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For each poll, our editorial team has provided a list of nominees. Even with a panel involved, these are of course a bit subjective. And since we have limited ourselves to six games, undoubtedly some readers may miss their favoured choice. Our shortlist is one of many possible, we know!
The order of the selections is arbitrary and you can vote below.
2019 was a very successful year for Magnus Carlsen and in the first half of the year he won every tournament in which he played. In the eigth round of the Vugar Gashimov Memorial in Shamkir, he outplayed his old rival Sergey Karjakin in a remarkable game with black.
Magnus Carlsen | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Ding Liren also had a successful 2019. Among other things, he secured overall victory in the Grand Chess Tour in London in December. On the way to this victory he outclassed Ian Nepomniachtchi in an energetic game at the Grand Chess Tour tournament in Zagreb.
Ding Liren | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Daniil Dubov always impresses with surprising ideas and combinations. To wit, his game against Anish Giri at the FIDE Grand Prix in Moscow 2019.
Daniil Dubov | Photo: Amruta Mokal
It doesn't always have to be mating attacks, combinations or tactical entanglements, tha grab the spotlight. In an important game for the qualification race to 2020 Candidates Tournament, Alexander Grischuk demonstrated good preparation, a wealth of ideas in the middle game and very good technique in the endgame against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave at the FIDE Grand Prix tournament in Hamburg.
Alexander Grischuk | Photo: Niki Riga
Queen sacrifices often have a very special charm. Especially if they are intuitive sacrifices like the one Karthikeyan Murali pulled off at the 2019 Open Asian Championships against young talent Alireza Firouzja from Iran (although perhaps for not much longer). And the Indian grandmaster may have succeeded in beating a future elite player here, because many experts and fans see Firouzja, who celebrated his 16th birthday on June 18, 2019, shortly before crossing the 2700 Elo mark.
Karthikeyan Murali | Photo: Amruta Mokal
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave too managed a brilliant game with an intuitive queen sacrifice against Hungary's Richard Rapport at the rapid tournament in Saint Louis.
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Photo: Lennart Ootes
What is your pick for the "Game of the Year 2019"?
2019-game-of-the-year
Voting ends on 12/31/2019, at 22:00 UTC
