How a World Chess Champion lost a game in 6 moves

The fastest game between 2 GrandMasters (GMs) — that was not a draw or forfeit - was played between Alonso Zapata and Viswanathan Anand in 1988. Anand resigned after 6 moves. It was not a Fool’s Mate.

First a little bit of history…….

In 1987, at the Pan Pacific International chess tournament in San Francisco, Larry Christiansen played Anthony Miles. In a practice that would lead to serious disciplinary action in any other sport, but, perhaps, not unheard of in chess, both players agreed to play to a draw before the start of the game. This would ensure that they more evenly split the winnings which, in chess, is not as sizable as in other sports.

However, during the match, Christiansen was careless and changed the order of 2 moves in a standard Petroff’s defense. This was a blunder which would have immediately cost him a piece and the game. After pointing the blunder out in a subtle fashion (by rubbing the square to indicate where he could move his piece) and embarrassing Christiansen, Miles respected their gentleman’s agreement and played a different move. Shortly thereafter, they agreed to a draw.

This entire game was reported without commentary in the respected chess journal, The Chess Informant.

You can see where this is going…….