The first meeting between Kasparov and
Deep Blue made chess history

In February of 1996, Garry Kasparov and Deep Blue met for the first time in a best of six-games match. Although Kasparov had easily defeated Deep Blue’s predecessor -- Deep Thought -- two years earlier, this match would prove to be one of the most difficult of the world champion’s career.

After only the first game, Deep Blue made history by defeating an visibly frustrated Kasparov. Deep Blue’s victory marked the first time that a current world champion had ever been beaten by a computer opponent under regular tournament conditions.

But Kasparov would not go down so easily. The world champion, known for his tenacity and his ferocious will to win, used his signature ability to switch strategies mid-game to take game two. Games three and four, although tightly contested, ended up in draws. Then, in game five, Kasparov again changed tactics mid-game to defeat Deep Blue. He needed no more than a draw in game six to win the match.

Deep Blue came out swinging in the final game, but Kasparov expertly fended off the computer’s belligerent attacks. Kasparov won the final game and took the match by a score of 4 - 2. Citing the match as one of the most difficult of his career, Kasparov issued a rematch challenge for 1997, and IBM's Deep Blue team immediately accepted on Deep Blue's behalf.