Kasparov's Greatest Game!! 🙀 Kasparov's Immortal analysis (Kasparov vs Topalov 1999, Pirc Defense)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 ก.พ. 2025
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In 1999, Kasparov was one of fourteen players invited to compete in the Wijk aan Zee tournament in the Netherlands, now often known as Tata Steel chess. The tournament was super-strong with Anand, Kramnik, Veselin Topalov, Alexei Shirov, Vassily Ivanchuk and Rustam Kasimdzhanov also challenging. Ultimately, Garry Kasparov would win with a fantastic 10/13 score. But one game stood out and was soon being described as one of the greatest chess games ever played, Kasparov’s Immortal.
Kasparov vs Topalov took place in round 4 with the Bulgarian Super GM expected to give the chess world champion a tough test. The game started uneventfully, with Topalov meeting 1.e4 with …d6, the Pirc Defense. Even 15 moves in, there wasn’t much sign of what was to come. Both Garry Kasparov and Veselin Topalov had castled queenside, Kasparov’s queen was stuck away from the action on h6 and Black’s pawns on a6, b5, c6 and d6 were doing a great job of keeping White at bay.
But Garry Kasparov soon injected energy into the position with 18.Na5, 19.Bh3 and 20.Qf4+ all improving his piece activity. Topalov was unfazed and closed the position with 21…d4. A knight exchange followed then 23…Qd6 - Black offers the queen exchange and prepares to capture the d5 pawn, going ahead on material with a fantastic position. Was Kasparov lost?
Then came a move that caught the attention of the chess world: 24.Rxd4!! A stunning sacrifice of rook for pawn. Topalov took and the world expected Kasparov to recapture with the queen, giving check. But Garry had other ideas: 25.Re7+!! a SECOND rook sacrifice!
Topalov sinks into deep thought, and sees the second rook sacrifice cannot be taken. Instead, he takes the knight, willingly placing himself in what looks like a tight mating net, yet he always has that one escape square or saving move. Was Kasparov’s brilliancy flawed? No! An incredibly intricate series of quiet and “only” moves, sacrifices and counter-sacrifices result in Kasparov having a queen vs rook and the game ended on move 44.
From move 24, Kasparov’s Immortal sees him sacrifice EVERY piece apart from his queen - yet he still comes out ahead on material. Enjoy this Kasparov vs Topalov analysis, one of the finest chess games ever played!
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I am also very good at sacrificing everything, the problem is, that is also the only thing I'm good at it
murderousintent I find myself doing that as well, tactical sacrifices followed by a tactical surrender.
+TimeMachine140 Same
+Deathmeter hahahaha tactical surrender xD
I love sacrifices. They are fun, at least until my King has been rounded up.
I usually just sacrifice my opponent. It looks easier.
I also sacrifice everything... including my king
+M. Yasir Ali who needs the king anyways
Dude 226 dislikes this guy is like the best commentator ever he literally went threw every single move/possibilities and explained everything threw out the game. I don't understand how people can dislike this. Overall very well explained, subbed, like, etc.
+shadower darkisb Thanks, but 226 dislikes... and 3373 likes!
+shadower darkisb He's a pretentious little twat. This video is nothing but 'he could have done this or that or maybe the other thing! why didn't he do what I wanted him to do?!1 D:'
The game was played the way it was played. All these maybes are even less than worthless verbal diarrhea.
+Marco Bering That's what all commentary IS (what if this why not this etc.). However, he never once said either of the chess players were bad; contrarily he complimented their tactics extensively. This commentary is very helpful as a learning tool
+Marco Bering It's called analysis and constructive criticism. You're just being absurdly butthurt.
+shadower darkisb I disagree. The comments sound more like an average joe questioning a Grandmaster´s choices while not seeing the (GOOD) reasons why they decided to play their moves THE WAY THEY DID.
Criticism is acceptable, but if faulty it ceases to be acknowledgeable. And because most people don´t know much about chess and lack the necessary depth they might fall for it and give plenty of thumbs up...
Great commentary...for some reason, you have a way of doing so without distracting too much from the game itself, which, for a novice like me, is immensely beneficial...thank you!
Best commentary, great to find someone impartial.
I like sacrificing for positional advantages, but this is sacrificing a rook just for one move of tempo! Love it. A very nice analysis of an amazing game.
Great teaching! In the game, (of course) and the very superior analysis. Thank you!
that was insanely awesome, i like how you discuss the possible future moves and what each move played means for the other side
It's actually amazing how much chess engines have improved in a relatively short period of time.
I remember watching a TH-cam video about 10 years ago about this game, and the commentator said that it took one of the top chess engines of the time something like an hour to find 24. Rxd4. I just tested out of curiosity with Stockfish6, and it found that move as the best one in less than a second.
(Even after 5 billion nodes calculated, depth 40, it still considers it the best move for white. Curiously, it considers white's position worse than black's, at -0.42. Not by much, of course, but still apparently not a clear-cut win for white. It considers black's best refutation to be 24. ... Kb6.)
In one of my older chess books 24. ... Kb6 was also listed as the best move for black, maintaining a little bit of an advantage, even. Seems like Stockfish6 thinks the same.
Kasparov was just a titanic force here with this combination. There was no way Topalov could see all of that. There didn't _seem_ to be a forced win for Kasparov, so Topalov took the risk and lost the game after Kasparov's utterly insane attack.
I remember the first time I played through this game. Remarkable that Kasparov had the chance to produce a golden game before retiring. Topalov deserves credit for the assist.
Amazing. Kasparov and Topalov, and probably all people at the global top level, think so far ahead. I loved the double rook sacrifice plan by Kasparov, showing the dept he can actually plan solid moves into. I also liked the forced move at 21:15, and the pure fact that Topalov understands the force, and moves.
very instructive...I think in the prime of their careers Kasparov is the greatest of every world champion...the absolute best player the world has every seen touch the pieces...his games are also among the most instructive and entertaining as well.
+Kelly Driskill Indeed, He is one of the best chess players in history.
wow ! a lesson for all the beginners ( like myself ) i mean before kasparov plays the rook sac, and as the commentator so rightly pointed out, it doesnt seem his pieces threatening a lot, i mean the analysis was just superb about the knight and the bishop both not as active as black's pieces, and with that space gain it does really seem like white is gonna be in a bit of trouble after some pieces are traded off maybe or when we hit the end game, but here kasparov shows how to use the 'potential' of the pieces, i mean he made the right moves in the opening, start-middle-game while developing and the pieces have potential but something needs to be done and kasparov here brilliantly shows how to analyse a postion wherein you played the better developing moves in the beginning but you seem like been shut out now in the middle game, his spot on calculations help to completely bring out the potential of his pieces, i would certainly start thinking like this to see if a coordinated attack is possible thereby respecting the moves you have already made !!!! wow wow wow !!!!! amazing analysis of a brilliant game !!!!!!
Jimmy Page Thank you for your great comment. I guess you said all lol. Anyway glad to see you enjoy the course and keep positing comments like this, it's always a pleasure to read it 😊 Thank you !
Plus, he started with the Bishop sacrifice to remove Black's Bishop...
This game is so deep!
Thanks so much for a great presentation of an awesome game!
What a pleasure! I thoroughly enjoyed the entire video from beginning to end, plus a lot of rewinds as well! LOL!!
You're narration was clear, poignant, & engrossing! Thanks again!
I tried to use Kasparov's sacrifice tactic but I ended up sacrificing my king :/
LOL
Dude, same here, If I was kasparov I would be like " easy" but im me so im like "what the ****, I cant do anything!"
Laughed a lot bro.... Nice one
its amazing that up so much material he not only has to give it all back but even allows kasparov to get ahead in material just to keep his king alive
The very best orchestration between narrative and highlightings! That's putting it briefly! It was a supreme pleasure following your analysis! I felt I was actually in the game with this video! Second of yours I've seen. [ Kpovs4queens?] You were humorous in that one too! I may have commented so. May I call you maestro?
Steve Sebzda thanks!
OnlineChessLessons.NET, Will? Is it?... 12 plus 1's, about now! As I recall, your analysis, struck me as being very enjoyable!... It's nice to see, others felt the same way, as I did!
Will...what? It's not Will Shortz.... He does puzzles! Lol!
Maybe it's worth a note that the black king ends where the white started. :)
Thanks for the analysis! It's awesome.
+tomekd789 Thanks, I'm glad you like this video!
After having a break in chess for years, these kind of reviews rly get me motivated to play (more) again. Love the detailed insight!
Thanks for the feedback Alejandro - certainly appreciated.
I love Garry!! He plays Chess like the opponent doesn’t exist. His game is more like watching an amazing mathematical art with a story. A genius, and to risk his life for Russian people shows the man he really is, and the depth of his heart!! It is truly an honor to have him live in my lifetimre.
thanks for commenting!
risk his life?
Lol risk his life?! The armenian jew Gary Weinstein never risk his life, trust me..Well funded by the West he tried to sell Russia but it didn't work. As a check player -one of the greatest In the history if not The Greatest. As a person - complete shit.
Best commentary for a single game ever, kudos and thanks.
Great commentary, just one small criticism. It would help novice players, like myself, to follow more closely, if you had some way of highlighting moves that didn't actually happen in the game itself, (like the g4 'move' at about 01:42). It got a bit confusing at times.
This was an awesome video, man. To think that a person could sack a rook and a knight and still go on to win the match is absurd and insane! However, a man by the name of Garry Kasparov was able to pull it off. And really it was just hilarious the whole game how Topalov wasn't even able to involve his king side rook into the game because of Kasparov's constant and persistent mating threats and checks; it seemed almost as if on every move, that if Topalov did not make the right move then he would be mated. If he used up time to develop his other rook he would have lost on the spot.
the best game i ever seen. thanks a lot
+ismail hossain Thanks!
I'm watching this at 3:22 am and this game is so satisfying to watch that I have a giggling problem. Being tired does weird things to you.
excellent analyse! these sacrifices are so cool to watch and try understand
I really like the graphics showing the path of the pieces- makes it very easy to follow and understand. This has to be one of the craziest games of all time.
Thank you!
Thanks for your efforts. I enjoyed it so much.
+burhan bozkurt Thanks!
+burhan bozkurt Kesinlikle efsane...
i learned a lot!!
stop showing what they would have played, and simply show how the game was actually played. It's not as if you could possibly know the thoughts in their heads in order to discuss the "if" possibilities
what a moronic comment..
TheMrLandon Analysis is important but I think that it should be saved for after the game. Otherwise people watching the video just won't know what happened, what moves were played when. At the end of the day these guys are world champions and probably had some thoughts similar to those of this narrator as to what moves to play next. Just show us what could have happened after the game is finished that is all I want.
Best half an hour ever spent :D
thank you for commenting and explaining this game. As a new player I wouldn't be able to understand and see all the technical things involved in this game. Thank you very much
Very thorough, great commentary covering all aspects of this wonderful game.
This is by far my favorite video. Thanks Will!
I've watched a few commentaries on this classic game, but yours might just be my favorite thus far! Such an amazing and deep game with absolutely stunning sacrifices by Kasparov. You went through some very interesting variations besides the obvious sacrifices, which some videos don't even manage to cover for us who can't think too many moves ahead.
Absolutely phenomenal game and fantastic commentary. I consider myself a beginner at chess, but it's still easy to notice when others don't know what they're doing (especially in analysis videos). Not your case. Every single possibility observed makes sense and is instructive. You've got a new subscriber!
And once again...what a game!
The thumbnail on this video is everything.
That was a brilliant game, and really good analysis. Thank you.
You're great man! Awesome vid, hope for more.
One of the best chess games according to me.. Loved ur commentary by the way! ❤
Thanks!
Love the commentary and analysis. You do great videos on famous games.
Awesome game !! One of the best games I have seen !!
Excellent explanation and commentary too .. Great work !!
thanks!
I imagine you learn A LOT by analyzing these games. I know I do. thanks for the efforts and the teaching.
What I found most interesting was the strange dynamic of black holding on to a material advantage while hoping white falls short on his push for mate. And while it seemed white was temporarily thwarted, he captures back more material so that black can no longer rely on his material lead. Then ultimately black is undone both ways, by lack of material AND the relentless mate threats and forced moves.
That is just so deep and well thought out. There is no guessing why he was the best.
I am new to chess and even I (as a newbie) can see that this is one hell of a crazy game.
Especially nice you kinda summed up the game at the end, loved it!
Thanks for your feedback!
that game was bananas!!! A good old fashioned King Chase. I love how once Kasparov starts sac'ing pieces he just keeps going.
Comepletely nuts! The double rook sac idea was brilliant. Even though the 2nd rook couldn't be taken.
Brilliant game by Kasparov! His immortal chess game! "Chess is life" - Fisher
Very clear commentary on an amazing game. Thank you
i just found this stuff - only know the game very casually - completely awesome thank you - math guy about to lose my mind on your channel
Although I sometimes enjoy watching very "cirurgically precise" maneuvering of pieces, there is no doubt that the smell of blood from pieces sacrifices makes the game so much entertaining to see and admire.
Please keep up your great selection of games. Thank you!
Excellent analysis of one of my favorite games. Thanks! This game really deserves to be called "The best game ever". Will, have you ever seen a more complicated chess game than Kasparov's Immortal?
I have to agree with some of the people posting here, that your commenting is really clear and enriching, not even distracting. The only thing I recommend is being more clear on to which moves are actually "recommendations", and which ones are the real ones from the game; I kind of got lost more than once thinking the game developed in a way which did not! Thanks again :)
I stumbled on this game while surfing the web last night and I was hooked on it all day today. You did a great job of going through the possible combinations, but one thing you didn't go thoroughly enough is what happens after black plays Ra8 at 20:48. White's best move here is actually Kb2! and White either mates or wins the Queen. Let's go through Black's options after Kb2:
… a5, Qb6! a5xb4, Ra7+! RxR, QxR mate
… a5, Qb6! Qd5, Bf1! Qe5+, c3 (any move), Bxb5+ QxB, QxQ mate
Great commentary and analysis. very well done thank you.
Peter Dwyer thanks!
Great video as always Will....You guys are great please keep up the good work and god bless you all. :)
I think it was very clear when it was from the actual game and when it was your ideas.
thank you very much for this video.
Topalov knew he would lose if he took the Rook but players at that level wanna test those things.
I bet he wanted to see what the best chessplayer in the world had come up with.
Actually its pretty much forced. Analysed it with coach and friends today... lmao
Actually I think he said he simply missed Kasparov's c3!. He saw 9 moves ahead and didn't see how Kasparov would finish the attack, but Kasparov saw 16 moves ahead.
Yeah this is excellent commentary, thank you
Great one. Loved it! Thanks for uploading, and great review! :3
"Just to review: this game was completely nuts" :)
Thanks for the video! Very entertaining and instructive commentary.
Thanks for commenting!
Right, specially the d4-e4-f3 setup against the Pirc defense, very useful if you want to attack later!
Thumbs up !!!!
Plz upload more dynamic games like these.
Thnx.
"So to summarize... This game was completely nuts" ahaha love it
What a game! I'm without any words! Genius he really is!
This is a great video. Kasparov is a genius when it comes to prophylactic thinking. I will certainly reconsider many of the up front and simple defensive moves I use when I play and instead look for longer term success moves.
I don't even play chess and am a complete novice (I just enjoy watching games for some reason) but a lot of the moves go over my head as to why. This was so thoroughly explained in such a good way that even being a complete beginner, I understood the whole thing perfectly due to your explanation. A+ for this video and it was great entertainment even though I don't get to put it to practical use.
wow that rook sac was so deep that stockfish could not even see as far as kasparov!! It said black was winning with -1.40 but with each move stockfish started to prefer white more and more
colbol18 didn't they all have teams of analysts back then?
omfg this game is amazing
One of the greatest games ever played. Thanks for your insight!
He is a genius... What he had done here is amazing!
Wow, this really is the best chess game I've ever seen! Thanks for analyzing and commenting :)
Thanks for the game, and I appreciate your dialogue as well....quite instructive.
+Mike Rimm thanks, I'm glad you like this video.
Oh boy!!! No one would have seen that rook sac coming...
The thumbnail for this video is the most amazing this ive ever seen. definitely the next meme. a chess meme for sure. who knew :P
very nice annotation to an amazing game, as you say. I appreciated your skill in describing the variations which seem impossibly fortunate and dangerous.
This game is a perfect illustration of how video running commentary is essential to understand the moves of some games. If someone just replayed the moves on chessgames.com, it would seem too pat.
+Dexter Haven Yes, you wouldn't understand the thought process in the game.
Dude, great explanation throughout.
+Buzz Bloomfield thanks!
Double Rook sacrifice, my goodness, I would've fell for that in an instant.
Thanks buddy, that really means a lot.
I think the A3 move at 3:27 was to prevent future bishop / knight outposts on the queens side area from where he is going to place his king.
+Bud] eNzo Where do you think black has an outpost on the queenside?
+iChess.net I meant from pushing pawn. In the future it could also be a outpost. The pawn push would be an annoying play for the knight.
Kasparov is the chess hero!!Thanks for the amazing video commentary on this immortal game!!!
Thanks for watching!
Kasparov's 190 IQ really shows
Kasparovs tactis are crazy im mind blown !
this is true but by playing h6 black is losing time, and will probly need to lose more time to protect it with Kh7 after white doubles up on that pawn. the flip side is that you do allow the bishop exchange a lot of the time (but white also loses time to pursue the exchange!) Hope that helps, Will
..Nd7 is pretty interesting there Pedro, but I think the problem would be that the black ..Rh8 is going to be hanging in a lot of variations. For example white could play 1. ..Nd7 2. Bxd7 Rxd7 3. Rxd7 Qxd7 4. Qxh8+ where white retains extra material and a strong initiative. Cheers, Will
"just to review... this game is completely nuts."
Capt'n Joe Sample Yes, very few GMs can deal correctly this type of games!
Wow , just wow!
Truly immortal!
Outplaying someone like Topalov is something you might not do in your whole career but Kasparov made it look so easy?!
He is the king of chess!
He is! :)
Kaspowerov !! Oh the energy and power of this attack. Did GK really see all this when he played Rxd4 !! ? Games like this demonstrate the difference between strong IGM's and one of the all-time-chess greats !! A profound and deep understanding of the game of chess, in a way that few other mortals could ever hope to produce !!
chesspiece1000 Yes! These Games explain why Kasparov became world chess champion!
Wow! Truly awesome game! Thanks for sharing!
Briliant game. Thank you for post the analysis.
+L Nogueira Marmontel Thanks! I'm glad you like this video!
so have i but it's more instructive and enjoyable to have two different analyses of the same game
Great analysis, from an absolutely stunning game.
Really nice game! Hope to see more of Kasparov crazy ideas!
the hardest thing about watching this video is the off script annotations. This is a Kasparov masterpiece. It's got flavors of Steinitz, Capablanca and Tal. Just show us their moves and narrate from there.
Awesome game by Kasparov. No wonder he was the world champion.....
thanks for showing this match. great!
Very beautiful game indeed.
nice video, nice and good voice ... well done analisis
thank you for posting
this was a great game. thank you
+Johnny Rock yw!