Chess

Garry Kasparov, the PCA world champion, suffered an extraordinary defeat in the first round of the Euwe Memorial Tournament in Amsterdam. White's knight manoeuvres deserve at least an honourable mention in the Horse of the Year Show.

White: Veselin Topalov

Black: Garry Kasparov

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6

3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6

5 Nc3 a6 6 Bc4 e6

7 Bb3 Nbd7 8 f4 Nc5

So far as in several games of the Short-Kasparov match in 1993. Now Topalov plays a pawn sacrifice of a type popularised by Bobby Fischer.

9 0-0 Ncxe4 10 Nxe4 Nxe4

11 f5 e5 12 Qh5 Qe7 13 Qf3 Nc5

13...exd4 14.Re1 would have been very bad for Black.

14 Nc6! Qc7

After 14...bxc6 15.Qxc6+, Black loses his rook. In the long term, however, White's knight has no safe retreat.

15 Bd5 a5 16 Bg5! Ra6

17 Nd8! f6 18 Nf7 Rg8

19 Be3 g6 20 Ng5! Rg7

21 fxg6 Rxg6 22 Bf7+ Qxf7

23 Nxf7 Kxf7 24 Bxc5 dxc5

The wonder horse has finally perished, but taken Black's queen with him. Kasparov put as many difficulties as he could in White's way, but had to resign at move 66.