Magnets
Description: Magnus Carlsen versus Sergey Karjakin, New York, 2016. Carlsen sacrifices his queen to become World Champion! Absolute class. There were no such flamboyant moves in Carlsen's last world championship match but what he showed was that his mental stamina is phenomenal. (We are aware here at ChessRules that Hikaru Nakamura played this exact same tactic in 2002.)
Description: Rameshbabu Praggnanandhaa versus Volodar Murzin, New York, 2024. The penultimate game in the 2024 World Rapid Championship sees Murzin’s king go marching up the board. Under immense time pressure Praggnanandhaa was flummoxed. Murzin had the nerve to place his king in the mouth of the lion knowing that his bishop will block the check and lead to an astonishing victory and ultimately becoming the second youngest player to win the tournament. Mindblowing!
Description: Ian Nepomniachtchi versus Sergei Rublevsky, Moscow, 2006. Nepomniachtchi’s knight went walkabout and jumped straight into the lion’s mouth where it could be taken by three pieces. This is play full of swagger from a young lad who went onto win. Here at ChessRules we’re big fans of Ian Nepomniachtchi.
Description: Michal Krasenkow versus Hikaru Nakamura, Barcelona, 2007. Krasenkow plays Bxf6 thinking that he’s captured a free piece as the move reveals his rook to attack Nakamura’s queen. Unfortunately for Krasenkow his opponent spotted an exceptional tactic: Qxf2* sacrificing the queen. This sucked out the king to middle of the board whereupon seven moves later Krasenkow resigned.
Description: Ding Liren versus Ian Nepomniachtchi, Astana, 2023. Nobody could see it. Nobody could see the significance of d5. Nobody except Liren. He blocked an escape route for his opponent’s king. Three moves later Nepomniachtchi resigns. Unbelievable calculation from Liren making him Chess World Champion.
Description: Magnus Carlsen versus Sergey Karjakin, New York, 2016. Carlsen sacrifices his queen to become World Champion! Absolute class. There were no such flamboyant moves in Carlsen's world championship match but what he showed was that his mental stamina is phenomenal. (We are aware here at ChessRules that Hikaru Nakamura played this exact same tactic in 2002.)
Description: Boris Spassky versus Bobby Fischer, Reykjavik, 1972. The pressure on these two players at that time is hard to comprehend. The eyes and ears of the spies of the world were watching! So to be able to still play incredible moves is testament to the brilliance of both Spassky and Fischer, but on this occasion Fischer’s Bxa4 was the winner.
Description: Stefan Levitsky versus Frank Marshall, Breslau, 1912. Marshall moves queen to g3 threatening checkmate next move. It's a stunning play because the queen can be taken by three different pieces but regardless of the sacrifice each move will lead to Levitsky being checkmated. Astonishing!
Description: Boris Spassky versus Bobby Fischer, Reykjavik, 1972. The pressure on these two players at that time is hard to comprehend. The eyes and ears of the spies of the world were watching! So to be able to still play incredible moves is testament to the brilliance of both Spassky and Fischer, but on this occasion Fischer’s Bxa4 was the winner.
Description: Magnus Carlsen versus Sergey Karjakin, New York, 2016. Carlsen sacrifices his queen to become World Champion! Absolute class. There were no such flamboyant moves in the recent world championship match but what Carlsen showed was that his mental stamina is phenomenal. (We are aware here at ChessRules that Hikaru Nakamura played this exact same tactic in 2002!)
