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Kosmos m 5' · Moscow · 28 November 1998

Kasparov, Garry vs Kramnik, Vladimir, Kosmos m 5'

Kasparov, Garry 1–0 Kramnik, Vladimir
Kasparov, Garry vs Kramnik, Vladimir
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Kosmos m 5', 28 November 1998

Round 16 of the 1998 Kosmos blitz match between Kasparov and Kramnik was won by Kasparov as White. The Kosmos match was a 28-game blitz exhibition in Moscow with 5+0 time control. Kasparov’s blitz form during 1998 was exceptional; he won most games against most opponents at this format.

The win was a sharp opening in which Kasparov’s home preparation produced a clear advantage by move 15. Kramnik’s defence at blitz time control couldn’t find the precise resources needed. The conversion took 35 moves.

Kasparov’s blitz dominance during the 1990s was a recurring theme of his career. His combination of opening preparation depth and intuitive pattern recognition was nearly impossible to match at faster time controls. Kramnik’s near-tie of the Kosmos match (14.5-13.5 final score for Kasparov) was therefore exceptional — no other player was that close to Kasparov in blitz format that year.

The Kosmos blitz match has been studied since for its predictive value. The 28 games revealed Kramnik’s ability to compete with Kasparov in any format; the 2000 World Championship match in classical format reflected the same pattern at a slower time control, with Kramnik scoring two wins and twelve draws in the 16-game match.