Tough match, tough match.
There's not much for me to add on to what has already been said. Kostya and the Farmer pretty much said all there is to say. Altounian held on to a tough draw against Akobian (first result). Wang got into a bad position pretty darn early through surprisingly passive play that only got worse as the game continued (second result). The dreaded must-win situation dawned on Cozianu and Slava. Cozianu slugged a tricky win against Rogellio. The only comment I have on that game is that Cozianu probably didn't 'see' the win, but what Cozianu probably did feel that there was a win, but being in a bit of time pressure, could not work out the concrete variations. Once it had come to calculate the variations, though, Cozianu took a couple of minutes and found the win.
So it was all up to Slava. Kostya and Farmer have already spotted most of the winning possibilities, just check out their annotations for details. Lots of possibilities...so many chances...time trouble...missing the first easy win (Rexd4) probably came as a psychological blow to Slava--I'm guessing he saw it just after he played Rxe5 (probably the worst possible feeling, that you see the win...just after....you play another move)--leading to some more missed opportunities. Oh well...
I've always thought that these matches and games were as much a matter of luck as they were a matter of skillage. Once again, Arizona has gotten pretty DARN lucky that their mistakes and missed opportunities didn't cost them. just look at that match against St. Louis, and they're darn lucky again in this match. The last thing I've got to say here before I sign out for the season:
the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.~Ecclesiasties 9:11
Till next season, I remain
Alex Guo
4 comments:
The games were hardly decided by luck.
1. Arizona actually was unlucky that Adamson didnt convert a clearly better position (where he outplayed Mikhailuk for close to 40moves)
2. Barcenilla didnt hold a position he normally would hold. He was fine.
3. Arizona was not lucky vs St Louis - they took draws in 2 winning positions (Boards 1 and 2) - not sure how that match was lucky.
Please dont belittle the accomplishments of the Scorpions by reducing it to luck. Games decided where each side has 30 secs left - anything can happen. I would say some skill is required.
lucky "that their mistakes didn't cost them."
every team has had some amount of luck, except for perhaps the Cobras...
I love people who post anonymous... It's not belittling a team to call a spade a spade.
FYI, Robby Adamson-Arjun Vishnuvardhan anyone??? K story ends.
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