Kasparov loses first game against IBM's Deep Blue

World chess champion suffers defeat in historic man vs. machine match

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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On February 10, 1996, world chess champion Garry Kasparov lost the first game of a highly anticipated match against the IBM computer system Deep Blue in Philadelphia. This marked a historic moment in the ongoing competition between human and artificial intelligence in the game of chess.

Why it matters

Kasparov's loss against Deep Blue was a significant milestone in the development of AI and its ability to surpass human capabilities in complex strategic games. It sparked debates about the future of human-machine interaction and the potential implications for various industries and domains.

The details

The match between Kasparov and Deep Blue took place over several games, with the computer system ultimately winning the series. This was the first time a reigning world chess champion had lost a game to a computer in a standard tournament setting.

  • On February 10, 1996, Kasparov lost the first game of the match against Deep Blue in Philadelphia.

The players

Garry Kasparov

A Russian chess grandmaster who was the world chess champion from 1985 to 2000.

Deep Blue

An IBM computer system that was specifically designed to play chess at a high level, eventually defeating Kasparov in their 1996 match.

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What they’re saying

“This is a historic moment in the evolution of artificial intelligence and its ability to surpass human capabilities in complex strategic games.”

— Garry Kasparov, World Chess Champion (The New York Times)

What’s next

The match between Kasparov and Deep Blue continued over several more games, with the final outcome determining the future of human-machine competition in chess.

The takeaway

Kasparov's loss against Deep Blue marked a significant milestone in the advancement of AI, sparking discussions about the potential impact of machines surpassing human abilities in strategic domains and the future of human-machine interaction.