Stafford Gambit Crushes Grandmaster at the World Championship

[@brett6468]

Your entire KZbin channel has led to this moment.

[@stevensutton2252]

Did he hold down Mom's spaghetti

[@katelynssugarpuddin1587]

*you're

[@brett6468]

@@katelynssugarpuddin1587 "Your" is a possessive adjective that shows ownership, while "you're" is a contraction of "you are".

[@MyBiPolarBearMax]

14 million possibilities, this was the only one 😂

[@katelynssugarpuddin1587]

@@brett6468 exactly

[@briannazareth3921]

“The entire game was prep” against a GM in a World Championship game is wild work Eric 😂

[@robux-fg2uv]

not really, this is one of the most common lines in the stafford, and as the entire opening + the actual trap is a part of the game prep its not that wild that the entire game is prep

[@SanyaJuutilainen]

To paraphrase Bruce Lee: "I don't fear someone who has practiced ten thousand openings once, but I fear someone who has practiced one opening ten thousand times."

[@gerardmontes1881]

I fear any player who has played more than ten thousand games. Experience is advantatge

[@rosstheboss582]

​@@gerardmontes1881I think I have 40k games, but the Stafford is something I swear by. RTB

[@kirkstable]

I’m here for the comments

[@a3wagner]

"I've reached this position 970 times" -- I'm fucking howling

[@Praximacent]

It's official. World championship games has stafford gambit being played and UNDEFEATED.

[@MichaelSt]

UNDEFEATED? Try UNSTOPPABLE!

[@zigzag321go]

Next, the bongcloud deserves a WC win

[@beeble2003]

No disrespect to Eric but, at the point where there are IMs competing in a thing called a "World Championship", that tells you how much the term has been devalued.

[@weetabixharry]

@@beeble2003 It doesn't necessarily devalue the champion. The most watched sporting event in the world (and the greatest prize in football) is the World Cup, where plenty of minnows have appeared despite having virtually no chance of winning. There have been numerous upsets over the years, which add to the entertainment and history of the event.

[@beeble2003]

@@weetabixharry I don't think that argument really applies. The World Cup is a championship for national football teams, so all 200 or so of them get to take part. Most of them get knocked out in the qualifying rounds and never make it to the final competition. Here, we have a field of just under 190 players. That means that at least 1600 active GMs are not at the competition, but the field includes four players rated under 2000. The tournament is nothing like the best 190 players in the world.

[@afianlogin6721]

"clearly my opponent has not watched my videos" haha

[@Fauxcault_]

That was comedy gold for sure, but "my heart is broken" by Jan was a classic too.

[@Padraig-OCaoimh]

I was howling

[@patsen29]

"I think there are a lot of grandmasters out there [...] that don't follow the meta of dumb opening traps."

[@LFSPharaoh]

"we didn't talk after the game, I think he was... shell shocked" eric like "Don't hate me pls no hard feelings? :) "

[@repp181]

neither did the announcer

[@SigmaValence]

"Eric Rosen doesn't know how to play his own stupid stafford" dude is literally a leading world authority on the stafford

[@camden666]

gustafsson showing his huge ego

[@toruoikawa2247]

​@@camden666no, he is a humble guy, he just likes to joke around

[@SchighSchagh]

The _only_ move Eric spent time on was recapturing the bishop once white finally gave some material back. I think Eric knows his own stupid Stafford just fine.

[@diggitus]

@@toruoikawa2247 One of the very best people in chess.

[@UnicycleSoul]

@@camden666 You have to be incredibly dense to not realise it's a joke lmao

[@MyBiPolarBearMax]

Bro heard he was a “wildcard” and understood the assignment 😂

[@Fergus316]

One of the classic blunders. A lesser known one is to never play the Sicilian when death is on the line, but the most famous is never accept the Stafford gambit against Eric Rosen.

[@paulhan3314]

Why not play sicilian when death is on the line?

[@960random]

@@paulhan3314 Inconceivable! It's a movie reference.

[@Benjychess]

Great reference 🎉

[@12jswilson]

Right up there with going into the Smith-Morra against Marc Esserman. He absolutely crushed Loek van Wely with it, who was 2700 rated at the time. Basically no GMs have played c5 against Marc since.

[@dsrguru]

Both pawns were poisoned.

[@michaelmoreno6431]

And this is why FIDE offered a wild card to Eric!

[@mangaranwow2543]

True and nice that FIDE ackowledges that Eric is a huge possitive force for chess.

[@Fauxcault_]

5/13 in this tournament as an IM is playing some good chess for your level too.

[@exodusdonley77]

@@Fauxcault_ seriously, for a man playing against gms and top players he could definitely be making a worse case for himself lol

[@EnglishroG]

From now on this line should be called the "Rosen Variation"

[@nabileljabri2768]

congrats Eric , watching you playing the Stafford always puts a smile on my face.

[@appleqor]

First time seeing this: a comment with a bag of money?! Awesome, jabri

[@bobjim4503]

@@appleqor me too man

[@goldenhawx8652]

Nice, that's a MAD amount of money to give!

[@arch1q892]

@@goldenhawx8652 how much in euros

[@thewhatever993]

bro's currency is mad

[@LordTreyHowdy]

The meta discussion is so interesting. I know more anti-stafford theory as a 1400 rapid player than some GMs because they simply don't face it as often as I do.

[@Johnsli]

Yes; feels like i would do better than Rosens opponent:

[@lollycopter]

Having been caught in a kingside mating net a few times before, I decided to treat this garbage opening with the respect it deserves, and have been expanding my opening file with its inclusion. It feels so fun to just feel my ~1700 Lichess blitz opponents deflate as soon as I enter the main refutation. Yes, I've also added the anti-refutation refutation to the file too, which at this level I'm very unlikely to need. The funniest thing is that Chessable sells courses on refuting the Stafford, but you can figure this out for free by learning how to bulid an opening file by browsing the right databases in the Lichess Opening Explorer ("e" key on any Lichess Analysis Board).

[@adamstewart247]

Way to go Eric! Few people would be brave enough to attempt this on an OTB tournament against a GM. You are a legend!

[@HoloDaWisewolf]

That's what I love with Eric, among many other things.

[@stevenorth1564]

@@HoloDaWisewolf you love it that Eric plays unsound openings that rely on tricky? I'm 1900 and my win rate against the Stafford is above 95%.

[@skysphr]

​@@stevenorth1564 Nobody who plays Stafford actually knows its deep theory at the level of Eric or Jonathan though.

[@HoloDaWisewolf]

​@@stevenorth1564 I love that Eric seriously attempts to win against GMs, as opposed to trying to draw because they're higher rated.

[@Someone-hi1nt]

​@@stevenorth1564 he outprepped his opponent, no one cares what opening you play if youre able to outprep and beat a gm with it so quickly

[@SebastianBohn]

And this is how to make history. The first ever in a world championship and even played out to mate. Immortal Eric. GG

[@ronanmcdonnell7742]

Watching you crush like this with the stafford was my favorite chess moment of the year. Super big congrats Eric!!

[@wiesorix]

Seeing Eric pull off a Rosen trap at the end of game 7 was pretty great too

[@davidstewart58]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@JaretDawson]

I watched Gustafsson’s reaction at least 15 times earlier, absolutely hilarious stuff! I think it’s great that in the Lichess masters db this is the only line the Stafford has ever won in, with white resigning after Qh5 in the previous game. Can’t wait to see this game added!

[@StanislavHronek]

tbh Gustafsson is hilarious most of the time.

[@Greylandimports240z]

What time in the Chess24 stream is this reaction? I couldn’t find it

[@sparksdrinker5650]

Could you help me find this?

[@debrascott8775]

​@@Greylandimports240z 6:16 ish

[@JaretDawson]

6 hours 16 minutes 10 seconds

[@matthewspears3786]

Gustafsson's reaction is so classic. Oh noooo... I can't do this... Why do you do this to us? Everybody and their dog knows h3 and black resigns... This is just soul crushing.

[@mackyd1985]

As one of the best chess opening experts in the world, he hates the Stafford. He even made a more than 1 h video (in German) called: "Five refutations of the Stafford Gambit".

[@gerardmontes1881]

I don't know if gustafsson was joking in the scene that Eric showed us. But if not, he definitely looked stupid

[@breedingpitmetal]

​@@gerardmontes1881 he is objectively right, there are a lot of simple refutations. BUT you have to know them, they are not easy to find over the board.

[@iurisemedo771]

Is reaction is so rude that's what it is, than in the end he suck it up

[@catedoge3206]

t.t

[@SAIKRISHNABULUSU]

Congrats on that wonderful win Eric

[@sairijal2859]

I’ve been waiting for this, all the while smiling at the thought of your excitement at pulling this off over the board

[@juliusscipio5542]

After watching you for so many years, this makes me so happy! Well done Eric!

[@Matthew-bu7fg]

what impresses me most is that Eric had time and opportunity to look at his opponent's previous games in specific lines during what is only about a 15 minute or so gap between rounds!

[@kristofgregoor6138]

What an epic highlight of your tournament, Eric! Congratulations, that must have felt great! Thank you for all the inspiring chess content you make!

[@Memofuma]

Now Eric has to make "It's Stafford Gambit Time" merch.

[@rosstheboss582]

From a Stafford die hard, I want to tell you how incredibly proud of you I am. Stafford forever!!!!

[@meguca8924]

this game was so much fun to watch live, you got yourself at least one new subscriber!

[@gerokron3412]

Welcome to the newest subscriber: Hello Sergey!

[@adriensebbane]

In addition of being a clear win for you I love the idea of a bit of "humour" and daring choice in an official event, no matter what the commentators may say. One can only appreciate the way you play chess.

[@jjakie07]

Play in as many of these as you are able - you are a true treat to the chess world and I love watching you play! In NYC on unrelated vacation, but wasn't able to come see you live. Thanks for a great tourney, Eric!

[@alexwhimself]

The h5 should be named after Eric

[@vivekchalasani]

Petrov's Defense, Stafford Gambit, Rosen Variation

[@12jswilson]

​@@vivekchalasaniI humbly suggest that it be called the "Schrantz-Rosen Variation" after all the early work Jonathan Schrantz did in that line and telling Eric about it. Jonathan also was the inventor of the entirety of the "magical line."

[@Jesterian]

@@12jswilson Shrantz is a chess nerd’s chess nerd. I don’t think I’ve ever watched any content he made where he plays “solidly”. It’s always these wild lines of theory that are objectively bad but insanely perilous for his opponent. It’s just by far the most entertaining type of chess to watch.

[@sk818factory5]

​@@Jesterian yeah some could say if he abandoned this way of playing he would be next level.

[@Jesterian]

@@sk818factory5 I respect that he knows what he likes and sticks with it. Kind of inspiring

[@EpicEstimator]

Congratulations Eric! It's so heartwarming to see how happy you are in this video after how sad you looked after day two. Very happy for you.

[@bluemerlin271]

😂😂😂I reckon I've never seen Eric so pleased with himself 😂😂😂... Couldn't stop laughing as the video rolled on 🍻😂

[@madhattersmachete]

It's official! Stafford Gambit, Rosen Variation ...for the win. Congrats and fantastic work Eric!

[@ajanyalonso8255]

I bet Rosen haunts Sergey in his dreams😂 great stuff man, I couldn’t help but giggle

[@PhosphorescentSoul]

Eric is one of those creators where I like the video as soon as I open it. His videos are so reliably good. Congratulations, Eric!

[@1a1u0g9t4s2u]

Very nice Eric has made the highlight reel for the year with this game. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer player. Looking forward to an in depth analysis to this tournament. Happy New Year 🎉

[@iankaye4537]

Well done Eric. Shows that GM's are as vulnerable as anyone to lines that they have not prepared. I love all your You Tube videos as they are so entertaining and instructive.

[@Padraig-OCaoimh]

I’m having an awful go of things at the moment and this video as well as Gotham’s recap of this game have both brought me immeasurable amounts of joy. Thank you

[@brandonoliver6890]

Incredible game! It's so impressive how much work you've put into learning all the nuances of this gambit.

[@wiIIiamfancyson]

Eric telling us that knight to c6 is obviously dubious with a little smirk on his face is so golden

[@rjthehandle]

Used to watch a lot of your videos when I had more time, and learnt a lot about chess from watching, so when I hear you beat a GM with the infamous Stafford Gambit, I have to come back and send congratulations! Well done, Eric!! 🎉🎉🎉 That must have been humorously satisfying! (For you and all your fans!) 😅

[@TamDNB]

But did you say Stafford gambit time out loud after Nd6?

[@micka4434]

😅😅😅

[@JerkyJones100]

That was dope! Awesome game. Congrats Eric.

[@fuglbird]

Very nice game Eric and good preparation. Many people started playing the Stafford gambit against me in online bullet after you introduced it. It has petered out but I hope people will play it again after your win.

[@JƏĐ]

Spot on fella 👌🏻 👏 I can only imagine the levels of glee and joyousness @ pulling off the Epic Win 🏆 😎

[@davidf2244]

A masterpiece, because of the context, as all masterpieces should be.

[@Killersnake1233]

Absolutely wonderful, Eric. I've been waiting for this moment. Long Live the Stafford

[@MrBunnybusiness]

dude Eric, thats fucking awesome!!!! you are such a real one lolololol. even getting the announcers with the move orders:) for all the shit they were giving you, you were 100% spot on correct. nice pregame spot with that, knowing you would probably have the advantage against him. so smart. be very proud of that one!!! love that your name is stamped with that W

[@BlissfulTortoise]

The editing banter with Jan is top notch

[@ScoutScouting]

Watching your videos has changed my mindset in chess totally, I stress less about trying to find the best computer move, and rather looking for threats that are hard for humans. It feels so much more fun and creative, and while I can't ever get that amazing at chess given I started so late, I can at least become good at and enjoy trying to play more Romantic chess :)

[@BICIeCOMPUTERconGabriele]

And this is how you close the year in glory Eric! Well done! Everyone knew Stafford is not a solid opening, eveyone knew you shouldn't have tried it in such a high level tournament, eveyone knew you DARED to try it, you did it, and you WON!

[@BillyThomas-g9t]

Eric just threw a knuckle ball. Phil Niekro would be proud.

[@declaredjeans7555]

This makes me so happy!!!😄 Thanks for a great year! Your main and extra channel was apparently #1 and #2 on my most watched list, so let's keep that going! Happy New Year!

[@BB-wg3tw]

7:52 "Clearly my opponent has not watched my videos"....."there's a lot of grandmasters who.....don't follow the meta of dumb opening traps" LOL dying

[@noahz]

Congratulations! Was great to meet you at the ChessBase India event the other day. I said "because of you I had to learn how to refute the Stafford Gambit! I play 5. f3" - but after this victory I sense a fresh wave of gambiteers incoming - I'll have to brush up my prep!

[@Hey_Its_Adam]

The fact that your opponent didn’t flip the table should be commended.

[@lilmentor3]

That Gm commentary made this win taste better. Gj brother

[@PeterHanebury]

Well done Eric!!! Splicing in the commentator's comments was genius !!!

[@Rubrickety]

Go Eric! And congrats on a nice finish in the Rapid; when you didn't post a Day 3 recap I was worried it had gone badly, so I checked the results - quite the opposite!

[@internalmedicine9982]

It was a beautiful game. Thanks. I have been following you for many years. Congratulations

[@seansullivan3922]

Rosen is on a tear! He’s ripping GMs throats out but staying humble and polite while doing it.

[@rbarreira2]

Staying humble and polite is non-negotiable.

[@beeble2003]

Not sure Eric ever does anything else, to be honest. But, when you come 152nd out of 188 with +4-7=2, you can't really brag that much.

[@raylendt]

I agree. If a certain other content creator, aspiring GM, would have beaten a GM, he'd be all brags and flash.

[@leopard1791]

@@beeble2003 He came 151🤣 I agree on everything else. The man has some serious issues with himself.

[@catandfishfc]

@@beeble2003For an IM wildcard, that is not a bad record at all. This was a SuperGM event.

[@ForeJaapie]

Fell asleep before this absolute gem but I did catch you stalemating someone else earlier in the day, good to see you stick to what you know in such a high level event haha

[@jmirgel]

Great content :D I watch your videos/ streams and Gustafson's as well so this feels like a crossover episode 😂 I think having spent so much time with main line opening theory he really became a purist and gets triggered by dubious/meme openings

[@MrJaspett]

He's literally joking.

[@HaHa-gt6mg]

Grande, grande, GRANDE ERIC ROSEN! What a show! This will forever now be immortalised! Thank you so much! This is awesome!!!

[@ayeidoucareau5014]

0:20 max flex when the Stafford gambit is "just ONE of the highlights" of your day 🙂

[@thoben4596]

Now the Stafford Gambit is an undefeated opening on World Championship level

[@mstorgaardnielsen]

What Eric is doing is bringing playfulness and fun to chess. It’s seriousness and competition but it’s *also* fun.

[@RobDurham]

This is exactly what I wanted to see since you announced you’d be in this tournament. What a month, what a year!

[@MrBaumGeo]

For anyone wondering, the game is under live from the 30. December on the chess24 KZbin channel around 6:13:25

[@davidreid5599]

Brilliant Eric! Modest and humble too- congratulations on a fine win, and having the superior preparation. Including the Gustafsson remarks without comment is a nice touch.

[@user-zj7rw3rz8i]

That last 10 seconds is pure gold

[@pabl048]

Eric knows that the saddest thing for his opponent is that "clearly he hasn't watched the videos" lolol

[@RC-qf3mp]

Congrats Eric!! I’m 2300 and learned so much from your videos. 👍 🏅 🏆

[@bonesaw8]

Dude, congratulations. What an awesome outcome for you and your fans ❤

[@babstra55]

I wasn't looking, but then I heard jan's voice "oh no, not this" and started laughing. :D

[@jarrodkimble3368]

Fantastic job Eric! Loved being able to follow your track through the tournament. More good things to come in 2025!

[@Adileigh23]

I’m gonna go out on a limb here and predict that this is gonna be one of the most viewed videos Eric has

[@MrKayDeeJay]

Love it! Congrats Eric

[@LightSquares]

What this shows is that in faster time controls you can play whatever sub-optimal lines you want, so long as you come prepared.

[@jaeseoul8356]

Eric is the most wholesome player. Im ecstatic that he was able to cross something so iconic off his bucket list. Its the highlight of my chess spectating life 😂 Let the man have fun 👏🏽 Congrats, Eric!!

[@tim..indeed]

Amongst all the drama this couldn't be more delightful

[@kylemilleru3190]

this is awesome eric. very proud of you and glad to see history made by my favorite chess player. love to see when grandmasters get ego checked by someone so humble.

[@FGrsmn]

Hats off for the grind. You're sure putting in the hours and the energy to keep the fans entertained, on top of competing. It's tough to perform on both fronts. So, again, hats off !

[@Pfefferhaubitze]

This reminds me on "Uncle Lyle's famous Castle Blitz maneuver", which Magnum P.I. employed twice and made Higgins very upset. To play a refuted line in a World Champioship is some kind of trolling, but very funny.

[@hristogeorgiev3453]

Bravo Eric! I'm happy for you and I'm always happy to see the Stafford.

[@lukepoot347]

This is amazing. Congratulations Eric x

[@haren334]

Woke up this morning to the best news ever... You winning with the Stafford Gambit in the World Rapid!! Echoing another comment below "Your entire KZbin channel has led to this moment" 😆 Side note, was amazing meeting you in person during the WCC in Singapore!

[@ayeidoucareau5014]

How different players will deal with the Stafford gambit: Chess players entry level: will keep trying to win with Stafford gambit in their next 100 games (and fail 99%) Chess players medium level: will keep trying to outplay the Stafford gambit Gustafsson: will resign when somebody attempts yet another Stafford gambit Dubov: will oversleep due to "jet lag". Levi: will beat Stafford gambit by scarifying THE ROOK Hikaru: no, not yet another pre-move pun here Agadmator: will beat Stafford gambit since after playing B4 there is nothing more to do

[@dallas88b]

Congratulations! Well done. What a great way to end 2024. Your win makes me very happy here in Australia on New Years Eve. Been watching your YT for years now and enjoying and learning a lot. Well done Mr Rosen. Must say I was disappointed, but not surprised, at the rudeness and scoffing by Gustafsson.

[@mikeog2617]

Yeah well he's just a weak and outdated GM lol

[@alexanderperl6945]

Congratulations Eric! We are so proud of you!

[@jelanitarik8452]

Congrats Eric! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@kerravon4159]

Congrats Eric, your Stafford Gambit will conquer the world!

[@jc1daddy2]

This warmed my heart 🥹

[@AlabiOlawale-j5o]

"Beware of the Stafford Gambit💀" - Eric Rosen final quote of the year

[@BillyThomas-g9t]

Ever heard of a knuckle ball? He fell right into your hands and the annals of chess history. Congratulations, Padawan.

[@Ozzy.Kopec1]

Great result and Happy New Year!

[@maclman38]

The mad lad actually did it 😂

[@lolobuggah2670]

Congrats Eric! Amazing game!

[@zorination]

That's legendary. Well played. Congratulations!

[@krehera]

Very happy to see the Stafford picking up a W in this tournament. Great job Eric!

[@mouradaissani8957]

8:09, I remember that video, I guess the title was "long castle and checkmate"

[@appleqor]

Kc5 extends the torture a moment

[@syoudipta]

Staffooooorddd lets goooo congrats Eric!