Kasparov’s tailspin

In a game between top players, the opening moves signify not only the battleground they have embraced, but also the terrain they have avoided. In his prime, Garry Kasparov’s opponents would often duck the most critical choices, fearing the champion’s formidable advantage in home analysis of complex positions. But those who yielded an inch at the outset faced an uphill struggle of a different sort, and Kasparov won countless games from that psychological vantage point.

Since his retirement in 2005, Kasparov has made sporadic appearances in speed events against the world elite, with respectable results. But his appearance earlier this month at the Grand Chess Tour’s blitz event in Zagreb was disastrous, as he scored just 2.5/18. What went wrong?

His confidence took a knock in the very first game, in which the former world champion chose the Sicilian Najdorf as Black against Dutch no. 2 Jorden van Foreest. During his career, Kasparov wore that opening like a powerful exoskeleton, pummelling his opponents with ease.