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Moscow was the setting for this installment of the 1994 Intel Chess Grand Prix, a series of rapidplay mini-matches featuring the best players in the world. There was no doubt which enounter everyone wanted to see in round 2; the prospect of Kasparov vs Kramnik was mouthwatering.
For a few years, Garry Kasparov had been predicting Kramnik as his eventual successor as world champion. He was correct but that momentous occasion was still 6 years away.
In this video, we get to see the 2 Kasparov vs Kramnik games that decided the round, commentated on by GM Daniel King. (This video is a free preview of Intel Grand Prix Moscow 1994).
Game 1 looks good for Garry as he captures the backward pawn on d6 to get a material advantage. If Kramnik exchanges Queens, then Kasparov will be confident of victory. But Kramnik doesn’t exchange Queens. Instead, he picks up his Queen and bangs it down on g4. Suddenly Black has created 2 threats: first, to capture the g3 pawn, taking advantage of the pin on the f2 pawn; second, to play Rd8 and win Queen for Rook.
This forces Garry into a passive retreat. A few moves later, the Queen exchange does take place but this time on Kramnik’s terms. Not only are there opposite-colored Bishops on the board but Black can win back the pawn by force. A draw is quickly agreed.
The second Kasparov vs Kramnik game produces fireworks. Despite Kramnik delaying d4 to move 5, we get a King’s Indian Defense, with Garry trying an aggressive …Ng4/…h5 setup. When Vlad castles Queenside, we know we’re in for an all-out attack on opposite sides of the board – Kramnik’s King looking in more danger initially, sat at the end of an open b-file.
It doesn’t take long for Kramnik to get his own attack going. A c4-c5 push vacates a square for his Bishop but Garry blocks the newly-opened diagonal by giving up his Bishop for the d5 Knight. Vlad pushes f4, heading for f5 and exposing the weakness created by Kasparov’s early …h5. But when Garry blocks this by placing his Knight on f5, attacking the h4 Bishop at the same time, it looks like Kramnik’s attack is over.
Vladimir’s solution to this problem is creative, instructive and memorable as he sacrifices material to gain an overwhelming position.
Enjoy this video and check out the complete course Intel Grand Prix Moscow 1994.
