Greatest Comebacks in Chess History: Chess requires complete mental focus and resilience. There have been times when players have been stuck in positions where everything has seemed hopeless, and yet it has been turned around into victories that seem almost unreal by using their best moves. Amidst the chess championships over the years, there have been a few that have that have made made a mark in history as some of the greatest comebacks in chess history.
Greatest Comebacks in Chess History
Kasparov vs. Karpov
Year: 1985, World Chess Championship
This was a remarkable match where Garry Kasparov made a remarkable recovery and brought the score to 5-3 from 5-0 while playing against Anatoly Karpov. Eventually, Garry Kasparov made history by becoming the 13th World Chess Champion in a 24-game match with a final score of 13-11. This match began in 1984 and continued for over five months, and had to be halted. Garry Kasparov is a Russian Chess grandmaster. This is considered to be one of the greatest comebacks in chess history because just one more win was needed for Anatoly Karpov to win the match.
Alekhine vs Euwe
Year: 1935, World Chess Championship
Alexander Alekhine faced tough competition from Max Euwe, who was a mathematician and a grandmaster from Dutch in the 30-game match. While Alekhine, who is the world champion in chess and one of the most dominant players in the game, had the lead in the match initially, the technique and calmness displayed by Max Euwe over the course of the match led to his win and him becoming the fifth World Chess Champion. He is the only Dutchman who has won this title, and his emotional control, mental strength, and preparation made this victory very inspiring.
Kasparov vs. Topalov
Year: 1999, Hoogovens Tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands
Garry Kasparov displayed strategic resilience and used his foresight to win the 1999 Wijk aa Zee tournament, where he was playing against Veselin Topalov. Though early on in the tournament, he was not in a winning position and the upper hand rested with Veselin Topalov, he turned the game around and went on to win the match. This match is also famously known as “Kasparov’s Immortal”.
Carlsen vs Aronian
Year: 2012 Tata Steel Tournament
The match between Magnus Carlsen and Levon Aronian was held at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament, where Magnus Carlsen had defeated Aronian, who is Armenia’s top grandmaster, building on a mistake that had been made by Aronian and making a 69-move Queen’s Gambit game, and staying calm under pressure.
Kramnik vs Leko
Year: 2004 Classical World Chess Championship Match
Vladimir Kramnik reigned in the match against Peter Leko in the 14-game match championship, where all Leko required to win was a draw in the match. This secured the championship for Kramnik in one of the most intense matches. The rules of the game in the classical world championship were such that if the match ended in a tie, the current champion would get to keep his title.
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