[Event "?"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "1999.01.20"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Topalov, Veselin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Furstenberg (edit.)"]
[ECO "B07"]
[EventDate "1999.01.20"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[Source "TaL's Chess"]
[SourceDate "1999.01.20"]

{ FIDELITY ELECTRONICS (02/08/1999) http://users.skynet.be/fidelity/nieuw.html
 The Pearl of Wijk aan Zee During the Hoogovens Tournament 1999 in
Wijk aan Zee, Holland, Kasparov and Topalov played a game that, most likely,
will go down in history as the Pearl of Wijk aan Zee. The combination, lasting
20 moves (!) is of a timeless beauty and perfection because, as Kasparov said,
there is not a piece too many on the board and everything falls into place. 
 Kasparov said that he was concerned that Topalov would not accept the
sacrifice, and play 24...Kb6. He explained that it took him a long time to
figure out if he would be able to get an advantage, but couldn't find it. He
was therefore grateful to Topalov that he indeed took the Rook on d4 after a
long think. I had the pleasure of being present when this game was played
and afterwards when Kasparov explained this game in the pressroom. He was of
course elated that he had seen everything. That this statement could be true
can be deduced from the fact that he said that Topalov must have regretted his
move 3...g6 as otherwise the combination would not have been sound and he
wouldn't have played it. Is it really possible to see all consequences of
such a Rook sacrifice? With all respect, I doubt it. Nobody is that superhuman,
not even Kasparov. I believe that we have a case here of superb calculation,
combined with superb intuition, as Max Pam wrote. Herewith the game with
analysis by IM Gert Ligterink, GM Hans Ree, Max Pam, Lex Jongsma, 
 Rini Kuijf, Jos Willemsen. Tom Furstenberg (edit.): } 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Be3 Bg7 5. Qd2 c6 6. f3 b5 7. Nge2 { (Ligterink): One might be
suspicious that perhaps everything was prepared beforehand. Rest assured!
Surprised by Topalov's first move, Kasparov started improvising but has
obtained hardly any advantage in this opening. } 7... 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 { (Ree): About the opening Kasparov had not much
to say. "We're both no experts in this variation and I did nothing special,
just normal moves." But at this stage of the game he had an interesting idea
and was wondering how to get his Queen from h6 to b6. } 18. Na5 Ba8 19. Bh3 d5 $1 { (Ligterink): After ample preparation Black now plays this
liberating move. The position is equal. } 20. Qf4+ Ka7 21. Rhe1 { (Kuijf): Topalov played the opening well and Kasparov has nothing. } 21... d4 ( { (Kuijf): Black could also have played } 21... dxe4 ) 22. Nd5 Nbxd5 23. exd5 Qd6 24. Rxd4 $3 { (IGM David Bronstein): Which Grandmaster wouldn't make this
move, possibly even without thinking too long about it, irrespective of the
consequences? I bet, nine out of ten! It is just too good an opportunity to
miss. (Ligterink): Up to here the spectators were hardly interested in
this somewhat dull game, but from this moment onwards all attention was for
this game. It is not easy to find the first point of this remarkable
sacrifice, because after 24...cxd4 25.Qxd4+ Qb6 26.Re7+ Nd7 it is Black who is
winning. (Ree): When Kasparov played this move (and in fact already a few
moves earlier) he had calculated that he had a draw for sure and had vaguely
felt that more was possible. Then, while Topalov was thinking about his reply,
Kasparov said that he saw the position until move 39.Qxh8. It seems
unbelievable but, judging from the speed with which he played the remaining
moves, there is no reason to doubt his statement. (Pam): A move of
incredible beauty. White sacrifices a full Rook, based on superb calculation
and superb intuition. } ( { (Kuijf): Topalov must have been shocked. He had probably expected } 24. Nc6+ { . After } 24... Bxc6 25. Qxd6 Rxd6 26. dxc6 Rxc6 27. Re7+ Kb6 28. Rxf7 { we have an interesting endgame on the board. } ) 24... cxd4 { (Ree): More
careful would have been: 24...Kb6 25.b4 Nxd5 26.Qxd6+ Rxd6 27.bxc5+ Kxc5 28.
Nb3+ Kb6 29.Kb2 with equal chances. Topalov had seen this but later he
confessed that his curiosity got the better of him. (Pam): It would be
unfair to Topalov to give this move a question mark, because there are few
grandmasters who would not make this move. Kasparov was afraid that Topalov
would refuse the sacrifice with 24...Kb6. He saw that after 25.b4 there would
be no immediate advantage for White. After the game Topalov said that he had
seen everything up to move 33 and could not resist the temptation to take a
full Rook and let Kasparov justify his sacrifice. (Jongsma): Kasparov
indicated that Black should have refused this sacrifice with 24...Kb6 and
after 25.b4 White would not longer have an advantage. Thank goodness it didn't
come to that. (Kuijf): Analysis up to now has shown that this loses. After
the solid 24...Kb6 Kasparov could prove nothing. } ( { (Ligterink): Kasparov
racked his brains on this position [24.Rxd4] to find an advantage for him if
Topalov would play } 24... Kb6 { . Unfortunately there isn't any. (Willemsen):
It seems hardly likely that Kasparov would have squandered his advantage by
risking that Topalov would not accept the sacrifice. I'll give you the move
that Kasparov probably would have played instantly if Topalov had played 24...
Kb6. According to my analysis } 25. Nb3 $3 { wins for White and I give the following variations: } ( { After } 25. b4 Qxf4 26. Rxf4 Nxd5 27. Rxf7 cxb4 28. axb4 Nxb4 29. Nb3 Rhe8 ( { or } 29... Bd5 { it seems that Black is somewhat better. It would be ridiculous to blame
Topalov for missing this chance. He wanted to win and believed that he would
have sufficient resources after accepting the sacrifice. } ) ) 25... Nxd5 ( 25... cxd4 26. Qxd4+ Kb7 ( 26... Kc7 27. Qa7+ Bb7 28. Nc5 Qb6 ( 28... Qxd5 29. Nxa6+ Kd6 30. Nc5 Qd2 ( { After } 30... Qxf3 { follows } 31. Rf1 { and White wins. } ) 31. Qb6+ { and White wins. } ) ( 28... Rb8 29. Re7+ Qxe7 ( { After } 29... Kd8 { White can play } 30. Rxb7 ) 30. Nxa6+ Kd6 31. Qc5+ { and White wins. } ) 29. Re7+ Nd7 30. Qxb6+ $1 Kxb6 31. Nxb7 Kxb7 32. Bxd7 Kb6 33. Bc6 $1 a5 { (threatening 34.b4) } 34. Rb7+ { and White wins. } ) 27. Na5+ Kb8 28. Re7 { (threatening mate on a7.) } 28... Qxe7 ( 28... Nd7 29. Bxd7 { (threatening 30.Be6) } 29... Rxd7 ( { After } 29... Bxd5 { it is mate after } 30. Nc6+ Kc7 31. Qa7# ) 30. Qxh8+ Ka7 31. Qd4+ Kb8 32. Rxd7 Qxd7 33. Qb6+ { and White wins the resulting endgame. } ) 29. Qb6+ Qb7 ( { If } 29... Bb7 { it is mate after } 30. Nc6+ Ka8 { and } 31. Qa7# ) 30. Nc6# { mate. } ) ( 25... Qxf4 26. Rxf4 Rd6 27. Be6 $1 fxe6 28. Rxf6 Bxd5 29. Nd2 Kc6 ( 29... Re8 30. Rf7 { (If } 30... Ba2+ { then } 31. Kc1 { and White wins.) with big advantage for White. } ) 30. Ne4 Bxe4 31. Rxe4 Kd5 32. b3 c4 33. b4 e5 34. Rf7 { with a big advantage for White. } ) 26. Qxd6+ Rxd6 27. Rh4 f5 28. a4 $1 { and White is somewhat better. } ) 25. Re7+ $1 { (Ree): Not 25.Qxd4+ Qb6 26.
Re7+Nd7 27.Rxd7 and Black is winning. (Pam): It is important to play the
moves in the right order, so not 25.Qxd4+ Qb6 26.Re7+ Nd7! (Jongsma):
Another bombshell. 25.Qxd4+ Qb6 26.Re7+ Nd7 and 28...Kb6 would lead to nothing. } ( { (Kuijf): Precision is required. If } 25. Qxd4+ Qb6 26. Re7+ Nd7 $1 { and White can resign. } ) 25... Kb6 { (Ree): After 25...Kb8 26.Qxd4 Nd7
27.Rxd7 White wins because the Rook on h8 is hanging, a motive that we will
see again later on. If Black plays 26...Qxe7 in this variation, he will be
mated with 27.Qb6+ etc. (Pam): The Rook could not be taken because of 25...
Qxe7 26.Qd4+ Kb8 27.Qb6+ Bb7 28.Nc6+ Ka8 29.Qa7 and mate. } ( { (Ligterink):
That is the first point. Black's King is forced forward as it will be mate
after } 25... Qxe7 26. Qxd4+ Kb8 27. Qb6+ ) ( { and White has too many threats after } 25... Kb8 26. Qxd4 Nd7 27. Bxd7 ) 26. Qxd4+ Kxa5 { (Ree): After 26...Qc5 27.Qxf6+ Black aims for a repetition
of moves with 27...Qd6, but Kasparov would then have played the beautiful move
28.Be6. (Pam): On the Internet Michael Greengard suggested the interesting
alternative 26...Qc5?! In any case, White still has a dangerous attack after
26.Qxf6+ Qd6 27.Qxf7. (Kuijf): Topalov was already short of time here and
his choices have not diminished. } ( { (Ligterink): The refutation of } 26... Qc5 { is beautiful as } 27. Qxf6+ Qd6 28. Be6 $1 Bxd5 29. b4 $1 Ba8 30. Qxf7 Qd1+ 31. Kb2 Qd4+ ( { or } 31... Qxf3 32. Bf5 $1 ) 32. Ka2 Rb8 33. Rd7 Qe5 34. f4 { and White is winning. } ) 27. b4+ Ka4 28. Qc3 { (Pam): Threatening mate with 29.Qb3. } 28... Qxd5 { (Pam): 28...Bxd5
would be insufficient because of 29.Kb2! and 31.Qb3+ Bxb3 32.cxb3 mate. } ( { (Ligterink): The only move as after } 28... Bxd5 29. Kb2 { Black is without defence against the mating threat } 29... Qe5 30. Rxe5 h6 31. Qb3+ Bxb3 32. cxb3# { . This motive we will encounter again later. } ) 29. Ra7 $1 { (Ree): 29.Qc7 Qd1+ and perpetual was the draw that Kasparov had seen about
ten moves earlier. (Pam): Another fantastic move which Kasparov must have
seen right from the beginning of his combination. Of course he had also seen
that 29.Qc7 Qd1+ 30.Ka2 Qd5+ 31.Kb2 Qd4+ 32.Kb1 would be a draw. } ( { (Ligterink): Kasparov takes the bit between his teeth! At move 24 he had seen
that he could make a drawwith } 29. Qc7 { after which Black has to give perpetual check with } 29... Qd1+ 30. Kb2 Qd4+ {  } ) ( { (Pam): Now Black has the defence } 29. Kb2 Qd4 { and White has no mate. } ) 29... Bb7 { (Ligterink): Again the only move because
after 29...Rd6 30.Kb2 it is mate again. Black must always be able to reply
with Qd4 if White plays Kb2. (Pam): Necessary because after 29...Rd6 White
has 30.Kb2! } ( { (Ree): } 29... Rd6 { will be refuted by } 30. Kb2 { threatening 31.Qb3+ and mate. } ) 30. Rxb7 { (Ree): Now 31.Ra7 and mate is a
renewed threat. Black has a 'free move' but what to do? } 30... Qc4 { (Ree): 30...Rd6 will be met with 31.Rb6! and after 31...Rxb6 or 31...Rhd8,
32.Kb2 will be decisive. It was suggested that Black had a adequate defence
with 30...Rhe8. After 31.Be6 Rxe6 32.Rxe6 Qc4! Black has a drawish Rook
endgame. Gert Ligterink however found the fantastic quiet move 31.Bf1!! and
until now, no defence has been found. (Pam): Another crucial moment. Also
30...Rd6 31.Rb6!! (brilliant) 31...Rxb6 32.Kb2! would have been insufficient. 
However, Topalov said that after the game he had found an escape with 30...
Rhe8 31.Rb6 Ra8 32.Be6!! (because immediately 32.Kb2 is not possible because
of 32...Qe5) 32...Rxe6 33.Rxe6 Qc4!! 34.Qxc4 bxc4 35.Rxf6 Ra7 36.Kb2 c3+! 37.
Kxc3 Kxa3 and Black has drawing chances in this endgame. Indeed an ingenious
variation but it would not surprise me if Kasparov manages to find animprovemen
t. } ( { (Ligterink): Many hours of analysis have been spent, of course with
the help of computer programs. Especially in this kind of position, programs
like Fritz and Rebel are indispensable in order to find a mate. A few hours
after the game, Topalov entered the press room and said that he had found a
refutation with his second Danailov (and with Fritz) and had come to the
conclusion that Black can make a draw. Not with } 30... Rd6 31. Rb6 $1 Rxb6 32. Kb2 ) ( { but with } 30... Rhe8 $1 31. Rb6 Ra8 { Was this the refutation
of Kasparov's piece of art? No, Black's King is so badly placed that White can
permit himself a lot. The next day I discovered that White, after 30...Rhe8 31.
Rb6 Ra8 has time to play the quiet move } 32. Bf1 $1 { thus preventing the
manoeuvre Qc5-c4. Fritz was surprised but in the end agreed. The main threat
is 33.Rd6. (Kuijf): Afterwards 30...Rhe8
was studied. Ligterink showed the following fantastic continuation: 31.Rb6 Ra8
32.Bf1!! } ( 32. Be6 $5 { (32.Kb2 Qe5) } 32... Rxe6 33. Rxe6 Qc4 $3 34. Qxc4 bxc4 35. Rxf6 Kxa3 36. Rxf7 c3 ) 32... Re1+ ( { and after } 32... Red8 { White plays } 33. Rc6 $1 { and Rc6-c5 cannot be prevented. } ) ( { Black's best chance would have been } 32... Rec8 33. Qxc8 Qd1+ 34. Ka2 Qd5+ 35. Bc4 Qxc4+ 36. Qxc4 bxc4 37. Rxf6 { with a winning rook endgame for White. } ) 33. Qxe1 ( { If } 33. Kb2 Qe5 34. Qxe5 Rxe5 35. Rxf6 Ra7 36. Bd3 Rd5 37. Be4 Rd2 38. Rb6 f5 39. Bc6 { doesn't win. } ) 33... Nd7 { and it appears that White has nothing, but he continues with } 34. Rb7 $3 Qxb7 35. Qd1 $3 { and every computer program gives mate in 5. Had Kasparov seen
this? There is room for some doubt. } ) 31. Qxf6 Kxa3 { (Ree): Black
could reach an endgame in various ways, for instance with 31...Rd1+ 32.Kb2 Ra8
33.Qb6 Qd4+ but the poor position of his King will be fatal. (Pam): Forced
because after 31...Rd1+ 32.Kb2 Qd4+ 33.Qxd4 Rxd4 34.Rxf7 the endgame is very
unpleasant for Black in spite of being the exchange up. Black must watch out
for the manoeuvre Bh3-e6-b3. } ( { (Ligterink): No better is } 31... Rd1+ 32. Kb2 Ra8 33. Qb6 Qd4+ 34. Qxd4 Rxd4 35. Rxf7 { (threatening Bh3-e6-b3 mate) } 35... a5 36. Be6 axb4 37. Bb3+ Ka5 38. axb4+ Rxb4 39. c3 { and the Rook is trapped. } ) 32. Qxa6+ Kxb4 { (Ligterink): Both players had seen this position long ago.
Topalov thought that White had nothing, but Kasparov had seen further. 
 (Jongsma): I could say a lot about the preceding moves, but will limit myself
to mentioning out that at no point Black could have played better than he did. } 33. c3+ $1 Kxc3 34. Qa1+ Kd2 35. Qb2+ Kd1 { (Jongsma):
Kasparov had calculated all these staggering moves when he decided to
sacrifice his Rook. He had seen perpetual check in case he had made a mistake,
but while Topalov was thinking, Kasparov (who executed each move almost
instantly) rechecked his calculations and found them sound. His next two moves
are the most surprising. } 36. Bf1 $3 { (Ligterink): The first of two
fabulous finishing touches. (Ree): Also this move White must have seen
miraculously long ago. If he hadn't had this move, he would have been lost. 
 (Kuijf): A diversion and 36...Qd3 had to be prevented. } ( { (Pam): Unbelievable! A quiet move } 36. Bf1 { in such a position, but it is a deadly one because } 36... Qxf1 37. Qc2+ Ke1 38. Re7+ { would lead to total destruction. } ) 36... Rd2 ( { (Ligterink): After } 36... Qxf1 37. Qc2+ Ke1 38. Re7+ { mate follows. } ) ( { (Pam): If } 36... Rd3 { then } 37. Rd7 ) 37. Rd7 $3 { (Ligterink): At this point Black must have regretted his
move 3...g6, said Kasparov. Indeed, with the pawn still on g7 White would have
had only one Rook for the Queen. (Ree): Another great move and the remark
made at the previous move is valid here too. (Jongsma): Both moves played
at blinding speed! (Kuijf): The end is forced. } 37... Rxd7 38. Bxc4 bxc4 39. Qxh8 { (Ree): It's over. The rest is technique. } 39... Rd3 { (Kuijf):
any a player with poor technique would have been unable to finish the game in
style. It takes Kasparov only 4 further moves. } 40. Qa8 c3 41. Qa4+ Ke1 42. f4 f5 43. Kc1 Rd2 44. Qa7 ( { (Ligterink): The end. Black loses his Rook after } 44. Qa7 Rxh2 ( { and after a move with the h-pawn } 44... h5 45. Qb6 { is decisive. } ) 45. Qg1+ ) 1-0