Is there any chance that a 1300 rated player can beat a 2700 rated player?

It's possible of course, but so probabilistically unlikely it would almost never happen ever in real life unless the GM falls asleep and loses on time or something. The 1300's best chance would be to memorize some completely obscure not known at all trap opening, and even if the GM has never seen it before 99.999999% of the time they will not fall from it just because of their instincts and ability to see far ahead.

One of my sons once won a prize for biggest upset in a tournament. I think it was a500 or 600 point differential. Of course, my son was probably slightly under-rated since he had only just started playing. Also at lower ratings, players can make big blunders that even players several hundred points lower can take advantage of. GMs rated 2700 make few mistakes, and their mistakes are rather subtle.

Rasparovov wrote:

tieics wrote:

I think if there is 300 ELO point difference between  two players it's no point playing the game. Practically the player with lower ELO has 0 winning chance.

I won against a guy rated 509 points ahead of me. With black. After 23 moves.

I gave up a 500+ point upset in a game 10. 1400 points is a whole other kettle of fish, especially whan you consider that 2700 is not just some GM, but a member of the world's elite and a household name among chess playing families.

If the rating difference is 735 or more the higher rated player should win 100% of the games. If the difference is between 291-302 then the higher rated player should win 85%.

unlikely

Possible if 1300 has 16 pieces and 2700 has a king.

It's also possible that the 2700 player is letting the 1300 win - for example, if he is the coach and wants to encourage the student and build the student's confidence. I also know parents that let their kids win at games in general, especially if their kids get upset when they lose. I myself have never purposely lost to my kids or even intentionally made a bad move in a game against them, although I used to let them take back moves ("are you sure you want to make that move?") or pointed out threats. Nowadays, they are better than me -- and they never show me any mercy!

Pt, the stipulation was a tournament/match where the 2700 had an incentive to win.

     simply stated: yes

there was a tournament were a 2700 rated player played a 1300 rated player?????

what was the tournament called??

John Nunn lost to a kid.

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was his name Magnus Carlsen??

No, LOL! 

It was this guy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Howell_(chess_player)

Yes, and because of that most kids on chesskid.com thinks he's a terrible chess player! 

tetsuo shima,my apologies;the 17 move forced mate that was lost due to a move out of order was by  two(2) masters,not a 1300 vs. 1700 player. should have made that clear.

i mean a 1300 and             2700  layer,enough.

Dr. Nunn is one of my favorite players.

I really enjoy Nunn's books, especially Secrets of Grandmaster Play and Secrets of Practical Chess. His comments in the latter are piquant and concise and his examples are excellent. 

Dr. Nunn has won several awards for his books, including the British Chess Federation's Book of the year for Secrets of Grandmaster Play.

Some of Nunn's games do feel a bit trappy to me, but his books have helped me to think more concretely. 

And I agree with Pfren that mocking Dr. Nunn for losing to a kid (who just so happened to become the youngest GM in the history of the UK) is completely inappropriate.