Kasparov, Garry – Topalov, Veselin

The Scotsman Chess Article www.bcf.ndirect.co.uk/articles/scotsman/990122. html THE BOSS is most definitely back! Just twenty-one days into the year and 344 to the year 2000, world champion Garry Kasparov simultaneously treated the chess world to the “Game of the Year” and the “Game of the Millennium” in round four of the Hoogovens tournament in Wijk aan Zee. Play through and enjoy! John B. Henderson:

Metadata » Click to open.

Date: January 20, 1999
Location: Wijk aan Zee
Tournament: ?
Round:
Opening: B07 Pirc Defence
Submitted by: Henderson
Published on: February 9, 2020

[Event "?"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee"] [Date "1999.01.20"] [Round "?"] [White "Kasparov, Garry"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B07"] [Annotator "Henderson"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "1999.01.20"] [Source "TaL's Chess"] [SourceDate "1999.01.20"] {The Scotsman Chess Article www.bcf.ndirect.co.uk/articles/scotsman/990122. html THE BOSS is most definitely back! Just twenty-one days into the year and 344 to the year 2000, world champion Garry Kasparov simultaneously treated the chess world to the "Game of the Year" and the "Game of the Millennium" in round four of the Hoogovens tournament in Wijk aan Zee. Play through and enjoy! John B. Henderson: } 1. e4 1... d6 {Pirc Defence} 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 Bg7 5. Qd2 c6 6. f3 b5 7. Nge2 Nbd7 8. Bh6 Bxh6 9. Qxh6 Bb7 10. a3 e5 11. O-O-O Qe7 12. Kb1 a6 13. Nc1 O-O-O 14. Nb3 exd4 15. Rxd4 c5 16. Rd1 Nb6 17. g3 Kb8 18. Na5 Ba8 19. Bh3 d5 20. Qf4+ Ka7 21. Rhe1 d4 22. Nd5 Nbxd5 23. exd5 Qd6 { Kasparov's} 24. Rxd4 {(see diagram), one of the most sensational combination of his long and distinguished career, uncorked a 15-move sacrificial masterpiece, reminiscent of a bygone romantic era in the game, which left spectators, fans and GMs standing in awe of the ensuing King hunt, in a game that will certainly reverberate around the world. } 24... cxd4 {Like they say, it takes two to tango and equal praise also has to be credited to his partner, Veselin Topalov, for steering the game into the realms of fantasy chess by deciding to take Kasparov on. } ( {The ever-combative Bulgarian proved to be the perfect foil for Kasparov's breath-taking King hunt as he could have spoilt all the fun by going into an ending with} 24... Kb6) 25. Re7+ Kb6 26. Qxd4+ Kxa5 27. b4+ Ka4 28. Qc3 Qxd5 29. Ra7 Bb7 ( {The first ke y moment in the combination came at move 29 as the innocent looking defence} 29... Rd6 {fails to} 30. Kb2 {and black cannot defend against Qb3 mating.}) 30. Rxb7 Qc4 ( {However, with the benefit of hindsight, and without the pressure of having Kasparov in this form across the board from you, the crucial resource missed by Topalov was} 30... Rhe8 { which looks as if he's escaping with a draw. The mainline running:} 31. Rb6 Ra8 32. Rd6 32... Qc4 33. Qxf6 a5 34. bxa5 Kxa5 (34... Re1+ 35. Kb2 Re2 36. Rd4 36... Rxc2+ {draws}) 35. Rc6 Re6 36. Bxe6 Qxc6 37. Qxf7) 31. Qxf6 Kxa3 32. Qxa6+ Kxb4 33. c3+ Kxc3 34. Qa1+ Kd2 35. Qb2+ Kd1 36. Bf1 Rd2 37. Rd7 Rxd7 38. Bxc4 bxc4 39. Qxh8 Rd3 40. Qa8 c3 41. Qa4+ Ke1 42. f4 f5 43. Kc1 Rd2 44. Qa7 1-0