In this four part article based on extensive interviews with the players, I will dissect the 25 point final between Lars Trabolt (DEN) and Vyachslav Pryadkin (UKR). The way the match unfolded, the dice gave Slava the opportunity to decisively steer the match in the direction he wanted and to take Lars out of his game plan and comfort zone. In fact, all players in the 4-7 PR range should study Pryadkin's performance; it provides many insights into what match strategies may be successfully employed against the world's best (if the dice cooperate!). Bearing this intro in mind, I hope you follow this four part series to be published with Prime Time Magazine over the course of 2014. This first article, will show a range of positions where Lars overcompensated for skill difference choosing to limit gammonish volatility....Studying the match I found that cube play, unsurprisingly, constitutes the greatest window into a player's soul, yet surprisingly, opening checker play as well as decisions of when to volunteer shots, hit aggressively, or play purely also provide a fair amount of insight into player psychology/tendencies. This may be the case because in the early game it is impossible to do precise calculations and one must go on gut instinct. Similarly, the issue of volunteering shots or avoiding many blots frequently demonstrates how comfortable the player is with short term tactical risk for potential strategic gain.To read the whole article click here.
Lars Trabolt vs Vyachslav Pryadkin in The WC Final -- PART 1: Limiting Gammonish Volitility