Often confused with more famous classics, the true “Pearl of Wijk aan Zee” comes from a lesser known but breathtaking game played in 1995 at the Hoogovens Tournament. In this spectacular encounter, Cifuentes faced Russian grandmaster Zvjaginsev, producing one of the most impressive attacking games ever seen in Wijk aan Zee.
The video explains why this game fully deserves its legendary nickname: a stunning sequence of sacrifices - first a piece, then a rook, and finally even the queen - all combined into a single, flawless attacking concept. Without computer assistance, this combination emerged purely from calculation, courage, and creativity, culminating in an unavoidable mating attack. A true masterpiece of imagination and one of the finest hidden gems in Wijk aan Zee history.