With a surprising five draws in this year’s contest, one of the games inevitably had to be the first of those out, and this happened to be it, though still getting a very respectable rating.
This is the ninth 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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12th Place: GM Niclas Huschenbeth (BAL) vs GM Julio Becerra (MIA) 1/2-1/2
A very interesting tactical back and forth continued with 17… Qa3!, with a fighting draw being the eventual outcome
GM Alejandro Ramirez (6th Place, 15 Points): A very entertaining series of captures and threats led to a position that Black should have tried harder to win, even though it clearly was very difficult to do so.
FM Alisa Melekhina (9th Place, 12 Points): Who says 1.e4 e5 can’t be exciting? Huschenbeth once again steers the game into his home turf of complications. The threats and tactics would have been enough to topple anyone other than a GM.
To every punch there was a counter-punch, and to every tactic, a counter-tactic. The game resembled a fencing match, in that it was a controlled fight. But it was a fight nonetheless − a unique one in which the efforts of both sides combined into a synergy rather than into destruction.
FM Ron Young (13th Place, 8 Points): Sometimes, after a tough game, you’ll hear “It’s a pity that either player had to lose”. This game shows how wrong that is. No one has to lose. You can agree to a draw! That may seem a bit rough, but remember, I am an internet tough guy. Who wants a piece of me?!
IM Priyadharshan Kannappan (14th Place, 7 Points): These are the type of games that keep the audiences hooked throughout. An error by White in grabbing the Pawn on a7 lead to a complex position where Black had the easier position. White could have drawn the game by repetition had he played 22. Ne3 instead of Ne1. Becerra had the advantage in the end, and the fact that he failed to convert his advantage makes this game not that impressive to me.
FM Ingvar Johannesson (15th Place, 6 Points): I seem to recall Becerra playing similar lines forever on the ICC against my friends. Black got really active play in this game. He got some initiative, but White played and defended well. For awhile it seemed like both parties played close to perfect chess so perhaps it was fitting that the game ended up as a draw though Black was the only one “threatening” to win.
Total Score of Huschenbeth vs Becerra: (12th Place, 48 Points)
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Stay tuned for eleven 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 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
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 #4: GM Anton Kovalyov (RIO) vs GM Gata Kamsky (NY) 0-1 Article
Eliminated:
12th Place (48 Points): GM Niclas Huschenbeth (BAL) vs GM Julio Becerra (MIA) 1/2-1/2 Article Elimination Article
13th Place (42 Points): GM Daniel Naroditsky (SF) vs GM Conrad Holt (DAL) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
14th Place (41 Points): GM Varuzhan Akobian (STL) vs GM Renier Gonzalez (MIA) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
15th Place (38 Points): GM Mackenzie Molner (ARZ) vs GM Eugene Perelshteyn (BOS) 1-0 Article Elimination Article
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