Erwin l’Ami saw the game in person in Wijk as a 13-year-old spectator.
Seeing that game live was one of my most electrifying chess experiences ever. The excitement was shared with all the other spectators as to all of us it was obvious that we were witnessing something truly special. The fact that Kasparov would score an amazing 10/13 and win the tournament is not the first thing I remember from this event. The masterpiece that Kasparov created against Topalov, and the experience of seeing it unfold up close, certainly is. (Erwin l’Ami, „My Wijk aan Zee“, in: Kings, Queens & Rookies: The Tata Steel Chess Tournament. A Celebration of 85 Years, New in Chess 2023, S.14.).
In every list of the greatest games of all time compiled over the past 25 years, this game by Kasparov appears at the top or close to it, and countless YouTube videos have analysed and retold it with admiration over the years. But for those who do not yet know it, or who would like to enjoy it once again, it is presented here with comments by Robert Ris.
In his free course Wijk aan Zee Classics: Great Games, Timeless Lessons, Robert Ris presents five more brilliant games from Wijk.
On this DVD a team of experts gets to the bottom of Kasparov’s play. In over 8 hours of video running time the authors Rogozenko, Marin, Reeh and Müller cast light on four important aspects of Kasparov’s play: opening, strategy, tactics and endgame.
