14 Amazing World Championship Blunders, Part 2
The world championship match Carlsen-Anand is over now and it brings some relief to me because I was afraid that I might have to expand this collection of blunders.
Thankfully, despite being tired, both contenders didn't commit any huge blunders at the end of the match.
Note that while the move 27...Rb4? from the last game is a huge mistake, it is not a blunder (see the first part of the article for the explanation).
And now it's time to present our next top blunders.
11:
This is one of the most famous chess blunders, which was also called the blunder of the century. You can wonder why it didn't get into the top 10.
Well, for starters, I am not sure that it was a losing move. I recall seeing an analysis that proved Fischer had a study-like defense. Can you find it?
Another reason it is not in the top 10 is I am not sure it even qualifies as a blunder. Remember, the criteria #2 states that: The resulting position of a blunder should be a clear-cut.
Now look at the actual ending of the game and tell me how many club players would be able to decisevely beat Fischer after his blunder? Even for World Champion Boris Spassky, it took some serious work:
So, why did I include this game into our collection of blunders? Well, first of all, grabbing a rook pawn with a bishop is a such childish mistake that it was literary impossible to not call it a blunder and besides, can you imagine any collection of world championship blunders without the most notorius one?
10.
Well, you all saw the game already, but just in case, here is a puzzle for the people who live under a rock:
The only reason this game made it into the top-10 is because both players missed this simple combo! Here is how the actual game ended:
9.
This example is similar to #10 where both opponents failed to notice an obvious variation.
And just like Anand, Topalov missed a lucky opportunity and eventually lost the game:
8.
Yes, Black's position was unpleasant, but that is not a reason to blunder a checkmate!
Stay tuned for really bizarre world championship blunders next week!
RELATED STUDY MATERIAL
- Check out GM Serper's last article: The 14 Most Amazing World Championship Blunders (Part 1)
- Watch IM Daniel Rensch's video: Live Sessions: The Blunder That Never Was!
- Check out Bogo's blunder in the Chess Mentor.
- Avoid blunders by practicing with the Tactics Trainer.
- Looking for articles with deeper analysis? Try our magazine: The Master's Bulletin.