In a surprising moment at the Clutch Chess Legends event, Garry Kasparov apologized to longtime rival Viswanathan Anand after Anand lost on time while in a winning position. During their rapid game, Anand appeared to overlook the clock and was flagged — meaning he was declared the loser despite advantageous play.
Kasparov later told media that his apology was sincere: he believed winning from a losing position by timeout was not fully deserved. “I said ‘I’m sorry’ because that’s not how one should win from a losing position on time,” he explained, adding that he felt he should have been punished for the circumstance.
The incident proved to be a flashpoint in their highly watched exhibition match. Kasparov ultimately clinched the title with games to spare, but this moment of sportsmanship stood out. Anand, on his part, acknowledged the time pressure caused him to lose focus even as he held a better board.
