Veselin Topalov defeats Garry Kasparov in Chess960 legends match

Veselin Topalov, the 19th World Chess Champion, won the Clutch Chess: The Legends Chess960 match held in Saint Louis, defeating Garry Kasparov with a final score of 16:8.

Topalov secured the victory on the third and final day by winning both blitz games, finishing the blitz portion with an 11:1 point advantage. Kasparov attempted a comeback by winning the first rapid game of the day to narrow the lead, but Topalov's performance in the decisive 11th game allowed him to reach 13 points and clinch the match.

Topalov earned a total of $90,000, including the $70,000 winner's prize and bonuses. Kasparov finished in second place, earning a total of $54,000. Topalov attributed his success to a pragmatic approach to time management, noting that while Kasparov sought the best possible moves, Topalov focused on practical play during time scrambles.