Missed Wins from Grandmasters?

Grandmasters of the highest level are known for incredible calculative skills, and a deep understanding of the game. However, there are some instances in which the most brilliant minds miss their chances for victory. Missing wins is a thing that happens to people of every level of Chess, however, the intrigue of this post is to bring up a point on the topic that sometimes, the missed victories are notable, and if some of these were played, then their games would be renowned in immortality! So, here is a showcase of some of the most beautiful missed wins in Chess history:

Schiffers vs Chigorin

Well, this one is a beautiful checkmating attack, however, the marvel of it was missed by the legendary Mikhail Chigorin! In this game against Schiffers, Chigorin missed a checkmate in 5 moves– although, of course, I don't blame him! After his opponent Schiffers played Qxa7, Chigorin could have played checkmate, but only by sacrificing his rook and bishop (after having already sacrificed his queen!) for a checkmate that isn't easy to find. These not-so-easy to find checkmates are usually the things that can spoil calculations (and as my rating betrays of me, it is something that I know well), as I am certain Mr. Chigorin did consider the move selection, however, he likely missed that it concluded with mate. Can you find it, where he did not?

Carlsen vs Anand

Well, this is of course the most popular of the options, but I still felt it should be mentioned. Anand has found many of the most impossible Chess moves ever made, yet here he missed a victory. At the intermediate level of Chess, such missed opportunities are common, but at the top level, they're surprising! Especially since it was Anand who'd missed this move. Of course, this is a well known example, but that does not take away from the intrigue of the situation, as Magnus had just played king to d2. Anand played pawn to a4, and again, it is a hard line to see down (particularly the intermediate check with the knight on b2), but see if you can find the winning idea:

Kasparov vs Topalov

Of course, I had to mention this one! This is a brilliant game, considered by many to be the greatest game ever played, yet, lately, I've looked through the game and found that Kasparov seems to have missed an immediate victory. Now, of course, this is a spectacular continuation, one of the most beautiful I have seen in a very long time, as there are so many differentiating threats of mate that add to the absolute beauty of this series of moves, of this line of sacrifices, and indeed, there is one move that is most difficult to see of them all, and is of course, the most spectacular as well. See if you can spot a missed subline in Kasparov's immortal game!

Ni Hua vs Le Quang Liem

On the subject of missed combinations, this is the most brilliant of them all, in my opinion. Kasparov's is very computer-like, so it makes sense why he didn't see moves like Qe3 or Kb2, as they threaten checkmate in a unique way. However, I have studied this position rather intensely, and gained a complete understanding as per to why each move is the best. This game has the greatest combination I have ever seen- albeit it's missed. This is a game in which one cannot find any informative knowledge, but can still gape at the spectacle. Truly, there is hardly anything quite like this combination, and had it been played, this would be a game renowned by all who witness it. Can you spot the combination that Quang Liem missed?

In the end, everybody misses wins, but sometimes, those missed wins are so impossibly hard to see, that it turns out to have lots of beauty behind it. But, we can understand why these players didn't see these moves. Mikhail Chigorin lost a mate in calculation- it happens to everybody. I missed mate in one today, in fact! Kasparov didn't see the very computer-like victory he had after Ra7, but who cares? In the end, Kasparov played a more beautiful Chess game anyways, a game that had pretty much the exact same result. Anand missed a tactical find against Carlsen, so what? Anand is still renowned as a marvelous tactician and world champion anyways. And in the end, I don't think anybody could ever scold Le Quang Liem for missing that victory. I hope you enjoyed all the fantastic sublines, and have a nice evening