Being from the Championship game certainly gave this game some additional attention, but the majority of the judges’ natural disdain for the Berlin could not be overcome as it still finished near the bottom.
This is the fifth 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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16th Place: IM Jeffery Xiong (DAL) vs GM Varuzhan Akobian (STL) 0-1
With 44… Rxa6!, GM Akobian effectively finished off an impressive endgame grind, a pivotal win towards his team’s first Championship
IM Priyadharshan Kannappan (3rd Place, 18 Points): Black played the Berlin with amazing grace and style! Black was also under immense pressure to win, as the Championship was likely to be decided by this game. When I was watching live, I thought White would be able to draw around move 30, but the technique shown by Var was impeccable.
FM Ron Young (15th Place, 6 Points): If you want to vault the Berlin Wall, you have to be bold and aggressive, or at least bribe the guard. White’s treatment seemed too easy-going, and Black quickly took charge. Some nice finishing touches, I will say.
GM Alejandro Ramirez (16th Place, 5 Points): No Berlin is getting a GOTY prize from me. This wasn’t even a particularly exciting one.
FM Alisa Melekhina (17th Place, 4 Points): Back in the day I went through a phase where I played the Exchange French and Exchange Caro. The Berlin was also part of my repertoire. I’ve since given up the Berlin along with the other openings and moved on to more aggressive lines.
I know it’s played at the top levels – presumably because it’s solid. From my understanding, Black stoutly positions his pieces, content with possessing the Bishop pair. He hopes that White gets optimistic with his space advantage and overextends. This is what happened here.
Black followed the steps, did everything correctly, and won an important match. Unfortunately, it’s just not to my taste. The blandness of the opening, and its formulaic execution don’t translate into a memorable game.
FM Ingvar Johannesson (18th Place, 3 Points): I’ve always felt the Berlin was a bit of a misunderstood opening. After all, players such as Carlsen have played it for a win in an Olympiad vs 2400-ish IM opposition. Black’s trump is often the Bishop pair and in this game, Akobian managed a nice grind vs his young opponent. As such, a nice game but hardly Game of the Year material.
Total Score of Xiong vs Akobian: (16th Place, 36 Points)
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Stay tuned for fifteen 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 #4: GM Anton Kovalyov (RIO) vs GM Gata Kamsky (NY) 0-1 Article
Eliminated:
16th Place (36 Points): IM Jeffery Xiong (DAL) vs GM Varuzhan Akobian (STL) 0-1 Article Elimination Article
17th Place (36 Points): GM Pascal Charbonneau (NY) vs IM Jeffery Xiong (DAL) 0-1 Article Elimination Article
18th Place (32 Points): GM Pascal Charbonneau (NY) vs GM Conrad Holt (DAL) 0-1 Article Elimination Article
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