Despite all of the articles I've written this year for the League, this was to be my first venture at viewing a match live.  See like most of you out there, I find it far easier to view the match from the confines of my own home in my favorite chair rather than taking an excursion to the actual site.  Plus, with the commissioner potentially needing me most weeks to help out in case of technical issues, it really wasn't feasible before today.  However, only so many problems can occur when only one match is running, and if I couldn't make the trip to witness the Finals of what has been an amazing season then I knew never would bring myself to go, so by summoning some super human strength, I actually dragged myself out of my house and made my way to the site.

 

    Arriving at the site about fifteen minutes before the match was to start, I really wasn't sure what to expect.  In general, in many big sporting or school events (which I certainly this qualifies as) people are often engaged in last minute preparations, desperate not to have some overlooked detail be their downfall in the upcoming challenge.  My best guess would have been that the Mechanics would be engaged in some activity along those lines at the time of my arrival, but instead I found IM Friedel and NM Shankland arguing over a birthday present that Sam had given to Josh (a bottle of Preparation H or something of that sort) which Josh didn't want, but Sam feeling it would be very rude for Josh to not accept.  Fortunately, these shenanigans couldn't go on too long as the match started shortly after (on time!), and the players' moods quickly changed to very serious.

 

    There were rather few suprises in the openings as all four boards seemed to go into the sorts of lines that all of the players had been showcasing all season, but once the middlegames cropped up, I think all four games became very interesting.  I had the fortune of being able to listen to the live commentary given by GM Yermolinksy (a definite note to all San Francisco area fans of the League to come down for a match sometime if for no other reason than for this, as how often do you really get the chance to analyze four games as they are occurring with a top level GM).  On Board 1, he was rather suprised by GM Charbonneau's 16... a5 feeling that while it did temporarily stop the b4 advance, the hole it created at b5 (letting the White Knight back in the game) was a big risk and that the immediate 16... Ne8 was preferable.  In the Board 3 encounter, he made the very interesting suggestion of instead of 19. Qxf1, 19. Kxf1! which he felt then after 19... dxe5 20. Nf3, without Black's pin on the g1-a7 diagonal, he'd have little to no compensation for the Pawn.  The Board 2 match was still in a bit of the manuvering stage at that point, and the Board 4 game seemed very messy after 19... f5, but Sam already had a big time advantage so that was a definite plus for him.  In short, during the early stages of the middlegame it seemed that the Mechanics had a bit of an edge on the odd numbered boards and rather unclear positions on the even numbered (though a big time edge on four) so it definitely looked good for them early.


IM Friedel vs GM Charbonneau: black to move after 16.c4

Charbonneau played 16....a5 to secure the c5 square
for his pieces and to prevent white from playing b4. This
move weakens the b5 square however, so GM Yermolinsky
preferred for black to simply play 16....Ne8 instead.

 

    However, if we've learned anything from the league this year, it's how quickly the tide can turn, and it certainly did so not long after.  In the later stages of the middlegame with all the players getting somewhat lower on time, all of us spectators had to venture into the playing room as as good as the commentary was, the finish to this match seemed sure to be far too exciting to not witness first hand.  Once most of the time trouble began it still looked a bit in favor of the Mechanics as the ending on Board 1 definitely seemed to favor Josh due to his powerful d-pawn, Board 2 David seemed to be gaining the initiative, Board 3 Dmitry seemed to be a pawn up and have a solid position, and Board 4 Sam looked to have a slightly worse but passable ending.  But strange things can happen in chess, and soon the tables began to turn nearly all the way around.  Just when it seemed like Josh was in a good position to potentially turn his slight endgame edge into a win, Pascal put a shock through the room (and internet crowd) with 45... Be5!! completely turning the game around, and suddenly Josh was going to need to fight desperately for a draw!  David on Board 2 seemed to have a winning ending, but still didn't look pleased at all as he constantly was glancing over at Josh's and Sam's games (Dmitry was playing in the other room), and I think he knew the team was in trouble.  Unfortunately, with Dmitry being in the other room, we weren't able to get the first hand view of what was going on there, but when Sam randomly observed his game, we saw his extra pawn had long since disappeared, and suddenly he appeared to be very very lost just as Sam did on Board 4 in a rather hopeless looking Rook endgame.  Suddenly, despite their seeming early edge, things were now looking dire for the Mechanics.


IM Friedel vs GM Charbonneau: Black to Move after 45. Ne7

White had been better the entire game, but with just
seconds left on the clock black uncorked a shocking blow
with 45.....Be5!  after which white is suddenly fighting for his life
as ...Rh2 mate is threatened along with ...Rxf3.

 

    David soon won his game after which manager IM John Donaldson mentionned to both of us that he felt their only chance was going to be to have to try to hold a draw on both Boards 1 and 3 to try to force the Blitz tiebreaker as Board 4 was a lost cause.  Soon enough though Robert captured Board 3 putting an end to that hope making the score 1-1 where Sam now appeared to be in a dead lost position, and Josh definitely seeming to have no better than a draw.  But once again, we can't ever count the result until the final move is made, and after the number of miracles which have occurred this season, it could only be fitting that the Finals would contain one in itself.  In a completely lost Rook ending (one which I'm sure many of us would have resigned many a move earlier), Sam somehow managed to swindle Matthew (who to be fair had been under thirty seconds for the past twenty or so moves of the game), and claim a draw at about the same time that Josh won the exchange back and suddenly from fighting hard for a draw it now appeared like he could even win!  But Pascal defended the Rook ending well making the draw inevitable and ending the regulation match knotted at two.


Herman vs Shankland: Black to move after 78.g4

Somehow black managed to draw this position in
white's time trouble, thus saving the match for San
Francisco.

 

    After the regulation match concluded, the adrenaline from the Mechanics players was amazing.  Just a few minutes earlier they seemed to be completely out of the match and suddenly they were very much back in it.  As an official league representative, I couldn't share in their joy, but given all the excitement they and the few spectators were exuding from their miracle save, I can assure you that it was very difficult for me not to!

 

The playoff started not long after, and when Sam played 11. Qe2, I think Nxe4 popped into everyone's minds, but Sam was ready for it, immediately playing 12. Nd5! in response to which Matthew had no way to avoid losing a piece and after 14. Qxe4, I saw both Josh and David give a bit of a fist pump knowing this game was virtually in the bag, and Sam didn't disappoint winning the game in short order.  The next game between Robert and Sam (one which Sam wanted to win very badly) was a rather tough one where I think both sides had chances at times, but ended in a draw.  Though Sam seemed disappointed not to win, he certainly did a good job for the team taking out two of New York's players.  Next up, Dmitry took on Irina in a fairly lackluster affair which ended in a quick draw making it all up to Pascal to try to defeat both David and Josh.  The game between Pascal and David was likely the most exciting one of the night, as after 19... Nh5! the position is likely winning for Black, but far from simple as the winning line is likely not at all easy to find in such a fast time control, and I think Pascal also did an amazing job to defend as David commented after the game "How the heck did I not mate him, I had like ten pieces around his King!"  Eventually the position liquidated into a rather messy Queen vs. Three Pieces position, and I really don't think anyone was quite sure who was winning at first.  40. Bd4! though rather simple looking was a rather amazing move as suddenly despite White trying to stave off mate for most of the game, it now looked like Black might be the one to get mated!  I think it was at this point that it really became clear to everyone that White was now winning, and sure enough Pascal brought it home with little trouble after that.  When Pascal won this game, all that energy which amounted from the miracle save of the regulation match somewhat deflated from the room as I think alot of the fans and players felt the Championship was about to be won, but now suddenly things would have to begin anew.


GM Charbonneau vs IM Pruess: white to move after 19...Nh5

Black has generated a nearly unstoppable attack and
it looked as if the match would be over shortly. However
the 2005 MVP wasn't ready to go down easy and after bearing
down he mananged to save the game, albeit with some help
from his opponent.

 

    So it all came down to Josh vs. Pascal as whoever won the first game would take the Championship for their team; the result of thirteen weeks of hard work from both sides, all down to the first one to win a single game.  Josh warned us that it could take a long time (since neither would be eliminated on a draw) and that we might be there til 4 am, but I told him that he better not make us miss the public transit home, and that I'd come over there and knock him out if necessary.  Unfortunately, there were many others observing (several of whom were much larger than myself) who assured me that I wouldn't do so and that was the end of that endeavor so I had to let them get on with the playing.  Josh seemed to get a better position and have Pascal reeling a bit right out of the opening (an opening which Pascal himself after the game called "a bad choice").  Black due to falling behind in the opening simply had to start playing the "react to each of White's moves" game, but soon with 18. Nc4! White is suddently winning material and as well as Pascal played in the regulation and first tiebreaker matches, he couldn't pull a rabbit out of his hat this time, and Josh brought home the Championship for the Mechanics.


IM Friedel vs GM Charbonneau: white to move after 17...Qa5
Friedel effectively sealed up the match with 18. Nc4!
planning 19. Nb6, to which black has no real defense.
Charbonneau fought valiantly to only lose the exchange,
but Friedel was able to hold on for the victory.

 

    When the result was finally official, there was much exuberance in the air again.  Though once again I couldn't take part in their celebration, it was still very nice to see all of them get such satisfaction out of what they'd just accomplished as I know they all worked very hard for this, and combined with their great regular season, the Mechanics are definitely very deserving and worthy League Champions.

 

    I personally don't feel we could have asked for anything more in the way of excitement or drama in this Finals match; I think this was definitely a very fitting way to end a great season for the League.  Congratulations to both teams on an amazing finals, and I hope the excitement this match created is a sign of things to come next year.  The only sad part of this match was that it marked the end of the season, and there are nine long months until the new one begins, but again I have a feeling the way things went this year that the League will be even better in every way next year.  So until then this is Arun Sharma signing off!