THE CHESS CAFE (“NRC-Handelsblad” 01/23/1999) http://www.chesscafe.com/text/ hans31.txt Heroic Tales Sometimes Kasparov does things that no other chessplayer is able to do, things that are so stunning that colleagues and spectators ask themselves in astounded admiration how for heaven’s sake it is possible that a human being can invent them. So it was in the fourth round of the Hoogovens tournament. Against Topalov he conjured up an attack out of nothing, with a rook sacrifice. Topalov thought long before he accepted the sacrifice. He could have reached an equal position by refusing, which of course he saw. After the game Kasparov said grinningly that for a brief moment Topalov had looked up, maybe receiving a message from above that he should contribute to Beauty by taking the rook. After that not only the moves that Kasparov made were stunning, but also the speed with which he executed them. Fifteen mortal blows in a row, all of marvelous beauty. Neither humans nor computers knew what to make of it while they saw it happening before their eyes, but Kasparov had already seen everything long before. After he had won, he said that this had been one of the most beautiful combinations of his career, maybe the most beautiful. This was no exaggeration. Those who were privileged to be present knew they would tell it to their children and grandchildren, as long as chess will be played in this world. When we were discussing this miracle afterwards, with rosy cheeks and glittering eyes, Jan Timman said: “Still it is difficult to say what is more admirable, the ease with which Anand is winning his games, or the almost supernatural effort that Kasparov puts into them.” But we agreed that emotionally, the choice is easy. Games like Kasparov – Topalov fill one with joy and make one glad to be a chessplayer. Comparing Kasparov and Anand this way brought Alekhine and Capablanca to mind. Alekhine was the rock-thrower, Capablanca the man who made it all seem easy. But the difference between Kasparov and Anand, which can be stated in the same terms, is more pronounced. GM Hans Ree:
Topalov, Veselin
Result: 1-0
