Vote: Game of the Year

by ChessBase
12/27/2019 – Another eventful chess year is behind us, with great events and tournaments, impressive personalities and fantastic chess games. Help us choose the player of the year, the female player of the year, the game of the year, the combination of the year and the endgame of the year in our annual ChessBase reader poll. Now: Game of the Year...
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

What was the game of the year?

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 nominees

The order of the selections is arbitrary and you can vote below.

1) Karjakin vs Carlsen, Gashimov Memorial 2019

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.

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,166,62354%2421---
1.d4947,29855%2434---
1.Nf3281,60256%2441---
1.c4182,10256%2442---
1.g319,70256%2427---
1.b314,26554%2427---
1.f45,89748%2377---
1.Nc33,80151%2384---
1.b41,75648%2380---
1.a31,20654%2404---
1.e31,06848%2408---
1.d395450%2378---
1.g466446%2360---
1.h444653%2374---
1.c343351%2426---
1.h328056%2418---
1.a411060%2466---
1.f39246%2436---
1.Nh38966%2508---
1.Na34262%2482---
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5 Ne7 9.c4 Ng6 10.Qa4 Bd7 11.Qb4 Bf5 12.Qa4 Bd7 13.Qb4 Bf5 14.h4 h5 15.Bg5 Qb8 16.Be2 a6 17.Nc3 Qc7 18.g3 Be7 19.Be3 e4 20.0-0 0-0 21.Bxh5 Ne5 22.Be2 Qd7 23.Qa4 Qc8 24.c5 dxc5 25.Nxe4 c4 26.Nc3 b5 27.Qd1 b4 28.Na4 Be4 29.Qd4 Qf5 30.f4 Qg6 31.Bf2 Nd3 32.h5 Qf5 33.Bg4 Qxg4 34.Qxe4 Bd6 35.Qg2 Rae8 36.Bd4 Qxh5 37.Qf3 Qg6 38.Kh1 Re4 39.Bf2 Rfe8 0–1
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Karjakin,S2753Carlsen,M28450–12019B33Gashimov Memorial 6th8

Magnus Carlsen | Photo: Lennart Ootes

2) Ding vs Nepomniachtchi, Grand Chess Tour Zagreb 2019

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.

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.0-0 Be7 7.d4 e4 8.Ne5 f5 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Qc2 Nb4 11.Qa4 Bd7 12.a3 Nd5 13.Nc3 Bd6 14.f3 exf3 15.Bxf3 Nb6 16.Qb3 Qf6 17.Be3 Qg6 18.Bf2 h5 19.e4 h4 20.exf5 Qxf5 21.Rae1+ Kd8 22.Ne4 Qg6 23.Nxd6 cxd6 24.d5! c5 25.a4‼ Bxa4 26.Qa3 Re8 27.b4 Rc8 28.bxc5 Rxe1 29.Rxe1 hxg3 30.hxg3 dxc5 31.Kg2 Qc2 32.Qe3 Rc7 33.Qe6 Rd7 34.d6 Kc8 35.Rh1 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Ding,L2805Nepomniachtchi,I27751–02019A20Croatia GCT6

Ding Liren | Photo: Lennart Ootes

3) Dubov vs Giri, FIDE Grand Prix Moscow 2019

Daniil Dubov always impresses with surprising ideas and combinations. To wit, his game against Anish Giri at the FIDE Grand Prix in Moscow 2019.

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Bg5 dxc4 5.e4 b5 6.a4 c6 7.Nc3 b4 8.Nb1 Ba6 9.e5 h6 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.exf6 c5 12.Nbd2 c3 13.bxc3 bxc3 14.Ne4 cxd4 15.Bb5+ Bxb5 16.axb5 Qd5 17.Qxd4 Qxb5 18.Nxc3 Bb4 19.0-0-0 Qa5 20.Nb5 Na6 21.Qd7+ Kf8 22.Kb1 Ba3 23.Rd3 Qb4+ 24.Kc2 Qa4+ 25.Kd2 Bb4+ 26.Ke2 Kg8 27.Ne5 Qc2+ 28.Kf3 Rf8 29.Rhd1 h5 30.Qd4 Rh7 31.Qf4 Bc5 32.Nd4 Qa2 33.R1d2 Qd5+ 34.Ke2 Bb4 35.Ndc6 Qc5 36.Ne7+ Kh8 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Dubov,D2690Giri,A27871–02019D44Moscow FIDE GP1.2

Daniil Dubov | Photo: Amruta Mokal

4) Grischuk vs Vachier-Lagrave, FIDE Grand Prix Hamburg 2019

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.

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e3 e6 6.Bc4 Be7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Qe2 Nc6 9.Rd1 b6 10.d4 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Qc7 12.e4 Rd8 13.Be3 Na5 14.Bd3 Bb7 15.h4 b5 16.Bxb5 Bxe4 17.dxc5 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Bxc5 19.Bf4 Qb7 20.Qe2 Qe7 21.h5 Bd6 22.Bxd6 Rxd6 23.Rxd6 Qxd6 24.Rd1 Qc5 25.Rd7 Qxc3 26.Qd1 h6 27.g3 Rf8 28.Rxa7 Nc6 29.Rd7 Ne5 30.Rd8 Qc7 31.Rxf8+ Kxf8 32.a4 Ke7 33.Be2 Qc3 34.Qb1 Nc6 35.Qb7+ Kf6 36.Bf1 Na5 37.Qd7 g5 38.hxg6 Kxg6 39.Kg2 Kg7 40.Bb5 Qe5 41.Qd3 Qc5 42.Qf3 Qd4 43.Be8 Qd5 44.Qxd5 exd5 45.Kf3 Kf6 46.Kg4 Ke7 47.Bb5 Kf6 48.Kh5 Kg7 49.Bf1 Nb3 50.Bg2 d4 51.Bf1 Nd2 52.Bd3 Nb3 53.Bf1 Nd2 54.Bd3 Nb3 55.Bb5 f6 56.Bf1 Na5 57.Ba6 Nb3 58.Bb5 Na5 59.Kg4 Nb7 60.Kf4 Nc5 61.a5 d3 62.Ke3 d2 63.Be2 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Grischuk,A2764Vachier-Lagrave,M27771–02019A17Hamburg FIDE Grand Prix3.2

Alexander Grischuk | Photo: Niki Riga

5) Firouzja vs Karthikeyan, Xingtai Open Asian Championship 2019

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.

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.h3 0-0 6.Be3 c5 7.Nf3 Qa5 8.Nd2 cxd4 9.Nb3 Qxc3+ 10.bxc3 dxe3 11.f3 Nh5 12.Qc1 Bh6 13.g4 Nf4 14.Kd1 Ne6 15.Kc2 Nc6 16.h4 Bf4 17.Qd1 Ne5 18.Nc1 Bd7 19.a4 Rac8 20.Ne2 Bh6 21.g5 Bg7 22.Bh3 Nxf3 23.Qd3 Ne5 24.Qxe3 Nxc4 25.Qf2 Rc5 26.Rhb1 Bc6 27.Bg2 f5 28.gxf6 Bxf6 29.Rf1 Bxc3 30.Qxc5 Nxc5 31.Rxf8+ Kxf8 32.Kxc3 Ne5 33.a5 Nxe4+ 34.Bxe4 Bxe4 35.Nd4 Bd5 36.Nb5 a6 37.Nc7 Bc6 38.Rf1+ Kg7 39.Ne6+ Kh6 40.Rf8 Kh5 41.Rh8 h6 42.Rh7 Kxh4 43.Rxh6+ Kg4 44.Nd4 Kg5 45.Rh2 Bd5 46.Re2 Kf4 47.Rf2+ Nf3 48.Re2 e5 49.Nc2 Be4 50.Ne3 d5 51.Kb4 Nd4 52.Re1 Kf3 0–1
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Firouzja,A2682Karthikeyan,M25930–12019E90Asian Continental op 18th5

Karthikeyan Murali | Photo: Amruta Mokal

6) Vachier-Lagrave vs Rapport, Saint Louis (Rapid) 2019

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.

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.a3 c4 7.Nbd2 Na5 8.g3 Bd7 9.h4 0-0-0 10.Bh3 Kb8 11.0-0 h6 12.Re1 Ne7 13.Rb1 Nc8 14.Nf1 Qc7 15.h5 Nb6 16.Be3 Ba4 17.Qe2 Be7 18.N3h2 Qd7 19.f4 g6 20.Bf2 Rdg8 21.Ne3 Nc6 22.Kh1 Bd8 23.hxg6 fxg6 24.Qg4 Qh7 25.b3 cxb3 26.Qxe6 Nxd4 27.cxd4 Bd7 28.Qxd7 Nxd7 29.Rxb3 Nb6 30.a4 Nxa4 31.Nxd5 g5 32.f5 g4 33.Bg2 Nb6 34.Ne3 h5 35.f6 h4 36.Kg1 Bc7 37.Rc1 Qd7 38.Rd1 hxg3 39.Bxg3 Rh3 40.Nhf1 Rh5 41.Rc3 Rc8 42.Rdc1 Qxd4 43.Rxc7 Rxc7 44.e6 Rhc5 45.Rxc5 Qxc5 46.e7 Qh5 47.Nf5 Nc8 48.N1e3 Qg6 49.Nd5 Qxf5 50.Bxc7+ 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Vachier Lagrave,M2778Rapport,R27471–02019C02Saint Louis Rapid3

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Poll

What is your pick for the "Game of the Year 2019"?

Game/Partie/Partida
A. Firouzja - Karthikeyan Murali92
26%
D. Dubov - A. Giri80
22%
M. Vachier-Lagrave - R. Rapport59
16%
S. Karjakin - M. Carlsen55
15%
A. Grischuk - M. Vachier-Lagrave34
9%
Ding Liren - I. Nepomniachtchi32
9%

Voting ends on 12/31/2019, at 22:00 UTC

Links

Reports about chess: tournaments, championships, portraits, interviews, World Championships, product launches and more.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.