Garry Kasparov — Linares 1999

dates: 21 February–10 March 1999
location: Linares, Spain
score: 10½ / 14 — seven wins, seven draws
winner: Garry Kasparov

Garry Kasparov in a portrait photographed in June 2015 — Garry Kasparov, June 2015. This later portrait accompanies his Linares 1999 games. Photo: Fryta 73.

Garry Kasparov won Linares 1999 without losing a game, scoring 10½ points from fourteen games. Eight players met in a double round robin, giving each rival a game with White and a game with Black against the champion. Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik shared second place on eight points, two and a half points behind Kasparov.

The most striking feature of the result is its color balance. Five of Kasparov’s seven victories came with Black: against Ivanchuk, Adams, Topalov, Svidler and Anand. His victories covered open Sicilians, a closed setup and games that continued deep into the endgame. His two White wins came against Ivanchuk and Adams in the second half.

Following the complete schedule puts those victories in context. Kasparov began with a draw against Svidler, then beat Ivanchuk in round two. Draws against Anand and Kramnik followed before the next win. A concentrated run from rounds seven to ten brought four consecutive victories and included his second victory over Ivanchuk. The closing rounds combined a long win against Adams with draws against Kramnik, Leko and Topalov.

For training, the Black games invite you to look beyond equalizing: compare development, central breaks and the activity of each piece before choosing a candidate. The drawn games also matter. They show the resistance offered by an elite field and give you positions where retaining balance can be the practical achievement. Choose either player in each game and work through the event in order.

Garry Kasparov's Profile

Tournament results

Linares 1999 final standings and crosstable
No.	Player	Age	Elo	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	Points	Place
1	Kasparov	35	2812	**	½1	½½	½½	11	1½	½1	11	10½	1
2	Anand	29	2781	½0	**	½½	½½	½½	½1	1½	½1	8	2–3
3	Kramnik	23	2751	½½	½½	**	½½	½½	½½	½1	1½	8	2–3
4	Leko	19	2694	½½	½½	½½	**	1½	½½	0½	0½	6½	4
5	Ivanchuk	29	2714	00	½½	½½	0½	**	½1	1½	0½	6	5–6
6	Topalov	23	2700	0½	½0	½½	½½	½0	**	½1	½½	6	5–6
7	Svidler	22	2713	½0	0½	½0	1½	0½	½0	**	½1	5½	7–8
8	Adams	27	2716	00	½0	0½	1½	1½	½½	½0	**	5½	7–8

Each numbered column refers to the player with that number. The two symbols show the results of their two games. 1 = win, ½ = draw, 0 = loss; ** = same player. Points are out of 14.

Completed 0 / 14

Game 1: Svidler holds the opening Ruy Lopez

Kasparov began with a Ruy Lopez and the restrained d3 setup, keeping the center flexible before advancing d4. Svidler answered by opening central lines and activating his bishops. The draw is a useful opening exercise in deciding when a central pawn push improves the position and when it gives the opponent freedom.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Peter Svidler 1/2-1/2	Linares	1999	31	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 2: A first win in the Najdorf

Ivanchuk’s Be3 met an immediate knight jump to g4, followed by pawn advances that chased the bishop. Kasparov accepted the resulting complications and later coordinated his pieces against White’s back rank. Train from either side to compare the gain in activity with the risks of moving kingside pawns before development is complete.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vassily Ivanchuk – Garry Kasparov 0-1	Linares	1999	31	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 3: Anand’s active Queen’s Gambit Accepted

Kasparov switched to d4 and an early e4 against the Queen’s Gambit Accepted. Anand developed actively and castled long, while White’s central pawns advanced. The drawn continuation asks a different question from the Sicilian victories: how much can a passed pawn achieve when the opposing pieces remain well placed?

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2	Linares	1999	29	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 4: An early queen exchange against Kramnik

The Nimzo-Indian with Qc2 led to a queen exchange and a position in which Black had doubled f-pawns. Kramnik’s development and rook coordination kept the game balanced. This short draw provides practice in assessing structural weaknesses alongside the practical activity that can compensate for them.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Vladimir Kramnik 1/2-1/2	Linares	1999	20	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 5: Outlasting Adams in a closed Sicilian

Adams chose a closed setup with g3 and Bg2, while Kasparov expanded on the queenside. The game continued into a long queen ending in which Black’s a-pawn reached the second rank. Compare the threat of promotion with checks against the king before committing to a pawn race.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Michael Adams – Garry Kasparov 0-1	Linares	1999	59	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 6: Leko survives the advancing a-pawn

A Sicilian with an early knight exchange produced an unbalanced pawn structure and central play. The game lasted 48 moves, with Kasparov’s a-pawn reaching the seventh rank in the recorded final position. Leko held a draw, making this a useful counterpoint to the decisive games: a far-advanced passer still needs support and a safe promotion route.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Peter Leko 1/2-1/2	Linares	1999	48	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 7: Topalov tests the English Attack

Topalov advanced f3 and g4 and castled long against Kasparov’s Najdorf setup. Both players pursued active plans before the game reached a queen ending. Kasparov won after 61 moves; follow how the role of king safety changes when an opening pawn storm gives way to checks and passed pawns.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Veselin Topalov – Garry Kasparov 0-1	Linares	1999	61	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 8: A second-half win against Svidler

Svidler used an early queen recapture on d4 and exchanged his light-squared bishop on c6. Kasparov developed smoothly and later advanced his kingside pawns. The second meeting reversed the first-round result, offering a comparison between the quiet Ruy Lopez draw and a Sicilian in which Black could seek the initiative.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Peter Svidler – Garry Kasparov 0-1	Linares	1999	42	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 9: A White win over Ivanchuk

Their second encounter opened with the Queen’s Gambit Accepted rather than the Najdorf. Kasparov obtained active piece play and won after 36 moves, completing a sweep of his two games against Ivanchuk. Focus on the coordination of the minor pieces and the central pawn breaks that change their access to useful squares.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Vassily Ivanchuk 1-0	Linares	1999	36	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 10: Beating Anand with Black

Anand chose an English Attack against the Sicilian, with f3, g4 and long castling. Kasparov won the 50-move struggle, completing his fourth consecutive victory. The later minor-piece play makes this a good exercise in carrying an opening initiative into positions where attacking chances must be converted into lasting advantages.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Viswanathan Anand – Garry Kasparov 0-1	Linares	1999	50	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 11: Kramnik’s center meets the Grünfeld

Kramnik built the broad pawn center typical of the Grünfeld Exchange Variation. Kasparov challenged it with active pieces and pressure against the king. The draw ended with checks; before each guess, weigh the strength of White’s advanced central pawns against Black’s forcing possibilities.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Vladimir Kramnik – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Linares	1999	35	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 12: A long Ruy Lopez win against Adams

Kasparov returned to the Ruy Lopez and used a quiet d3 structure. The game continued for 65 moves and ended in a minor-piece position after White’s knight move to e6. This was his seventh and final victory: practice the patient improvements and endgame decisions that distinguish it from his sharper Sicilian wins.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Michael Adams 1-0	Linares	1999	65	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 13: Leko draws the Najdorf rematch

Leko’s Be3 and f3 setup again put the kingside pawns in motion. Kasparov countered on the queenside, and the recorded ending repeats rook and knight maneuvers. The draw offers practice in recognizing when an active-looking position has settled into a stable balance.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Peter Leko – Garry Kasparov 1/2-1/2	Linares	1999	28	No	—	—	—	—	Start

Game 14: Topalov holds the final round

A flexible opening transposed into a King’s Indian structure with a closed center. The game continued for 68 moves and finished with queens, minor pieces and repeated checks. Kasparov’s draw completed an unbeaten tournament; study both sides to see how attacking ambitions coexist with the need to manage counterplay.

Game	Event	Year	Moves	Played	Current move	Score	Correct	Accuracy	Action
Garry Kasparov – Veselin Topalov 1/2-1/2	Linares	1999	68	No	—	—	—	—	Start

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By IgniteChess Editorial Published 2026-10-08

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