LONGEST CHESS GAME!!

The longest chess game ever played in terms of moves is the 1989 match between Ivan Nikolić and Goran Arsović in Belgrade. This marathon game lasted 269 moves and took over 20 hours and 15 minutes to complete, ending in a draw.

At that time, FIDE had modified the fifty-move rule, allowing up to 100 moves without a piece being captured or a pawn moved in certain endgames, such as rook and bishop versus rook. This exception enabled the game to continue for such an extended period. However, FIDE has since reverted to the standard 50-move rule.

More recently, the longest decisive chess game was played between Billy Fellowes and Peter Lalić at the 2024 Kingston Invitational in London. This game lasted 272 moves, setting a new record for the longest decisive game.

These extraordinary games highlight the remarkable endurance and strategic depth inherent in chess.