In my life, there were numerous events that made me sad:

– My last World of Warcraft raid ever

– Durant signing for Warriors

– Mufasa’s death

However, never have I been as sad as on 10 March 2005.

On that day, the chess world has been struck with the news of epic proportions – just after winning the Linares tournament 2005, the 13th World Champion, Garry Kimovich Kasparov, announced his retirement from competitive chess.

Kasparov is widely regarded as the greatest chess player ever (if we disregard those blind Fischer fans). He dominated world chess for almost 20 years, broke numerous records (such as the number of weeks as the top-rated player in the world, highest ELO ever achieved at a time, number of consecutive super tournament victories). However, even more impressive than his victories is the way he achieved them. Fantastic opening preparation, striving for the initiative from the very start even at the cost of material and dazzling attacks are the characteristics of his fighting style.
His opponents were often unable to endure the pressure and battle against this hurricane chess.

The number of fantastic and famous games is unprecedented. Who doesn’t know his Nd3 octopus Karpov game, brilliant 16th game Ruy Lopez attack of the London/Leningrad 1986 match, must-win last game of the 1987 Seville match, the sacrifice of two rooks against Topalov in 1999 or final crush of Kramnik’s Berlin in Astana 2001, to name a few.

It is a huge pity he retired so early (he was just 42). I am pretty confident he could have remained a top player for a number of years. As main reasons for his retirement, he quoted lack of motivation and change in priorities – he decided to focus more on his publishing and political career.

In any case, politics once again brought us nothing good. On March 10, 2005, we lost a brilliant chess player and we got a mediocre politician.

At best.

Happy 56th birthday you legend!!

(If you like posts as these, check our complete list of Chess Birthdays )