Fata Morgana

Samuel L. Shankland – Garry Kimovich Kasparov

6th Champions Showdown: Chess 9LX; time control: 20 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; Saint Louis, September 10, 2023

rnbbqnkr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBBQNKR w HAha - 0 1

Position #421

1. d4 d6 2. e4 e5 3. dxe5 dxe5 4. Ne3 Ne6 5. 0-0 0-0 6. a4 Bg5?! This is quite questionable.
7. Nd2 Nd7 (7. ... b6 8. b4 Nd7)
8. a5

8. ... Nf6?! (8. ... b5!? 9. b4!? c5!?)
9. b3 Qd8 10. Nec4 Re8 11. Bb2 Nd4

12. Nxe5! 12. Nf3 was also possible, and very strong, but Shankland bravely accepts the challenge.
12. ... Nxc2 13. Bxc2 Bxd2 14. Qe2 Bf4 15. Rad1 Qe7 16. Nd3

16. ... Bxh2+?? A total miscalculation. After 16. ... Bh6 17. Rfe1 Bg4 18. f3 Bd7 19. Qf2 White stands better, but the game goes on.
17. Kxh2 Ng4+ 18. Kg3 h5 19. Rh1 Qg5. That’s what Kasparov saw, but there’s no mate and the end is inglorious.
20. f4 Qg6 21. f5! Bxf5 (21. ... Qg5 22. Rxh5! Qxh5 23. Qxg4+−)
22. Nf4 1 : 0.

Kasparov ultimately fell victim to his own mirages. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club.