down to revealing what game was voted as the 2014 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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19th Place: IM Georgi Orlov (SEA) vs GM Alex Stripunsky (NJ) 1-0
26… Bxh3, inspired or crazy? The judges seemed to favor the latter as IM Orlov cleaned up GM Stripunsky’s creative try, yet another USCL GM scalp by the dangerous IM.
FM Ingvar Johannesson (13th Place, 8 Points): Torn here. White seemed to play some nice chess, but Black seemed to be all over the place and I didn’t like his play at all. Again, nice play by White some very strong and nice thematic moves, but I felt like Black played well below his usual standards.
FM Alisa Melekhina (16th Place, 5 Points): Having judged GOTY for several years, I’m used to seeing an upset by Orlov over a GM in the mix. He’s one of those dangerous IMs that can often outclass GMs. Here, he showed great understanding of the esoteric Slav. He gave Stripunsky more counterplay than he should have but neutralized it nonetheless. Unfortunately, the game as a whole lacks any distinguishing features.
FM Ron Young (16th Place, 5 Points): Most of the game’s interest, to me, was the way Black sprung back from such an earth-bound beginning. In the end though the spring got tangled faster than your typical slinky.
GM Alejandro Ramirez (20th Place, 1 Point): Stripunsky went crazy on the Kingside, and it didn’t come close to working.
IM Priyadharshan Kannappan (20th Place, 1 Point): Black’s opening choice was horrible, the whole setup was so cramped that he was clearly lost by move 14 even though he hadn’t made any blunders. White allowed Black to come back into the game in the middlegame, but again Black then started playing very badly.
Total Score of Orlov vs Stripunsky: (19th Place, 20 Points)
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Stay tuned for eighteen more such articles as the field shrinks by one game almost every day to see which of the following games will be the 2014 Game of the Year!
Week 1: GM Anton Kovalyov (RIO) vs GM Daniel Naroditsky (SF) 1-0 Article
Week 2: GM Varuzhan Akobian (STL) vs GM Renier Gonzalez (MIA) 1-0 Article
Week 3: GM Mackenzie Molner (ARZ) vs GM Eugene Perelshteyn (BOS) 1-0 Article
Week 4: GM Wesley So (STL) vs GM Alex Lenderman (CON) 1/2-1/2 Article
Week 5: GM Alex Lenderman (CON) vs GM Gata Kamsky (NY) 1-0 Article
Week 6: GM Niclas Huschenbeth (BAL) vs GM Wesley So (STL) 1/2-1/2 Article
Week 7: GM Joel Benjamin (NJ) vs GM Holden Hernandez (RIO) 1-0 Article
Week 8: GM Daniel Naroditsky (SF) vs GM Conrad Holt (DAL) 1/2-1/2 Article
Week 9: GM Julio Becerra (MIA) vs GM Julio Sadorra (DAL) 1-0 Article
Week 10: IM David Vigorito (NE) vs FM Andrew Shvartsman (MAN) 1/2-1/2 Article
Quarterfinals: GM Daniel Naroditsky (SF) vs GM Conrad Holt (DAL) 1-0 Article
Semifinals: GM Wesley So (STL) vs GM Julio Becerra (MIA) 1-0 Article
Championship: GM Wesley So (STL) vs GM Conrad Holt (DAL) 1-0 Article
Wildcard #1: GM Niclas Huschenbeth (BAL) vs GM Julio Becerra (MIA) 1/2-1/2 Article
Wildcard #2: GM Pascal Charbonneau (NY) vs GM Conrad Holt (DAL) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #4: GM Anton Kovalyov (RIO) vs GM Gata Kamsky (NY) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #5: GM Pascal Charbonneau (NY) vs IM Jeffery Xiong (DAL) 0-1 Article
Wildcard #6: IM Jeffery Xiong (DAL) vs GM Varuzhan Akobian (STL) 0-1 Article
Eliminated:
19th Place (20 Points): IM Georgi Orlov (SEA) vs GM Alex Stripunsky (NJ) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
20th Place (19 Points): IM Kassa Korley (CAR) vs GM Julio Becerra (MIA) 0-1 Article Elimination Article